A prized koi fish has set a new national auction record in China after being sold for an astonishing 4 million yuan (approximately RM2.3 million) during a high-profile auction in Foshan, Guangdong.
The record-breaking sale took place at the inaugural Changlong Koi Live Auction in Shunde, where more than 120 koi fish were put up for bidding by collectors and breeders.
The star attraction was a 75-centimetre red-and-white koi from the highly regarded “Jinmao” bloodline. After three years of selective breeding, the fish became one of the first large-scale locally bred descendants of the premium lineage to be showcased in China.
Following intense bidding from both online and in-person buyers, the koi was eventually sold for 4 million yuan, setting a new benchmark for koi auctions in the country.
The winning fish was praised for its vivid and evenly distributed red markings, elegant body shape and stable genetic lineage, making it highly valuable for both collectors and future breeding programmes.
This is not the first time the breeding farm has attracted attention. In 2024, it sold another 75-centimetre red-and-white koi for more than 1 million yuan, which at the time set the record for a domestically bred koi in China.
Industry observers say the latest sale highlights the growing demand for premium koi fish and reflects the rapid development of China’s local koi breeding industry, which is increasingly competing with internationally renowned bloodlines.
