As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
On November 22, 2011
File No. 333-26229
811-08201
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Pre-Effective Amendment No. ¨
Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 x
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No. 23 x
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GREATER CHINA ‘97 FUND, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10105
(Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code):
(800) 221-5672
EMILIE D. WRAPP
AllianceBernstein L.P.
1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10105
(Name and address of Agent for Service)
Copies of communications to:
Kathleen K. Clarke
Seward & Kissel LLP
1200 G Street, NW
Suite 350
Washington, DC 20005
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
| immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |
| x | on November 22, 2011 pursuant to paragraph (b) |
| 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
| on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
| 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) |
| on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485. |
If appropriate, check the following box:
| This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment to its Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 22nd day of November, 2011.
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GREATER CHINA ‘97 FUND, INC.
| By: | Robert M. Keith* | |
| Robert M. Keith | ||
| President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of l933, as amended, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||||
| 1) | Principal Executive Officer: |
|||||
| Robert M. Keith* Robert M. Keith |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
November 22, 2011 | ||||
| 2) | Principal Financial and Accounting Officer: | |||||
| /s/ Joseph J. Mantineo Joseph J. Mantineo |
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
November 22, 2011 | ||||
All of the Directors:
John H. Dobkin*
Michael J. Downey
William H. Foulk, Jr.*
D. James Guzy*
Nancy P. Jacklin*
Robert M. Keith*
Garry L. Moody*
Marshall C. Turner, Jr.*
Earl D. Weiner*
| *By: | /s/ Stephen J. Laffey | November 22, 2011 | ||||
| Stephen J. Laffey | ||||||
| (Attorney-in-fact) |
Index to Exhibits
| Exhibit No. |
Description of Exhibits | |
| EX-101.INS | XBRL Instance Document | |
| EX-101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | |
| EX-101.CALC | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase | |
| EX-101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase | |
| EX-101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase | |
| EX-101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase | |
| Label | Element | Value | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||||
| Registrant Name | dei_EntityRegistrantName | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GREATER CHINA 97 FUND INC | ||||||
| Prospectus Date | rr_ProspectusDate | Nov. 01, 2011 | ||||||
AllianceBernstein Greater China 97 Fund | CLASS A SHARES | ||||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||||
| Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | 4.25% | ||||||
| Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice | none | ||||||
| Exchange Fee | rr_ExchangeFee | none | ||||||
| Management Fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.75% | ||||||
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.30% | ||||||
| Other Expenses: Transfer Agent | rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.23% | ||||||
| Other Expenses | rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.74% | ||||||
| Total Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.97% | ||||||
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 2.02% | ||||||
| After 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 621 | ||||||
| After 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 1,032 | ||||||
| After 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 1,467 | ||||||
| After 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 2,673 | ||||||
| After 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 621 | ||||||
| After 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 1,032 | ||||||
| After 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 1,467 | ||||||
| After 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 2,673 | ||||||
| Annual Return 2001 | rr_AnnualReturn2001 | (11.93%) | ||||||
| Annual Return 2002 | rr_AnnualReturn2002 | (15.22%) | ||||||
| Annual Return 2003 | rr_AnnualReturn2003 | 81.12% | ||||||
| Annual Return 2004 | rr_AnnualReturn2004 | 3.74% | ||||||
| Annual Return 2005 | rr_AnnualReturn2005 | 5.14% | ||||||
| Annual Return 2006 | rr_AnnualReturn2006 | 65.53% | ||||||
| Annual Return 2007 | rr_AnnualReturn2007 | 50.30% | ||||||
| Annual Return 2008 | rr_AnnualReturn2008 | (55.27%) | ||||||
| Annual Return 2009 | rr_AnnualReturn2009 | 57.94% | ||||||
| Annual Return 2010 | rr_AnnualReturn2010 | 11.01% | ||||||
| Year to Date Return, Label | rr_YearToDateReturnLabel | year-to-date | ||||||
| Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date | rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate | Sep. 30, 2011 | ||||||
| Bar Chart, Year to Date Return | rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn | (30.69%) | ||||||
| Highest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel | BEST QUARTER | ||||||
| Highest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate | Jun. 30, 2009 | ||||||
| Highest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn | 29.21% | ||||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel | WORST QUARTER | ||||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate | Sep. 30, 2001 | ||||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn | (28.31%) | ||||||
| 1 YEAR | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 6.31% | [1] | |||||
| 5 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 13.31% | [1] | |||||
| 10 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 10.67% | [1] | |||||
AllianceBernstein Greater China 97 Fund | CLASS A SHARES | Return After Taxes on Distributions | ||||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||||
| 1 YEAR | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 5.60% | [1] | |||||
| 5 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 11.62% | [1] | |||||
| 10 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 9.79% | [1] | |||||
AllianceBernstein Greater China 97 Fund | CLASS A SHARES | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ||||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||||
| 1 YEAR | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 5.04% | [1] | |||||
| 5 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 11.26% | [1] | |||||
| 10 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 9.31% | [1] | |||||
AllianceBernstein Greater China 97 Fund | CLASS B SHARES | ||||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||||
| Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||||||
| Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice | 4.00% | [2] | |||||
| Exchange Fee | rr_ExchangeFee | none | ||||||
| Management Fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.75% | ||||||
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 1.00% | ||||||
| Other Expenses: Transfer Agent | rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.27% | ||||||
| Other Expenses | rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.74% | ||||||
| Total Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 1.01% | ||||||
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 2.76% | ||||||
| After 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 679 | ||||||
| After 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 1,056 | ||||||
| After 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 1,459 | ||||||
| After 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 2,913 | ||||||
| After 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 279 | ||||||
| After 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 856 | ||||||
| After 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 1,459 | ||||||
| After 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 2,913 | ||||||
| 1 YEAR | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 6.26% | ||||||
| 5 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 13.49% | ||||||
| 10 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 10.51% | ||||||
AllianceBernstein Greater China 97 Fund | CLASS C SHARES | ||||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||||
| Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||||||
| Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice | 1.00% | [3] | |||||
| Exchange Fee | rr_ExchangeFee | none | ||||||
| Management Fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.75% | ||||||
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 1.00% | ||||||
| Other Expenses: Transfer Agent | rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.24% | ||||||
| Other Expenses | rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.75% | ||||||
| Total Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.99% | ||||||
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 2.74% | ||||||
| After 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 377 | ||||||
| After 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 850 | ||||||
| After 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 1,450 | ||||||
| After 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 3,070 | ||||||
| After 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 277 | ||||||
| After 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 850 | ||||||
| After 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 1,450 | ||||||
| After 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 3,070 | ||||||
| 1 YEAR | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 9.29% | ||||||
| 5 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 13.52% | ||||||
| 10 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 10.35% | ||||||
AllianceBernstein Greater China 97 Fund | ADVISOR CLASS SHARES | ||||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||||
| Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||||||
| Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice | none | ||||||
| Exchange Fee | rr_ExchangeFee | none | ||||||
| Management Fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.75% | ||||||
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||||||
| Other Expenses: Transfer Agent | rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.23% | ||||||
| Other Expenses | rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.76% | ||||||
| Total Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.99% | ||||||
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.74% | ||||||
| After 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 177 | ||||||
| After 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 548 | ||||||
| After 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 944 | ||||||
| After 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 2,052 | ||||||
| After 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 177 | ||||||
| After 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 548 | ||||||
| After 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 944 | ||||||
| After 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 2,052 | ||||||
| 1 YEAR | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 11.38% | ||||||
| 5 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 14.64% | ||||||
| 10 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 11.51% | ||||||
AllianceBernstein Greater China 97 Fund | ||||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||||
| Risk/Return [Heading] | rr_RiskReturnHeading | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GREATER CHINA '97 FUND | ||||||
| Objective [Heading] | rr_ObjectiveHeading | INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE | ||||||
| Objective, Primary [Text Block] | rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock | The Fund's investment objective is long-term capital appreciation through investment of at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of Greater China companies. | ||||||
| Expense [Heading] | rr_ExpenseHeading | FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND | ||||||
| Expense Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock |
| ||||||
| Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] | rr_ShareholderFeesCaption | SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||||
| Operating Expenses Caption [Text] | rr_OperatingExpensesCaption | ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||||
| Portfolio Turnover [Heading] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading | PORTFOLIO TURNOVER | ||||||
| Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock | The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys or sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These transaction costs, which are not reflected in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Examples, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 78% of the average value of its portfolio. | ||||||
| Portfolio Turnover, Rate | rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate | 78.00% | ||||||
| Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts | You may qualify for sales charge reductions if you and members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. | ||||||
| Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount | 100,000 | ||||||
| Expense Example [Heading] | rr_ExpenseExampleHeading | EXAMPLES | ||||||
| Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock | The Examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses stay the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | ||||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption | You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares at the end of period: | ||||||
| Strategy [Heading] | rr_StrategyHeading | PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES | ||||||
| Strategy Narrative [Text Block] | rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80%, and normally substantially all, of its net assets in equity securities of Greater China companies, which are companies in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Of these countries, the Fund expects to invest a significant portion of its assets, which may be greater than 50%, in Hong Kong companies and may invest all of its assets in Hong Kong companies or companies of either of the other Greater China countries. The Fund also may invest in convertible securities and equity-linked debt securities issued or guaranteed by Greater China companies or Greater China Governments, their agencies, or instrumentalities. As of July 31, 2011, the Fund had approximately 53% of its net assets invested in securities of China companies, 25.2% of its net assets in Taiwan companies and 16.8% of its net assets in Hong Kong companies.
In addition to investing in equity securities of Greater China companies, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in (i) debt securities issued or guaranteed by Greater China companies or by Greater China Governments, their agencies or instrumentalities and (ii) equity or debt securities issued by issuers other than Greater China companies. The Fund may invest in short- or long-term fixed income securities and will invest only in investment grade securities. | ||||||
| Risk [Heading] | rr_RiskHeading | PRINCIPAL RISKS | ||||||
| Risk Narrative [Text Block] | rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock | . MARKET RISK: The value of the Fund's assets will fluctuate as the stock or bond market fluctuates. The value of its investments may decline, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, simply because of economic changes or other events that affect large portions of the market. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing, such as growth, may underperform the market generally.
. FOREIGN (NON-U.S.) RISK: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers may involve more risk than those of U.S. issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be less liquid due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.
. EMERGING MARKET RISK: Investments in emerging market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. . CURRENCY RISK: Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund's investments or reduce its returns. . COUNTRY OR GEOGRAPHIC RISK: Investments in issuers located in a particular country or geographic region may have more risk because of particular market factors affecting that country or region, including political instability or unpredictable economic conditions. Risks of investments in securities of Chinese companies include the volatility of the Chinese stock market, heavy dependence on exports, which may decrease, sometimes significantly, when the world economy weakens, and the continuing importance of the role of the Chinese Government, which may take actions that affect economic and market practices. Risks of investments in Hong Kong companies include heavy reliance on the U.S. economy and other regional economies, particularly the Chinese economy, which makes these investments vulnerable to changes in these economies. Investments in Taiwanese companies are subject to the risk that the continuing issue of Taiwan's sovereignty, which is disputed by China, could have an adverse effect on Taiwan's economy. In addition, like China, Taiwan's economy is export-driven and vulnerable to global economic downturns. . FOCUSED PORTFOLIO RISK: Investments in a limited number of companies may have more risk because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund's NAV. . DERIVATIVES RISK: Investments in derivatives may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund, and may be subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments. . MANAGEMENT RISK: The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment fund. The Adviser will apply its investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there is no guarantee that its techniques will produce the intended results. As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund. | ||||||
| Risk Lose Money [Text] | rr_RiskLoseMoney | As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund. | ||||||
| Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] | rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading | BAR CHART AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION | ||||||
| Performance Narrative [Text Block] | rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock | The bar chart and performance information provide an indication of the historical risk of an investment in the Fund by showing: . how the Fund's performance changed from year to year over ten years; and . how the Fund's average annual returns for one, five and ten years compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.
You may obtain updated performance information on the Fund's website at www.AllianceBernstein.com (click on "Pricing & Performance").
The Fund's past performance before and after taxes, of course, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. | ||||||
| Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] | rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns | . how the Fund's performance changed from year to year over ten years; and . how the Fund's average annual returns for one, five and ten years compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. | ||||||
| Performance Availability Website Address [Text] | rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress | www.AllianceBernstein.com | ||||||
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture | The Fund's past performance before and after taxes, of course, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. | ||||||
| Bar Chart [Heading] | rr_BarChartHeading | BAR CHART | ||||||
| Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] | rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock | The annual returns in the bar chart are for the Fund's Class A shares and do not reflect sales loads. If sales loads were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. Through September 30, 2011, the year-to-date unannualized return for Class A shares was -30.69%. | ||||||
| Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] | rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads | The annual returns in the bar chart are for the Fund's Class A shares and do not reflect sales loads. If sales loads were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. | ||||||
| Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] | rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock | During the period shown in the bar chart, the Fund's:
BEST QUARTER WAS UP 29.21%, 2ND QUARTER, 2009; AND WORST QUARTER WAS DOWN -28.31%, 3RD QUARTER, 2001. | ||||||
| Performance Table Heading | rr_PerformanceTableHeading | PERFORMANCE TABLE AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS(For the periods ended December 31, 2010) | ||||||
| Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate | rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate | Are an estimate, which is based on the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes; | ||||||
| Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred | rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred | Are not relevant to investors who hold fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. | ||||||
| Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] | rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown | After-tax returns: -Are shown for Class A shares only and will vary for Class B, Class C and Advisor Class shares because these classes have different expense ratios; | ||||||
AllianceBernstein Greater China 97 Fund | MSCI Golden Dragon Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | ||||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||||
| 1 YEAR | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 13.60% | ||||||
| 5 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 13.09% | ||||||
| 10 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 9.53% | ||||||
AllianceBernstein Greater China 97 Fund | MSCI Golden Dragon Index (Net) (reflects a deduction for non-U.S. withholding taxes on dividends but no other deduction) | ||||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||||
| 1 YEAR | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 13.24% | ||||||
| 5 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 12.75% | ||||||
| 10 YEARS | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | |||||||
| ||||||||