Year-ender: Top 10 cultural events from 2021

7. Qing Dynasty scroll marks the most expensive painting in 2021

Settling Down the Western Regions and Presenting Prisoners, a hand scroll from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), was sold for 414 million yuan ($65 million) with commission fee on June 6 this year at a Poly's auction, marking the most expensive Chinese ancient paintings in 2021, also the third of its kind in the world.

The painting, 42 cm long and 1,800 cm wide, is created by Xu Yang, an imperial court painter of the Qing Dynasty. It depicts a historical moment using a realistic technique, featuring another masterpiece of court painting during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty.