Andy Lau gives a salute while displaying his Olympic torch at a charity auction on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 in Sanya, Hainan Province. [Photo: Xinhua]

Andy Lau has auctioned the torch he carried during the Hong Kong leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay to raise funds for Sichuan earthquake victims.

The superstar's torch fetched the highest bid of 1.9 million yuan (US$274,356) in a charity auction held in Sanya, Hainan Province on Tuesday. Lau also successfully bid 750,000 yuan (US$108,298) for local TV anchor Zhao Yuying's torch.

A total of 3.15 million yuan (US$454,853) was raised at the event. The proceeds will go into building education infrastructure in Sichuan.

Andy Lau had previously visited survivors in the province and headlined an 8-hour fundraising show in Hong Kong.

(CRI June 4, 2008)