"Women should not wear minimal clothing, such as mini skirts or hot pants when taking public transportation and should call police promptly if they are sexually harassed," the guidelines published by Beijing police and public transport authorities said, state run China Daily reported.

"Women are advised to not sit on higher levels of buses and to stand on lower stairs, to avoid being the target of inappropriate picture-taking, and they should shelter their bodies with bags, magazines and newspapers," it said.

Anyone caught harassing women would have to undergo 15 day punishment, the guidelines said.