The top auction lots this time are four calligraphic works of Chinese characters made by well-known scholars Zhu Xi and Zhang Shi in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) and another two pieces from Song emperors.

Opening bids will start at 5 million yuan (US$602,400).

"The six works have been well kept by the descendants of Zhan Yizhi, a Song official, in the past 800 years," said Kou Qin, vice president of China Guardian Auctions Co., Ltd.

International art collectors are expected to turn up in full force for the event, said the senior auctioneer.

Shifting from its long-time tradition, Guardian will shorten its three-day auctions into two days, which fall on April 24 and 25, at the Kunlun Hotel.

All the 3,300 arts items will fetch more than 100 million yuan, Kou said.

Chinese calligraphy and paintings to go on the auction block also include a valuable painting of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), slated to start at an opening bid of 1.2 million yuan; a landscape by Yuan Yao, starting at 1.6 million yuan; a landscape by Fu Baoshi, for 4.5 million yuan; "Flowers" by Zhang Daqian, 2.8 million yuan; and a landscape by Qi Baishi for 2.5 million yuan.

Meanwhile, Guardian will bring out some precious porcelain items from the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), three of which should bring in over 250,000 yuan.

The auction company has also prepared more than 300 rare books, 1,500 stamps and coins, as well as hundreds of pieces of jewelry.

(People’s Daily 04/12/2001)