Chinese stocks ended slightly higher Tuesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.33 percent, or 7.57 points, to close at 2,292.61.

The Shenzhen Component Index rose 0.31 percent, or 28.8 points, to finish at 9,303.65.

Total turnover on the two bourses shrank to 79.27 billion yuan (12.56 billion U.S. dollars) from 95.18 billion yuan on the previous trading day.

Gainers outnumbered losers by 502 to 377 in Shanghai, and losers outnumbered gainers by 749 to 590 in Shenzhen.

The declining trading volume has reflected a wait-and-see attitude among investors, which led the market to close nearly flat on Tuesday, analysts said.

Media and entertainment shares led Tuesday's rise by climbing 3.01percent. Anhui Xinhua Media Co., Ltd rose by the daily limit of 10 percent to 11.22 yuan.

Winemakers also rose markedly as the recent week-long Spring Festival holiday, an occasion for family reunions, greatly boosted wine sales.

Hebei Hengshui Laobaigan Liquor Co., Ltd. surged 8.47 percent to 22.55 yuan, while Tibet Galaxy Science & Technology Development Co., Ltd, a Tibetan beer producer, jumped 7.38 percent to 16.15 yuan.

Meanwhile, steel producers fell Tuesday, led by Angang Steel Co., Ltd, which estimated a net loss of 2.15 billion yuan in 2011 on Monday. The company's shares shed 4.38 percent to 4.58 yuan.

Gold miners also retreated after Monday's rise, with Zijin Mining Group Co., the country's largest gold producer, down 1.11 percent to 4.44 yuan.