A man looks at the share price screen in a stock trading hall in Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 2, 2009.  (Xinhua/Zhou Hengyi) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese equities closed higher on Monday, helped by the pharmaceutical sectors and Shanghai's ambitious plan for a Walt Disney park yet to be announced.

    The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 80.80 points, or 2.70 percent, to end at 3,076.65. The Shenzhen Component Index added 418.49 points, or 3.40 percent, to close at 12,715.65.

    Combined turnover expanded to 254.17 billion yuan (37.22 billion U.S. dollars), from 217.03 billion yuan (31.78 billion U.S. dollars) on Friday.

    Boosted by the flu epidemic, bio-pharmaceutical companies led the rise with more than 20 stocks rising by the daily limit of 10 percent.

    China's Ministry of Health said Monday 390 million people in China were considered at high risk of A/H1N1 flu infection and they should be vaccinated.

    Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Corp. added by the daily limit of 10 percent to 33.87 yuan, and Hunan Jiuzhitang Corp. surged by the daily limit to 12.17 yuan.

    Real estate sector led by Shanghai local developers also performed well on a report that China approved a planned Walt Disney Co. theme park for the city.

    The South China Morning Post said Monday the park was approved by China's top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission.

    Shanghai mayor Han Zheng said Sunday an announcement about the latest development of the Disney plan may come "within the next few days."

    On the news, nine Shanghai local developers rose by the daily limit of 10 percent. Shanghai Jielong Industry Corp. jumped by the limit to 18.57 yuan and Shanghai Jinjiang International Industrial Investment Corp. climbed by the limit to 14.97 yuan.

    Most stocks traded on the ChiNext market, the country's Nasdaq-style startup board, plunged on the second trading day, with 25 out of the total 28 stocks down sharply and 20 sliding by the daily limit of 10 percent, after a soaring debut Friday.

Special Report:  Global Financial Crisis