Five reasons to be worried about the Chinese economy

Beijing watchers are growing concerned over the economic and political signals coming out of the world's second-largest economy

It has been a tough year for China. Premier Li Keqiang's plan to have slower but better balanced growth has run into difficulties and Beijing's struggle to transform its economic model has prompted fears that the world's second-biggest economy could be the source of the next global downturn.

Here are five warning signs that have set seasoned China watchers worrying that what started out as an exercise in rebalancing and controlled liberalisation might result in a hard landing.