A student looks at the Monkey head at the Hangzhou Poly Dongwan Exhibition Center on Wednesday, August 20, 2008. [Photo: photobase.cn]

Four famous copper heads depicting the pig, ox, monkey, and tiger, and originating from Beijing's old summer palace, are on show in Hangzhou, the capital of East China's Zhejiang province.

This is the first time that the four famous animal busts, which were returned to China from overseas, have been seen in Hangzhou, the Zhejiang-based Qianjiang Evening News reports.

The four heads, which are recognized as Chinese national treasures, have traveled to over 40 cities and were visited by almost 12 million people before arriving in Hangzhou.

The relics were looted from Beijing's old Summer Palace, also known as Yuanmingyuan, by French and British troops in 1860 before finally being returned to China in 2003.

The pig, ox, monkey, and tiger heads, representing some of the Chinese astrological animals, together formed part of the famous horological fountain which was located outside the Hall of the Calm Sea in the garden of the old summer palace.

The exhibition is free of charge and will continue until August 25.