Science mixes with culture

In the second chapter, the exhibition features 24 animals in painting and specimen forms.

"Visitors will find scientific information about the animals, and also a brief history of how these animals were depicted and described in ancient Chinese books," Zhang says.

Wan Feng was among those visiting the exhibition.

"This elephant (specimen) used to live in the Shanghai Zoo," he says. "I would often visit him when I was a school boy. I remember reading about his death and how he was to be made into specimen by the museum. They really brought him back to life, in some way."

The third chapter looks back at the cultural significance of the Chart of Animals, with interactive games and video projections about the history of Chinese people's understanding of the animals, creating a new dimension to the viewing experience.

"We are a science-themed museum and the Palace Museum is a cultural institution," Zhang says. "This collaboration marks a great beginning, and we believe there will be plenty of subjects we can work together on and tell great stories about."