(Yicai Global) Dec. 20 -- Chinese stock markets opened slightly higher this morning with property shares leading the charge.

All three major benchmarks started 0.09 percent higher, with the Shanghai Composite Index at 3,019.64, the Shenzhen Component Index at 10,305.10, and the ChiNext Price Index, which track Shenzhen-listed growth stocks, at 1,792.05.

Shares in property firms were up 1 percent on average at the opening bell.