Shanghai was once regarded as the largest antique market in China, and now, various kinds of antiques like diamonds, ivories, porcelains and baldachins have emerged again in antique shops located in some narrow alleys. More and more local citizens have become professional collectors, hoping to gain profits with deals in antiques.

Currently merchandises of many antique dealers in Shanghai are bought from Shannxi, Henan and Hebei provinces. They joke about their activities as "collecting treasures from the bottom," or "getting treasures that others ignore."

When talking about his experience, Mr. Li was quite excited. He revealed that he had bought a bronze candlestick from a villager in Henan at just 200 yuan (US$25), but he sold it here in Shanghai at several thousand yuan. Li said collecting antiques is enjoyable for him.

An antique dealer said bluntly, "It is hard to give reasonable prices for antiques: buyers can buy a 200-yuan antique worth millions of yuan, while sellers can also sell valueless antiques at high prices."

Mr. Zhao said experiences are crucial to make money in antique market. He has also learned his lessons and vowed to study related knowledge. In 2004, he bought a painting in Shenyang at 220 thousand yuan, but later he found it was a spurious copy, which is valued only at 200 yuan.

(CRI.com November 16, 2006)