Chinese stocks closed higher on Wednesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 1.31 percent to 3,186.81 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.22 percent higher at 9,539.89 points.

The combined turnover of these two indices stood at about 1.7 trillion yuan (roughly 236 billion U.S. dollars), up from 1.63 trillion yuan on the previous trading day.

Shares related to military equipment and duty-free sectors emerged as top gainers, while those in the banking and insurance sectors suffered big losses.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 0.98 percent to close at 1,858.36 points on Wednesday.