Land sales in China 's first - tier cities such as Beijing , Shanghai and Guangzhou surged by 46 % year on year to 30 million sq metres in 2017 , according to the financial times Academy . The academy also reported that land sales in 300 Chinese cities rose by 8 % to 950 million sq metres and sales of land for residential purposes rose 24 % to 950 million sq metres . The government has been increasing land supply in order to put a brake on rising house prices . New purchase restrictions and requirements for higher prices have also had an effect in slowing price rises .
Land sales in China's first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou surged by 46% year on year to 30 million sq metres in 2017, according to the China Index Academy. The academy also revealed that land sales in 300 Chinese cities rose by 8% to 950 million sq metres and sales of land for residential purposes rose 24% to 354 million sq metres. The government has been increasing land supply in order to put a brake on rising house prices. New purchase restrictions and requirements for higher deposits have also had an effect in slowing price rises.