Officials in Karamay said the ban, which prohibits headscarves, partial face veils and burqas, would last until August 20 due to a local sports event.

Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uighur minority, has seen an upsurge in violence in recent months.  Authorities have blamed Uighur separatists for the upsurge in violence.Uighurs are a Turkic-speaking Muslims with ethnic fraternity in Turkey, bordering Syria.

In a report by the Karamay Daily which was carried by national media outlets, officials listed the "five types of people" who would be banned from public transport. They are people wearing headscarves, veils, burqas, clothes with the crescent moon and star symbol, and "youths with long beards".

"Passengers who do not co-operate, particularly the 'five types of people', will be reported to the police," said the report, which added that all commuters would be subject to bag checks.

"The security measures will ensure social stability and protect the lives, property and safety of citizens of all races," said the report.

Karamay is a city about 400km north of Xinjiang's capital Urumqi, which was hit by deadly attacks in April and May at a railway station and a market.The latest unrest in Xinjiang took place on July 28 in Yarkant county.

China's state media said a group armed with knives and axes stormed a police station and government offices. It said 37 civilians and 59 attackers were killed.(KH)