Chinese shares closed lower Tuesday, after Japan warned of further radiation leaks from a crippled nuclear power plant that had experienced three explosions and a fire since Friday's massive earthquake.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 41.37 points, or 1.41 percent, to 2,896.26.

The Shenzhen Component Index dropped 252.97 points, or 1.95 percent, to 12,705.32 points.

Combined turnover rose to 328.2 billion yuan (49 billion U.S. dollars) from 270.52 billion yuan on the previous trading day.

Losers outnumbered gainers 708 to 195 in Shanghai and 918 to 279 in Shenzhen.

Although anti-radiation equipment makers gained momentum, it did not stop the decline lead by gold, cement and coal shares.

Jihua Group Corporation Limited, China's biggest provider of military supplies, rose by the daily limit of 10 percent to close at 4.82 yuan per share from the previous trading day.

Zijin Mining Group Co., China's largest listed gold stock, fell 3.8 percent to close at 7.79 yuan per share from the previous close.

Cement stocks retreated across the board, with Henan Tongli Cement Co. Ltd, falling the most by 5.7 percent to close at 16.69 yuan per share from the previous trading day.

Shenhua Group Co., China's largest coal producer by revenue, dropped 2.7 percent from the previous close to close at 26.69 yuan per share.