A recent survey found that about 78 percent of the respondents in urban areas in Guangdong province experienced an increase in property prices in 2012, 5 percentage points more than those in the previous survey.

The survey conducted by the Guangzhou Public Opinion Research Center interviewed 2,000 urban residents in Guangdong earlier this month.

About 58 percent of those polled expect property prices to go up this year, with 22 percent expecting stable prices.

About 74 percent of those interviewed considered the current property prices unbearable, and 56 percent don't plan to buy a property this year.

More residents in smaller cities and towns experienced property price hikes than those in large cities.