Chinese equities closed lower as investors locked in profits following eight straight trading days of gains running till Tuesday, but B shares continued the upward trend.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, slipped 0.98 percent to 3,141.87 points. The Shenzhen Component Index lost 0.96 percent to 13,053.22 points.

However, U.S. dollar-denominated B shares at Shanghai Stock Exchange continued the bullish trend to rise 6.05 percent in the morning session, to close at 243.46 points.

The Shanghai Composite Index's B-share index climbed to a 17-month new high as of Thursday, on some investors' strengthened expectation of a yuan appreciation, analysts said.