BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese shares opened lower on Monday after ending a six-day slide Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.75 percent to open at 2,208.07.

The Shenzhen Component Index opened at 9,002.68, down 0.87 percent.

China issued rules for pilot programs of RMB Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (RQFII) on Friday after market close, formally giving a green light to investment of overseas RMB funds in mainland securities markets.

The scheme will allow Hong Kong subsidiaries of fund management companies and securities firms to invest in mainland securities markets with an initial investment quota of 20 billion yuan (3.16 billion U.s. dollars), which is expected to expand capital sources for the A-share market.