China's top auction house stages 3-day preview

The collection will go under the hammer in Beijing in early December, but before that art fans are getting a rare treat to see them up close for a few days in the city before they're sold.

Nearly three dozen pieces of Chinese fine art, including Zhang Daqian's masterpieces, are on display in Hong Kong. The collection will go under the hammer in Beijing in early December, but before that art fans are getting a rare treat to see them up close for a few days in the city before they're sold.

Thirty-three Chinese art pieces – from fine modern Chinese paintings to classical Chinese paintings and calligraphy, here in Hong Kong for a special exhibition tour. These give art enthusiasts and connoisseurs one last look before they're auctioned off in Beijing."

The highest on the lot: Qi Bai Shi's 1937 masterpiece, this one going for at least 25 million Chinese RMB or over 4.1 million US dollars.

His masterpieces flanked by equally sought-after works by his contemporaries Fu Baoshi from Jiangxi province, and those of Qi Baishi, most noted for his whimsical, often playful style of watercolor works.

These Chinese ink painters are hot property in the market now, says Alex Chung of Poly Auction Hong Kong, and it's likely to stay that way for some time to come.

Alex Chung, Managing Director, Poly Auction (Hong Kong) Ltd., said, "Regarding Chinese painters, since the mainland economic system is getting more powerful, the market is having more and higher expectations on them. It came to our realisation that the greatest change of Chinese art is it flourishes in the market system. However, we can also see market expectation on Chinese artists. China is a culturally rich country with a long history. We believe that Chinese artists will grow stronger in the future.

The competition is getting just as strong. Just stone's throw away; bigger rival Christie's autumn auctions are well underway.

And among other masterpieces, Qi Baishi's watercolor works also went under the hammer, giving these auctioneers' biggest clients – the Mainland art buyers; a wider array of choice in the search for rare and magnificent pieces of fine Chinese art.