Average home prices in China's 100 biggest cities rose 1 percent in January from December, quickening from the 0.2 percent pace in the previous month and marking the eighth consecutive monthly rise, a private survey showed over the weekend.  

Average home prices rose 1.2 percent in January from a year ago to 9,812 yuan ($1,600) per square meter, accelerating from December's 0.03 percent annual rise, according to the survey published by the China Real Estate Index System (CREIS).

Rising home prices could reignite official concerns about property inflation and trigger fresh property curbs, even as the economy appears to be slowly regaining traction.

"Home prices in tier-1 cities and some eastern coastal cities rose obviously last month, which fueled the quick gains on the average prices in 100 cities," CREIS said in a statement Friday.