When Mr Zheng got an 100 yuan ($16 dollars) note with a printing mistake three years ago, he never expected it would be worth a huge sum, according to a report of Chongqing Evening News on Thursday.

The 100 yuan note features Chairman Mao Zedong on the front, just like any other RMB banknote. But what separates it from the others is a short line on the jaw of the portrait, right under the mole of the late leader.

It wasn't until recently that Zheng learned that a man in Guizhou province has a similar banknote worth one million yuan. So he brought his banknote to an auction house for evaluation, and was surprised to know the banknote is worth 1.5 million yuan ($240,000).

These imperfect banknotes are highly valued among collectors because of their rarity.