It is thus one of the best known paintings in China; the purchaser has not been named.The auction explosion in China is primarily an investment phenomenon. On 1 July 1968, a large colour print of it was enclosed in three publications, People’s Daily, Liberation Army’s Daily and Red Flag Magazine, putting several million copies into circulation. Called Chairman Mao goes to Anyuan, it was painted in1967 by a Red Guard named Liu Chunhua, now director of the Peking Academy. The young Mao is depicted clutching a folded parasol, with an extensive landscape behind him.In 1967 Mao was trying to oust President Liu Shaoqi, who was famous for organising a strike in the south-eastern city of Anyuan in 1923.

Commissioning the painting was a propaganda bid by Mao aimed at suggesting that he himself had led the strike. He had visited Anyuan on seven occasions between 1921 and 1927, he claimed.The picture was an instant success. As the firms gather confidence, more and more important works are being offered for sale.
The romantic portrait of Mao is one of the great icons of Communist China. There has been an explosion of auction activity in China over the last two years.

More than 100 new Chinese firms have sprung into being, modelled on the Hong Kong branches of Sotheby’s and Christie’s, but only four are serious concerns: three in Peking and one in Shanghai. It did not make any headlines since the auctioneer was a mainland China firm that opened for business in March 1994 and is not yet in touch with the international press. The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (0171 377 1644) produce a pack on The Repair of Wood Windows, price pounds 4.00. Cathedral Communications (01747 871717) produce The Building Conservation Directory (pounds 14.95), a useful guide to specialist services/suppliers relating to a range of restoration disciplines including stained glass.