Charity auction

Director Gao Xixi presented props of his television drama Legend of Chu and Han on auction for a charity project. The auction of 52 pieces of garments and musical instruments collected 2.13 million yuan ($342,000) on Jan 20. The top lot is a duplicate set of bianzhong (pictured), or ancient bells that fetched 550,000 yuan. The proceeds will go to China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation's project for mothers suffering from poverty. Gao's epic premiered on Anhui Satellite TV on Dec 28, costing 240 million yuan to depict the battle between two warlords Liu Bang and Xiang Yu more than 2,000 years ago.