Chinese mainland stocks rose for the first time in three days as a rally by rare-earth producers offset falling energy shares in the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses.

The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.3 percent at the close, after declining the most in three weeks on Monday. Xiamen Tungsten Co and China Northern Rare Earth Group High-Tech Co gained more than 3 percent, while Yantai Jereh Oilfield Services Group Co led losses by energy companies. The volume of shares traded on the gauge was 27 percent below the 30-day average.

The March rebound in mainland equities has slowed this month, with the Shanghai benchmark index up just 1.3 percent amid waning turnover as better economic data spur concern that the government will refrain from adding stimulus.