According to Reuters calculations based on data from China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), average new home prices in 70 major cities climbed at an annual rate of 6.2% in April, after a 4.9% gain in March. It was the fastest annual rise since April 2014.

The main contributor was Shenzhen, where home prices jumped by 62.4% year-on-year in April.

On a monthly base, house prices increased in 65 of 70 cities, while prices slid in 5 cities, according to the NBS.

The monthly rise was mainly driven by higher prices in Hefei, which climbed 5.8% in April.