An imperial sword, a top-class Chinese cultural relic, was sold for 48.3 million yuan ($7.7 million) at an auction in Beijing on Monday.

The sword was one of 90 made under the watch of Qianlong Emperor during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Most of these swords are kept in the Palace Museum in Beijing, and the one auctioned on Monday was the only one known to have been kept by an individual.

An imperial Buddha sculpture was sold for 10.8 million yuan at the auction, hosted by China Guardian Auctions.

A worker is showing the imperial sword made under the watch of Qianlong Emperor during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) at an auction exhibition in Nanjing, East China, on Oct 17, 2012. [Photo/CFP]