For most of us in the west, pigeons are nothing more than rats with the ability to fly.

But for some of China’s ultra wealthy, pigeon collecting — and specifically, pigeon racing — has become a hobby upon which they now spend millions of dollars.

For example, back in 2020, a racing pigeon sold for $1.8 million, and since then, other birds have commanded comparably high sums.

Given just how much money is in this market, it’s understandable that the auctions for these birds would be pretty intense. Here’s a peek into what that bizarre world looks like: