CHINA'S mainland stock markets have seen stellar growth in the past 20 years with combined market value hitting over 26 trillion yuan (US$3.93 trillion) by yesterday, the world's second biggest, said the chairman of the country's top securities watchdog yesterday.

The total number of firms listed on Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange was 2,026 by this year while 130 million people opened investment accounts, said Shang Fulin, chairman of China Securities Regulatory Commission.