Beijing has asked hotels in the city to keep their temperatures between 20 to 22 Celsius degrees during the heating-service period for the coming winter amid efforts to save energy, following the "26 degrees campaign" in the summer.

Meanwhile, shopping malls, office buildings and other public areas are to keep their temperatures within 18 degrees, the Beijing municipal government has said in a circular.

The restrictions, imposed for the first time in Beijing, will target users of natural gas for heat, said the circular, which was posted on the official website of the municipal government.

The heating service period will run from November 15 this year to March 15 next year, as usual, it said.

The circular also called on citizens to "further enhance the awareness of using natural gas frugally, rationally and safely."

In addition, local educational authorities were required to tell their students in universities, middle and primary schools to save gas and energy.

The central government has asked the nation to endeavor to build an energy-saving society.

In the summer, many Chinese cities including Beijing ordered hotels and other office buildings to keep their temperatures within 26 degrees to save power.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2005)