RESIDENTIAL land prices in most Chinese cities witnessed accelerated growth in the second quarter of this year, official data released yesterday showed.

Prices of land plots designated for housing development rose at a faster pace in 94 of the 105 cities - amounting to about 90 percent - tracked by the Ministry of Land during the April-June period, according to the data released by the ministry's land surveying and planning institute.

Of the 94 cities that registered quarterly growth, 40 saw increases of more than 5 percent and nine recorded gains of more than 10 percent.

Around the country, price of overall land plots, including those earmarked for commercial, residential and industrial purposes, climbed 1.62 percent quarter on quarter to an average 3,226 yuan (US$522) per square meter during the period, extending strength for the fifth straight quarter. That compared to a 1.47 percent growth recorded in the first quarter, the institute said.

First- and second-tier cities, in particular, registered robust demand for land plots in the first half of this year, with Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Chongqing making the top-five list in terms of sales value, data showed.