Growth in China's manufacturing sector remained subdued in September, a sign that the world's second-largest economy is still struggling to recover its momentum.

The official Purchasing Managers' Index hovered at 51.1, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday, indicating a modest expansion in activity.

The data came a day after China cut mortgage rates for the first time since the 2008 global financial crisis, and reinforced a view among some analysts that sluggish domestic demand and a cooling property market were a drag on activity.