Chinese stocks opened higher on Wednesday after a holiday weekend as authorities came up with new rules to regulate stock sales by major shareholders and management.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.49 percent, at 3,125.33 points, while the smaller Shenzhen Component index opened 0.86 percent higher at 9,944.12 points.

The ChiNext Index, China's NASDAQ-style board of growth enterprises, was up 1.02 percent to open at 1,777.65 points.

China's securities regulator on Saturday announced new rules governing sale of stock by major shareholders and management, in an effort to slow the pace of unloading stocks, protect the rights of small investors and guarantee stable market operations.

Official data released Wednesday showed that China's manufacturing sector expanded for the 10th straight month in May. The country's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in at 51.2 in May, flat with April.

Non-manufacturing PMI came in at 54.5 in May, up from 54 in April.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below reflects contraction.

The stock market was closed on Monday and Tuesday for the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday.