Golden season turns to bronze

SHANGHAI - September and October are usually viewed by property salespeople as the best months to promote their products, but the traditional peak season for the housing market, nicknamed "Golden September and Silver October", is losing its sheen this year.

A slew of curbs on property market purchases, including the introduction of property taxes, stricter downpayment requirements and higher mortgage rates, have battered buying sentiment in major cities.

The crowds of homebuyers are gone and the latest housing fairs in Beijing and Shanghai saw sluggish trading volume.