Authorities in Lucheng have called for a stop to loud outdoor group activities in Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province in consideration of students who will be taking this year's National Higher Education Entrance Examination, commonly known as the Gaokao, according to a report by a Shanghai-based news outlet, the Paper.
The report said that the ban applies to more than 900 public activity groups and 34 formal outdoor dance troupes in the district, which was also believed to affect some 10,000, especially the middle-aged women, referred to as "dama" in China.
Authorities said that the main aim of the ban is to provide students with a quiet environment and create an atmosphere more conducive to studying and examinations.
The suspension was not strictly observed in the district's outskirts and in areas where no examinations were held, according to the announcement.
Inspection teams were deployed to patrol areas to monitor adherence to the rule, the report added.
Ke Yizhuang, a spokesperson for a local arts training center with nearly 2,000 students, said that they would continue to work out in other ways such as mountain climbing and running, or going out to other areas so that they would not disturb the students since they would not be able to hold training during this period.
Last March, the police stopped people dancing and singing karaoke at a public square in Lucheng for violating noise pollution regulations.
Following that incident, local authorities have set up public guidelines that required dance troupes not to practice or perform near residential areas or use public roads to affect traffic or locals from their routine and regular activities.
The report said that a total ban on public activities involving music during the gaokao period was also written into the guidelines, as well as putting limits on sound or volume of speakers.