Search China Travel News:

A Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) painting sold for a record price of 5.17 million yuan (625,150 US dollars) at the 2002 Beijing Hanhai Spring Auction here recently, surpassing the previous 4.4 million-yuan (532,043 dollars) price for a painting also by famous Chinese painter Zhu Da in China.

The painting, featuring two birds in a lotus pond, was put under the hammer by an overseas collector at a starting price of 2.2 million yuan.

Both domestic and foreign art collectors participated in the bidding.

Sources say that 2,158 items will be auctioned at Hanhai Spring Auction, half of which are owned by overseas collectors.

Another painting, "Mountain and Water", from an American collector was sold recently at 2.3 million yuan (278,113 dollars), attracting wide public attention.

In recent years, an increasing number of ancient Chinese treasures owned by overseas collectors have been sold at domestic auctions.

Experts say that surging market demand for cultural treasures and the efficient operations of Chinese auction companies helped to attract foreign collectors to China.

Meanwhile, a regulation issued by Chinese government in 1997, allowing ancient treasures, which are owned by foreign collectors and sold in China, to leave China after auction, also contributed to boost sales of antique items.