China's stocks closed lower on Wednesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index falling 0.23 percent, or 5.13 points, to close at 2,216.93.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed at 9,416.5, down 30.09 points, or 0.32 percent.

Aggregated turnover came in at 101.4 billion yuan (16.1 billion U.S. dollars), slightly up from 100.5 billion yuan the previous trading day.

Losers outnumbered gainers by 643 to 252 in Shanghai and by 868 to 556 in Shenzhen.

Media and entertainment shares were the day's biggest losers. Anhui Xinhua Media Co., Ltd slumped 2.97 percent to end at 11.12 yuan per share.

The banking sector was weak for the whole day, with China Merchants Bank down 0.91 percent to 10.89 yuan per share. The Bank of Communications shed 0.66 percent to 4.5 yuan per share.

Non-ferrous metal companies dropped after morning trading. Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare Earth Hi-Tech Co., the nation's largest producer of rare earth metals, went down 3.44 percent to end the day at 40.15 yuan per share.

Shipbuilding companies posted the widest gains on Wednesday. China State Shipbuilding Co. added 1.3 percent to 22.52 yuan per share, while Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. rose 3.92 percent to finish at 14.58 yuan per share.

The oil sector received a boost after the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced that it will make offshore areas in the South China Sea available for exploration via cooperation with foreign companies.

LandOcean Energy Services Co., Ltd surged 10.02 percent to 20.54 yuan per share.

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