The Caixin/Markit Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for China declined to 51.2 in November from 52.0 in October, missing expectations for an increase to 53.1.
The index was driven by a slower growth in total new work.
Employment continued to rise in November, while outstanding business continued to decline.
"The macro economy has moved further toward stable growth and the economic structure is improving. Future fiscal and monetary policies must be coordinated and large-scale stimulus should be avoided as much as possible," Dr. He Fan, Chief Economist at Caixin Insight Group, said.