Chinese authorities have reportedly told restaurants and bars in a Beijing university district to temporarily limit how many foreigners they serve.

Key points: Employees say they were told they would be shut down if they did not comply

Employees say they were told they would be shut down if they did not comply Authorities say that the notice was intended to control peak hour crowds, and not foreigners

Authorities say that the notice was intended to control peak hour crowds, and not foreigners Social media lights up with jokes as to whether the reports were a hoax or not

Three businesses in Wudaokou were told to make sure they served no more than 10 foreigners at a time on Friday and Saturday nights, the South China Morning Post reported.

Restaurants told the paper they were notified of the temporary rule last week, and it would remain in place until March 22, two days after China's National People's Congress comes to a close.

Security in China is usually ramped up during big political events.

"We were told that if we did not comply, our business would be shut down immediately," the Post quoted an employee as saying.

A notice allegedly posted outside the Pyro Pizza restaurant and bar —which bills itself as a "student standard" with "cold draft beer all day, and Beer Pong and [karaoke] all night long" — said the request came from local authorities.

"We appreciate your understanding during these challenging times," the note from authorities adds.

A photo of another notice from the Lush cafe and restaurant, which is under the same management as Pyro Pizza, had the same information.

But an officer who overseas the restaurants in Wudaokou acknowledged to the Post that security had been ramped up in Beijing due to the National People's Congress, but added that the request wasn't intended to target only foreigners but to limit venue capacities at peak hours.

"We've never issued such a notice. We merely told bars and restaurants to control the total number of customers during peak hours, without making any specific requirements," the officer told the Post.

'Struggling to see the security risk'

While calls to Pyro Pizza were not answered, an employee at the Lush cafe told the ABC she thought the reports might be part of an online hoax.

A handful of memes poking fun at the rule have since been widely circulated on social media.

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The employee, who declined to give her name, denied police had given the restaurants directions to limit the number of foreigners they let in, despite the reports in local media.

Local police referred the ABC to Beijing's Municipal Public Security Bureau's media department, however calls to the bureau were not answered.

WeChat users commenting on articles about the rule said they could not understand the reasoning behind it.

"Perhaps I'm naive, but I'm struggling to see the security risk posed by 11 foreigners eating pizza in a restaurant!" one said.

"I get it. All these foreign students getting drunk and invading the Great Hall of the People every time the congress is in session is getting a bit stale, right?" another said.