Chinese shares edged down 0.52 percent on Tuesday, trailing the downward trend of the previous two trading days, amid thin trading volume.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.52 percent, or 12.88 points to end at 2,457.2. The Shenzhen Component Index closed at 8,192.8 points, up 22.65 points, or 0.28 percent.

Aggregate turnover on the two bourses sharply shrank to 48.22 billion yuan ($7.03 billion) from 69.77 billion yuan on the previous trading day. Losses outnumbered gains by 552-304 in Shanghai and 422-285 in Shenzhen.