The city is fighting an uphill battle against illegal advertisements despite innovative strategies such as "calling-you-to-death", reports Yangcheng Evening News.

The automatic dialling system makes continuous calls to several hundred illegally advertised phone numbers, blocking any chance of genuine calls getting through.

But the advertisements - usually posted or written on walls - are increasing at a speed of 150,000 daily, said Guan, an urban sanitation official. Advertisers pay casual help 20 yuan (US$2.40) a day to post the ads.

Meanwhile, the sanitation department deploys a 150-strong task force to remove the advertisements.

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