The rise of property prices in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen slowed in April while prices in nearby towns surged. That's according to fresh data from the China Index Academy.

The academy says that among the 100 cities it monitors, new home prices rose 1.45 percent on average on the month. But compared with a year ago, prices rose nearly 9 percent. Cities that saw the biggest price increases were south China's Huizhou, Kunshan and Zhong Shan.