Xiongxian county has halted all real estate sales and police will take measures against anyone ignoring the sales ban, local officials said on Sunday.

Xie Keqing, the deputy county magistrate, told real estate developers and agencies in an emergency meeting on Sunday that the government is shutting down all real estate sales offices in the county, National Business Daily reported.

The government has posted people at real estate sites and set up patrols, halting all possible real estate transactions, the report said.

Public security authorities warned that police would act against violators of the ban.

Developing and selling real estate would require land certificates and sales licenses, and the process should adhere to the law, officials from the county's housing and development bureau said.

The ban came amid Saturday's announcement of the building of the Xiongan New Area. The news sent many speculators from other cities rushing to the counties overnight to buy property, despite the sales ban in all three counties, the report said.

-Zhang Zhihao