China's property market continued to cool as total floor space of sold apartments in major Chinese cities in November suffered the first year-on-year decline in 21 months.

今年11月，我国主要城市住宅销售总面积21个月以来首次同比下滑，房地产市场继续降温。

Last month, some 19.9m sq m were sold in 30 major cities, a 4.2% drop from the same period last year, according to data compiled by E-house China Research and Development Institute.

易居研究院汇编的数据显示，上个月，30个主要城市住宅销售面积约为1990万平方米，同比减少4.2%。

On a monthly basis, the fall was 10.5%, with Beijing shedding 7.9% and Shanghai dropping 24.6%, respectively.

从环比角度来看，这一数字下降了10.5%。北京和上海的环比降幅分别为7.9%和24.6%。

Second- and third-tier cities also posted month-on-month declines, with Hangzhou and Suzhou leading the retreat.

二、三线城市也出现了环比下跌，其中以杭州和苏州的跌幅最大。

Chinese authorities introduced a slew¹ of measures in October to rein² in house prices and contain speculative³ house purchases, including purchase limits and tougher mortgage limits.

为控制房价、抑制投机性购房，我国政府在10月出台了限购和收紧房贷限制等多项措施。

The year-on-year decline is expected to continue in December with less speculative home buyers, said Yan Yuejin, senior researcher with E-house China Research and Development Institute.

易居研究院资深研究员严跃进称，随着投机购房者的减少，12月有望延续同比下滑态势。

It proves the effectiveness of the cooling policies and means narrowed home price rises, Yan said.

严跃进表示，这一结果证明了冷却政策及减小房价上涨幅度手段的有效性。