With the success of the ongoing exhibition "The Civilization of Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang Dynasties" that features treasures from Xi'an, the Shanghai Museum has a bigger plan for this year -- the best of the best from the Palace Museum in Beijing.

"We haven't set a date," said Chen Xiejun, the museum's curator. "Probably it will be at the end of this year."

In order to celebrate its 80th anniversary, the Palace Museum promised to send the best items from its warehouse to the exhibition in Shanghai, even though some of them have never traveled outside Beijing.

"The exhibition items will include ancient traditional ink-wash paintings, the emperor's clothes, jewelry and watches," Chen added.

According to Chen, this exhibition could be on the same level as the "National Treasure Exhibition" that attracted nearly 230,000 visitors during its 37-day run two years ago.

"Currently we haven't decided the detailed items that will be showcased in Shanghai," Chen said.

The Palace Museum, one of the most comprehensive museums in China, was established on the foundation of the palace that was the ritual center of two dynasties, the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911).

(Shanghai Daily February 3, 2005)