If China is one of the few countries in the world that shows an economic pulse, the manufacturing sector deserves much of the credit. 

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), a gauge of manufacturing activities across the nation, came in at 55.7 percent in April, up from 55.1 percent in March and 52 percent in February, said the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).

A reading above 50 percent indicates expansion, and this was the 14th straight month the index had registered above the threshold.

Among the 20 sectors surveyed by CFLP, only four reported an index under 50 percent, including non-ferrous metal, tobacco, pharmaceuticals and petroleum processing and coking.

The continued growth in manufacturing provides fresh evidence of vibrant domestic demands, which have effectively made up for a fall-out in exports, said Zhang Liqun, a CFLP analyst.

But pressures facing enterprises are building up as the prices of raw materials creep higher, said Zhang.