Experts polish their preservation skills

The world's leading institution for professionals who preserve and restore history and conserve fine art from the past will nurture more expertise at China's former royal palace in Beijing.

The London-based International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, which has more than 2,000 members from 50 countries and regions, opened its first training center at the Palace Museum on Sunday.

The first course of training has begun and will last until Friday. It focuses on preventive conservation of cultural relics. Participants include about two dozen trainees from China and overseas. Shan Jixiang, director of the Palace Museum, is among the nine professionals providing lessons.