Some 1,000 visitors queued for tickets Friday morning, braving chilly weather in Beijing, China's capital, outside the National Museum where a collection of ancient Egyptian treasures was on show.

The 143 Egyptian treasures items worth US$260 million include the Bust of Akhnaten, the Statue of the Cobra Goddess, the Relief of Ramses II Smiting Enemies, and the Pyramidion of Ptahenia.

The oldest item dates back 5,000 years and the most recent comes from the Ptolemy Dynasty, which began in 400 BC.

"The show is a meeting of two ancient civilizations," said Dr. Yan Haiying with the history department of Peking University.

"Ancient Egypt remains not only a source of pride for human civilization, but also a mystery," said Pan Zhenyu, curator of the Chinese National Museum.

The safety of the antiques, insured for US$280 million, was closely monitored and the exhibition booths were armed with infrared warning devices and cameras, said Xia Yun, the communication official for the sponsors.

The items mainly focus on the daily life, religious beliefs and funeral customs of ancient Egyptian Pharaohs, officials and civilians.

The exhibition will be show for a month in Beijing, the last stop for the exhibition in China after it gained great success from Oct. 18 to Nov. 18 in Shanghai, China's major city, organizers said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2003)