As a warm up event ahead of the World Expo, cultural relics of China's dynastic past as well as the Italian Renaissance have gone on display at the Shanghai Museum. Let's take a look at these two exhibitions.

A porcelain exhibition gathering works created during the Ming and Qing dynasties are exhibited on the fourth floor of the Shanghai Museum. Among them are ninty-six porcelain wares, all out of kilns of Jingdezhen, dubbed as China's capital of porcelain, from late 16th century till the late 19th century. The items range from plates and bowls, to jars.

Zhang Dong, staff member of Porcelain Dept., Shanghai Museum, said, "This plate has a picture of a ship on it. Three-masted ships were widely used for transport between China and Europe, carrying such cargo as porcelain and tea centuries ago. While this set of plates depict some popular folk legends, such as the west chamber story. They were created in the Qing dynasty, in which color is more consistent and the lines are more delicate."

According to Mr. Zhang, although these wares were fired in folk kilns, because of their unique shapes and patterns, they represent high value in history and art.

While on the second floor of the Shanghai Museum, some masterpieces from Italy are shown. Eighty-two paintings created in the country since the Renaissance period are featured in the exhibition.

The works are transported from Italy's Uffizi Gallery.

They include works such as Titian Vecellio's "Venus and Cupid," Sandro Botticelli's "Adoration of the Magi", and Jacopo Tintoretto's "Leda and the Swan". This display offers a rare chance for people outside of Italy to see these genuine pieces.