
Someone bought a ring of Pacific islands on JD.com for almost US$2 million
Netizens joking say it's a bargain compared to property prices in major Chinese cities
(Abacus is a unit of the South China Morning Post, which is owned by Alibaba.)
The atoll in Vanuatu, which is 750 kilometers to the east of Australia, consists of 15 islands, spread out over a total area of 1 million square meters.
While the identity of the winner remains unknown, they were promised the right to use the atoll for 63 years (the current contract started from 2006). The winner is also allowed to renew the contract when it expires.
According to JD.com, the bidding first began in the beginning of the month, with a starting price set at US$1.2 million. The deal eventually closed at US$1.9 million with a total of 48 bidders participating. The auction was watched by over 40,000 spectators.

While having your own private island chain in the Pacific sounds extravagant, some Chinese internet users joked that sky-high property prices in many cities mean it’s a pretty good deal.
Google’s new Chinese partner, JD.com, is an online retail titan
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For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.
