The Beijing Museum of Natural History previewed a new request-only exhibition from Tuesday showcasing 148 rarely-seen specimens, including many gifts from prominent politicians, Beijing Daily reported Wednesday.

"The 148 treasures are chosen from a total of 200,000," said Wang Wenli, paleontologist and director of the museum's Specimen Department. He said that, due to inadequate display space, many objects are never seen by visitors.

The new exhibition received funds of 500,000 yuan (US$61,730) from Beijing's municipal government last year and most of the items are on show to the public for the first time. It will be officially launched on August 23.

Among them are objects presented to and donated by by late Chinese leaders Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping, including a high-nosed antelope's horn that the People's Liberation Army sent to Mao in 1954.

There is also a stuffed musk ox given by late US president Richard Nixon during his 1972 visit and ginseng from North Korea's late President Kim Il Sung.

All exhibits have detailed Chinese and English descriptions.

Due to the limited exhibition area and to protect the specimens, visitors need to ask to see the special exhibit in the museum's Yangguang Hall, and visits are restricted to groups of no more than 20 and periods of no more than half an hour.

Beijing Museum of Natural History
Address: No.126 Tianqiao South Street, Beijing
Tel: 010-67024431 
E-mail: bnhm@public3.bta.net.cn
Opening Time: Open the whole year (8:30 to 17:00 everyday, ticket sales stop after 16:00).
Buses: Nos. 102, 105, 110, 120, 54, 20, 17, 2, 6, 25, 45 and 59, get off at Tianqiao Station.

(China.org.cn by Guo Xiaohong August 19, 2005)