China's first folk costume museum opened Sunday in Shanghai, China's largest metropolis, after two years' preparation, according to sources with the museum.

Approved by the state cultural relics authorities, the museum covers more than 2,000 square meters of floor space and collects more than 5,000 pieces of rare costumes including imperial robes, silk garments and clothes of more than 30 ethnic groups in China.

What makes the museum most proud of is the manuscripts on China's costume change by Shen Congwen, late Chinese literature master.

The museum, designed by a professor at Tsinghua University, Tang Xuxiang, cost 20 million yuan (about US$2.5 million) to build, which were provided by Chinese private garment manufacturer Meters-Bonwe.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2005)