"Empty" commercial complexes highlight an oversupply, according to an economic planning official.

Qiao Runling, deputy director of the China Center for Urban Development under the National Development and Reform Commission, said there are lots of "empty" commercial complexes and the situation is even more serious in central and western areas.

"Nearly every medium-sized city or even small city across China has plans to build a quality commercial complex, resulting in an obvious oversupply," Qiao said, quoting the result of his research at a forum held by the China Index Academy

The ability for consumers to shop is one of the factors behind the oversupply, Qiao said.

According to a survey by Nielsen, retail sales for fast-moving consumer goods in fourth-tier cities accounted for 44 percent of the nation's total in the third quarter, up 9 percent compared with the same period last year. Meanwhile, consumers from these cities generated 52 percent of China's total online shopping.