# Millionaire Musical Instruments The World's Most Expensive Chinese Guqin Sold at $8.71 million By JDurhamII | Published 2010-12-14 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Guqin References: [luxury-insider](http://www.luxury-insider.com/Current_Affairs/post/2010/12/12/Worlde28099s-Most-Expensive-Guqin-Fetches-24871M.aspx) & [english.peopledaily.cn](http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/7203202.html) If you're anything like me, you're probably wondering what a Chinese guqin is. It's [seven-string instrument](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/highly-collectible-vintage-guitars) that has been used to make beautiful music for centuries. The world's most expensive Chinese guqin recently sold for $8.71 million due to its rich history. This particular piece of melodious monarchy belonged to Emporer Quianlong who ruled 1736 to 1795. In the wake of a struggling economy, these instances prove that there will always be a market for [luxury items](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lunar-new-year-coffret), even a historic Chinese guqin. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.6/10 - Popularity: 5% | Activity: 66% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [World News](https://www.trendhunter.com/worldnews) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Luxury Music Instruments:** The market for luxury music instruments, like the world's most expensive Chinese guqin, presents opportunities for high-end customization, limited edition collaborations, and unique musical experiences. - **Preservation of Cultural Heritage:** The sale of historic Chinese guqin instruments showcases the demand for preserving cultural heritage, potentially opening opportunities for cultural tourism, traditional music education, and digital preservation initiatives. - **Alternative Investment Assets:** The increasing value of historic and rare musical instruments, such as the $8.71 million Chinese guqin, highlights opportunities for music collectors, investors, and asset management firms in the alternative investment market. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Musical Instrument Manufacturing:** The demand for luxury and historically significant musical instruments, exemplified by the world's most expensive Chinese guqin, creates innovative opportunities for high-end instrument manufacturers, artisans, and craftspeople. - **Fine Arts Auctions:** The record-breaking sale of the $8.71 million Chinese guqin emphasizes the potential for growth and diversification in the fine arts auction industry, inspiring auction houses to explore niche markets and showcase cultural artifacts. - **Luxury Experiences and Tourism:** The popularity of historic Chinese guqin instruments drives opportunities for luxury experiences and tourism, including exclusive instrument exhibitions, immersive musical retreats, and cultural heritage travel packages. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Shreddable Steampunk Guitars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/steampunk-guitar.md) - [Ultra-Extravagant Scotch Whiskies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glen-grant-distillery.md) - [Opulent Dragon-Themed Pens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/montblanc-3.md) - [Luxury Game Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luxury-board-game.md) - [Opulent Audiophile Turntables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/project-signature-122-turntable.md) - [Opulent Brass Travel Trunks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/louis-vuitton-courrier-lozine-110-lv-brass.md) - [Stealthy Rare Wooden Instruments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/torch-t01.md) - [Intricate Anniversary-Celebrating Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/limited-edition-guitar.md) - [Collaboration Fashion House Guitars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/saint-laurent-x-fender-stratocaster.md)