Bidding for bargains

An art auction specifically for Beijing's amateur collectors has seen a boom in the number of bidders over the past year. The sale, held monthly in Baolong Arts Park since July, is attracting larger and larger crowds, organizers say, with many people drawn by its quality lots at low prices.

Compared with the first event, when 100 potential buyers showed up, the last auction on April 14 saw more than 1,000 bidders flock to the park for a chance to bag a bargain.

Items up for grabs included jade, Chinese paintings, calligraphy works and ancient furniture, and the starting price for each was about 100 yuan ($16), said Chen Gexin, manager of Baolong Arts Park, a private auction house.

Most of the people bidding were amateur collectors, he said, adding that customers were required to pay a 2,000 yuan security deposit before taking part in the auction.