Mainland shares closed slightly higher on Monday, as gains in consumer staples helped counter losses in artificial intelligence stocks, with investors pulling out of crowded high-growth sectors.

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index ended up 215 points, or 0.85 percent, at 25,633.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed up 0.38 percent at 3,826 while the Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.61 percent higher at 12,666.

The combined turnover of these two indexes stood at 2.42 trillion yuan, up from 2.3 trillion yuan on Friday.

Stocks in the robotics, pork and satellite internet sectors led gains while co-packaged optics and insurance stocks suffered major losses.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, lost 0.84 percent to close at 2,933.

Artificial intelligence shares, which surged nearly 50 percent this year, fell about two percent, with chip maker Cambricon Technologies sliding 5.4 percent.

Chinese optical module giants Zhongji Innolight and Eoptolink Technology slumped as much as 15 percent each, even as the two companies are set to be included in FTSE China A50 Index on September 19.

Consumer staple shares rose 1.9 percent, leading gains onshore.

Analysts at UBS China Equity team said that even if there are any forthcoming curbs, they are unlikely to match the severity of those seen in 2015, especially given that ETF flows and financing leverage remain at healthy levels.

The investment bank said that recent price swings highlight the strategic value of holding volatility through options, especially as the perceived support from state-backed buyers – often dubbed the "national team put" – appears to have faded following last week's military parade in Beijing.

Market reaction was limited as China's export growth slowed in August, weighed down by weaker shipments to the United States as a temporary boost from Beijing's tariff truce with its top consumer market fades.

Onshore property shares rose 1.4 percent after Shenzhen eased some home purchase restrictions on Friday. (Reuters/Xinhua)