Managers of an urban construction museum set to open next year are visiting construction sites and retired workers to find suitable exhibits.

The Shanghai Engineering Administrative Bureau began collecting items for the museum two years ago, but to date has only collected 100 pieces, including old photos, construction materials and documents.

"We hope to gather at least 400 pieces before we make them public," said Wang Jian, one of three bureau employees working on the project. He said they have yet to find anything that will be a big draw for the museum, which is being set up to document the city's 160-year-long history of construction and development.

One of the most interesting items collected so far are wooden bricks. The water-proof bricks were made in India specially for a major passage from the Bund to Xizang Road in 1907.

"Any interesting items related to the city's urban development history are welcome, even old uniforms and tools of workers," Wang said.

(Shanghai Daily February 19, 2004)