Following a successful spring auction which earned a record 194 million yuan (US$24,659,000), China Guardian Auctions will stage its autumn auction at Kunlun Hotel from November 22 to 26.

More than 4,000 items will be put under the hammer, ranging from paintings and books from different eras, handicrafts and chinaware to old stamps and coins for collectors.

Over 900 Chinese paintings and calligraphy works make up most of the auction items and have been categorized into four sections with different themes. The Elite Collection auction will mainly feature artworks by three Chinese painting masters - Zhang Daqian, Huang Binhong and Qi Baishi. They include the 1929 Portrait of Zhong Kui by Zhang Daqian, which is prized because the artist partly modelled it on himself.

Another part of the auction will present works by prominent artists in Chinese modern painting and calligraphy. It includes a rare piece by Xu Beihong, who is famous for vivid depictions of galloping horses. The artist has, for time ever, painted 10 horses in one painting.

The sections featuring ancient painting, calligraphy and chinaware will draw mainly on imperial relics from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). And, for only the second time in nine years, Guardian will hold an auction of Chinese fan paintings, which include 170-odd works by famous painters since the late Qing Dynasty.

Pre-auction inspections will be held from November 22 to 24 at Kunlun Hotel.

Time/date: 9am - 6pm, November 22-26

Location: 1 Xinyuan Nanlu

Tel: 6590-3388 ext 5527

(Beijing Weekend November 7, 2003)