Chinese shares close higher Wednesday

Chinese stocks continued their upward rally on Wednesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gaining 1.16 percent to 2,896.31 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.21 percent higher at 8,537.73 points. The tech-heavy ChiNext gauge rose 1.62 percent to close at 1,641.54 points.

The Nasdaq-style ChiNext Index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and other indices, reflects the performance of stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Fueled by a package of stimulus measures, shares on the two bourses surged on Tuesday.

China's central bank, top securities regulator and financial regulator announced earlier that day a raft of monetary stimulus, property market support and capital market strengthening measures to support the country's high-quality economic development at a press conference.

These policies, which exceed market expectations, will boost market confidence, stimulate the vitality of market entities, stabilize credit levels, and enhance the sustainability of financial support for the real economy, said Wen Bin, chief economist at China Minsheng Bank.

Chinese shares close higher Wednesday

The Bayannur section of the Yellow River in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region became fully frozen as of 07:00 Sunday, officially entering its stable winter ice period.

Freezing of the river commenced on December 4, 2025, but repeated thawing and refreezing driven by temperature fluctuations and higher water flow postponed a full, stable freeze-over. The entire process lasted 48 days, 29 days longer than the previous year, making it the longest freezing period for this section in recent years.

In response to the extended and volatile freezing process, local authorities in Bayannur City and districts along the river have intensified their ice-jam prevention efforts. Officials have been conducting thorough inspections to identify and manage any potential obstacles within the river channel that could contribute to dangerous ice dams.

To ensure safety and stability during the frozen season, a 24-hour monitoring and patrol system has been implemented along the riverbanks to watch for any signs of ice-related hazards.

Inner Mongolia section of Yellow River enters stable ice period after 48 days