China's broadcasting watchdog has banned radio shows it deemed too sexually explicit from being broadcast by two local radio stations in Sichuan Province, southwest China.

A provincial radio station in Sichuan and a municipal station in Chengdu, the provincial capital, were said to have "aired programs about sex and drugs for two to three hours after 9:00 p.m. every day", according to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).

"The programs contained extremely pornographic material, causing great harm to the psychological development of young people, fouled the social air and damaged the reputation of China's broadcasting institutions," the administration said.

It ordered the two stations to suspend the shows immediately and severely punish the producers.

A statement from SARFT then reiterated the importance of "creating a harmonious cultural environment for the youth".

"All stations are prohibited from organizing, making or broadcasting shows that flout the code of ethics, violate science and civilization or feature sexual content," it said.

"Relevant departments should conduct thorough check-ups on all local programs and correct irregularities," it said.

Earlier this year, the SARFT warned television stations screening reality shows that they would be punished if they failed to monitor the quality of the programs.

The SARFT has strengthened its supervision and administration of all channels of TV and radio stations recently. It has reiterated bans on sexually suggestive commercials, programs on plastic and transsexual surgeries and vulgar talent shows.

At a conference in November last year, SARFT deputy director Zhang Haitao defined "vulgar programs" as those with contents depicting violence, pornography and horror.