Chinese equities opened lower Thursday after the the People's Bank of China, or the central bank, said it would issue 90 billion yuan (13.2 billion U.S. dollars) of three-year bills to dry up surplus liquidity.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.4 percent, to open at 3,021.29 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index opened down 0.18 percent to 11,745.24 points.