Cities will not be allowed to build more "oversized, xenocentric, weird" buildings devoid of cultural tradition in the future, according to a new directive from the central government.

The State Council, or the cabinet, and the Communist Party of China Central Committee issued the directive on Sunday. It says buildings should be "suitable, economic, green and pleasing to the eye."

Cities have built some unusually shaped buildings to create memorable skylines in recent years, but many have drawn criticism. Here are some of the odd-shaped buildings.

A man walks by the CCTV tower, also known as the "big underpants," in the CBD area of Beijing, on Dec 18, 2015. [Photo/IC]