The two biggest Chinese auctioneers, Beijing Poly and China Guardian, seem to think it worthwhile: they have applied to join.

ECONOMIST: Auctions are moving online

Last month, Mr. Yang arrived at a Beijing luxury hotel and made his way into the packed salesroom of Poly, China's biggest auction house.

WSJ: Art's New Pecking Order

China Vanke rose 0.3% and Poly Real Estate added 1.1%.

WSJ: Europe Concerns Weigh on Asian Shares

China Vanke was down 3.1%, China Merchants Property Development fell 5.8% and Poly Real Estate shed 4.9%.

WSJ: China Shares Fall 1.6%

Museum assistant Hu Way says that for all its formidable connections Poly is not about to buy up all of China's overseas art treasures.

NPR: Buying Back China's Lost Art Treasures

Some property companies recovered from losses brought about by fear of further tightening in the housing market: Poly Real Estate Group added 1.4% and China Merchants Property Development rose 1.6%.

WSJ: Asian Shares Mixed Amid Weak Europe Data

Gemdale rose 1.7% and Poly Real Estate Group added 2%, while Bank of China improved by 1.7% and China Life Insurance advanced 1.6%.

WSJ: Asia Markets Finish Mixed

The Shanghai Poly Theater, by Tadao Ando, is now under construction in Jiading, China, next to a man-made lake in the center of a large park.

CNN: Best 'starchitect'-built theaters