Sotheby's September 7-8 Beijing charity auction, Ai You Reborn, has been led by Ren Zhong's Seven Sages.

Ren Zhong's Seven Sages. Four photographic works in the auction were offered duty-free, offering an attractive option for Chinese collectors, with the other works subject to high taxes

The work sold for $1.4m, making a 132.8% increase on its $620,882 high estimate.

The work was created earlier this year by Ren Zhong, an ink painter and collector who has achieved international acclaim. His works were selected for the First European Exhibition of Chinese Art and the First International Exhibition of Fan Paintings and Calligraphies, before being seen in solo exhibitions across China's most important museums.

Feng Yuan is an outspoken advocate of Chinese art, and his works reflect traditional techiniques while exploring modern subject matters

Also performing well was Feng Yuan's The Hunt, an ink and colour on paper work that topped its $424,788 high estimate by 13.4% to achieve $481,971. Another piece created in 2013, the work again harks back to China's traditional artworks.

Feng Yuan is one of China's best known living artists, and serves as the deputy chairman of the department of arts in the ministry of culture. He is also the director of the National Art Museum of China.

Cui Ruzhuo's Snowy Mountains, another traditional-style work, was also among the top sellers, bringing $192,789. The 2002 ink on paper piece is a fantastic example of Ruzhuo's highly sought after work.

A portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to orphans in need of medical and nursing support.

In New York, collectors are gearing up for Asia Week, which is expected to see some of the biggest sales of Asian art in 2013. See previews from some of the top sales in our Art & Photography news section, and catch all the results in our free weekly newsletter.