A lifetime of collecting

When asked if he has gone to the Zhengzhou Antique Fair, arguably the biggest in China, Liu Jinhong, 57, who has his own store inside Beijing Antique City, dismisses the idea as "tiring and completely unnecessary".

"Why should I go? They come to me almost every week," he said.

It might seem arrogant, but Liu is an expert. There is a pile of books on his counter, on antique silver and embroideries, all penned by him. "Last month, two universities asked if I could give lectures to their students at the archeology department," he said. "And a museum show featuring my collection of court clothes from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) is pending."