The iconic photograph of China's most prestigious charity program - Project Hope - was the most expensive picture sold at China's first photography auction held in Beijing on Thursday.

 

 

The 1991 photograph, popularly known as Big Eyes, captures the innocent eyes of a girl and is credited with persuading millions of Chinese to donate to Project Hope which helps school drop-outs in rural areas to return to class.

 

Bidding on the 51 cm by 34.8 cm photograph by Xie Hailong opened at 240,000 yuan (US$30,000). It finally sold for 308,000 yuan (US$38,500), the highest price paid at the Beijing auction, where more than 130 photographs were sold.

 

Xie said he would donate the proceeds to help pay for the construction of a Project Hope primary school in Tibet.

 

Many of the other photographs sold for 10 times more than their reserve prices.

 

"Photographs worth collecting should be of special significance and be a record of history," said Xu Jianing, an official with the auction house -- Huachen Auctions.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2006)