Chinese artist Liu Xiaodong's oil painting "New Immigrants at the Three Gorges" (Sanxia Xin Yimin) set a new record at the Auction of Contemporary Chinese Artworks when it sold for 22 million yuan (US$2.70 million).

Zhang Lan, boss of the South Beauty Chain Restaurants, was the highest bidder at the 2006 Poly Autumn Auction on Tuesday at the Asia Hotel of Beijing.

Liu painted the "New Immigrants" at the Three Gorges in 2004. There are 11 characters in the 10-metre-long work, including three children. "This work depicts the construction site at the Three Gorges, rock fragments from explosion, immigrants wearing various facial expressions and innocent children," Liu said. "It was done during the summer, and I was almost blinded by the strong sunshine after spending a long time facing the canvas under the sun."

The painting started at 6.5 million yuan (US$801,500), and was bid on by more than 10 buyers.

(China Daily November 23, 2006)