BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government is to ban individuals taking cultural relics predating 1911 out of the country, amid efforts to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage, a senior cultural heritage official said on Tuesday.

"Previous regulations stipulated that cultural relics predating 1795 could not be taken across the border by individuals. However, the base line is going to be adjusted to 1911," said Shan Jixiang, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH).

"The end of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), China's last feudal society, is a convenient social mark for Chinese archaeologists," Li Peisong, vice director of the SACH's Museum Department, told Xinhua.

The year 1911 was almost 100 years ago, which accorded with international practice that defines cultural relics protection based on centennial marks, Li said, noting the smuggling of China's cultural relics abroad had long been serious.

Shan said the new regulation, which banned more cultural relics from being taken out of the country, would be promulgated before the end of this year.

It also stipulates that important cultural relics produced before 1949 and major ethnic minority relics before 1966 could not be removed, except those taking part in overseas exhibitions, Shansaid.

Laws and regulations say the removal of all cultural relics should first be approved by the State Council, or China's cabinet, and they must go through the port designated by the government and declared to Customs.