Sotheby's first major sale in Beijing grossed a total of 227 million yuan ($37 million), and the top lot, late French-Chinese artist Zao Wou-ki's Abstraction, fetched a record 89.68 million yuan.

Work from Zao's iconic "oracle bone" period demonstrated his uniqueness of using bold strokes to create contrasts of light and space, energy and calm. It came from the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The work was acquired by Zhang Xiaojun, a buyer from Shanxi province, who won a bidding race of eight particiapnts, according to Sotheby's.

The previous auction record for Zao's work was made at Sotheby's autumn sales in Hong Kong on Oct 5, with his work fetching HK$ 85.24 million ($11 million).

Kevin Ching, Sotheby's Asia's chief executive officer said after the sale that it was the first time that a museum-level work like Abstraction had been imported from abroad and auctioned on the mainland. Bids were made both in the room and over the phone.

The auction house put 144 modern and contemporary Chinese art works on offer on Sunday, along with private sales of Western paintings.

"The success of today's sale proves that Beijing is the hub of the art trade and auctions on the mainland. It supports our decision to come here," Ching said.

Eight works were sold out of nine lots at Sunday's sale. The works were imported and held in bonded status. The transactions will be completed at the Beijing Tianzhu Free Trade Zone.