Chinese shares fell Monday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 1.21 percent at 2,669.48 points, the lowest level since August 17.
The Shenzhen Component Index dropped 1.97 percent to end at 8,158.49 points.
Trading remained thin, with combined turnover at the two bourses standing at 247.8 billion yuan (about 36.3 billion U.S. dollars), down from 272 billion yuan the previous trading day.
Most shares declined, with losers outnumbering gainers by 1,202 to 162 at the Shanghai bourse and by 1,749 to 252 in Shenzhen.
Market heavyweights were weak. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country's largest commercial bank, slid 0.19 percent to 5.34 yuan. China Shenhua, the largest coal miner in China, fell 1.64 percent to 18.58 yuan. PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer, edged down 0.24 percent to 8.18 yuan.
Bucking the downward trend, shares of natural gas-related firms gained, after the country issued a guideline last week to boost the development of the sector.
Xinjiang East Universe Gas Co. and Guizhou Gas Group Corporation both surged by the daily limit of 10 percent to 41.64 yuan and 24.21 yuan respectively. Xinjiang Xintai Natural Gas Co. gained 2.36 percent to 36.93 yuan.
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