Beijing, Dec. 22 (PTI): The Chinese fascination with Tibet’s most enduring symbol — the Mastiff — has touched a new high after a businessman bought a puppy of the ancient breed for a whopping $2 million.

It is the highest ever price for a Mastiff.

The puppy, which is less than a year old, was bought by a buyer from Dalian in China’s Liaoning province, state-run People’s Daily said in a brief report.

It was rated as the “best quality” pure-bred puppy, the report said.

The mastiffs are reared in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Its heavy and fluffy hair was used as a guardian of herds, flocks and monasteries and palaces.