The capital city of Guangdong province will ban vehicles from the road on alternate days when the southern metropolis experiences heavy smog in the future, the city's environmental protection bureau said in a work plan on Wednesday.

The ban will cover all vehicles, including those from outside the city, and relevant departments will inform vehicle owners and drivers a day in advance.

It is the first time the city will ban vehicles, based on even and odd-numbered license plates on alternate days, since the 16th Asian Games was held in Guangzhou in November 2010.

The city's large number of vehicles is seen as one of the culprits that causes severe pollution.

Guangzhou, which has been limiting car registrations since July 2012, had 2.6 million registered cars by the end of 2013.

Only 10,000 new license plates are now granted monthly to local residents via a lottery and public auctions.