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Zhu Yuexiang looks at an album. [Photo/Tide News]

Farmer painting Huan Le Da Yun He (The Joyful Grand Canal), created by Zhu Yuexiang, was sold for 980,000 yuan ($137,975) at the Singapore Yaxuan 2025 Great Beauty China The 8th Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition and Auction on Sept 28.

The painting, from Xiuzhou district in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, set a new milestone in the international art market, marking the first time a Xiuzhou Farmer Painting had received such recognition at an overseas auction.

Zhu, 61, is a recognized inheritor of Xiuzhou Farmer Painting. Over the past four decades, he has created nearly 1,000 works and his art has been exhibited in more than 10 countries, including Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Earlier this year, eight of his paintings were permanently acquired by the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and Sotheby's Institute of Art.

The 80-by-80-centimeter piece uses vibrant colors and structured composition to depict festive scenes along the ancient Grand Canal. Locals celebrate with dragon boat races, lion dances, and community gatherings, symbolizing prosperity and harmony in Zhejiang's water towns.

The painting also reflects Zhu's vision of linking the Grand Canal's cultural legacy with modern tourism. Elements such as canal docks, buses, and themed boats showcase the fusion of culture and industry.

Huan Le Da Yun He was initially valued at 580,000 yuan, but intense bidding pushed the final price even higher, reinforcing the global appeal of Xiuzhou Farmer Painting.