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BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese shares gained on Monday, with the key Shanghai index up to its highest level in nearly two weeks, after the country's banks restarted "counter-cyclical" adjustment as part of the pricing mechanism of the yuan's central parity rate against the greenback.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.89 percent ending at 2,780.90 points, the highest closing since Aug. 14. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 2.87 percent higher at 8,728.56 points.

Most shares gained, with gainers outnumbering losers by 1,331 to 46 on the Shanghai bourse and 1,930 to 85 in Shenzhen.

Combined turnover for the two bourses expanded to 323.28 billion yuan (about 47.19 billion U.S. dollars) from 239.18 billion yuan the previous trading day.

The healthcare sector led the gains with sub-index up 4.99 percent. Aier Eye Hospital Group surged 6.19 percent to 31.73 yuan. Top Choice Medical Investment Co. climbed 5.32 percent to 57.25 yuan.

Airline shares and tourism service providers were among gainers, with their sub-indices rising 2.15 percent and 3.58 percent respectively, as investors predicted that the yuan's strengthening would boost their performance.

Air China rose 3.25 percent to 7.62 yuan, while China Southern Airlines went up 4.5 percent to 6.97 yuan. China CYTS Tours Holding Co., a primary travel service provider, gained 3.27 percent to 15.49 yuan.

The central parity rate of the yuan strengthened 202 basis points to 6.8508 against the U.S. dollar Monday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS).

The rise came after an announcement by CFETS on Friday that Chinese banks have restarted "counter-cyclical" adjustment.

The CFETS said the adjustment will play an active role in helping the yuan remain stable at a reasonable and balanced level, adding other favorable conditions including a steady economy and a quicker shift of growth drivers.