Pieces of history

In the turbulence of the last century, many of China's cultural relics were looted, sold abroad or even worse - destroyed. Zhao Xu reports on the State-owned antique stores and the unique role they have played in protecting the country's heritage Zhao Xu

Xu Qing says he can't remember exactly how many treasures have passed through his hands. The 56-year-old has worked at the State-owned Henan Provincial Antique Store for 34 years and has witnessed many major changes in China's policy concerning its innumerable antiques.

"I watched as an entire room of ancient scrolls were taken off the walls and sold to people. I watched as a whole batch of antique bronze sitting Buddhas' were sold not according to their individual value but to their total weight," says Xu. "Today, the best of these things turn up - if they turn up at all - at auctions in and outside of the country and are hotly sought after by avid collectors who have no idea how long they will have to wait if they miss the opportunity to buy."