India, March 7 -- A new online trend in China has sparked both fascination and criticism as vendors claim to sell soil collected from outside major banks, promising buyers wealth and good fortune. The so-called "bank soil" is being sold at prices as high as 888 yuan ( Rs.10,200) per portion, reported the South China Morning Post.

Sellers claim the soil is sourced from green belts outside financial institutions, potted plants inside bank lobbies, and even dust from money counting machines. One vendor offers four types of soil, allegedly collected from five major Chinese banks-Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Bank of Communications. The cheapest portion is pric...