On exhibition in Shishi now are lion-related treasures from the Palace Museum, given that the lion was seen as a symbol of cultural exchange along the ancient Silk Road.

The overland and maritime passages of the Silk Road, along with some inland canals in China, were connected historically and formed a huge network of trade and cultural exchange, Shan said.

Hui Wing Mau, founder of Shimao Group, said the company has been working with the Palace Museum to develop a two-year plan of exhibitions for the Maritime Silk Road museum.

Last year, Hui paid $20 million to private collectors for an ancient scroll named "Landscape Map of the Silk Road" to be housed in the Forbidden City.

The colored map, 30.1 meters long by 59 centimeters wide, is believed to have been painted during mid-Ming Dynasty.

It depicts the ancient trade routes starting from Jiayuguan－at the western end of the Great Wall during Ming rule－through Central and West Asia to the Middle East.

Marked on the scroll are 221 sites in dozens of countries and regions, including key spots on the ancient Silk Road such as Dunhuang in Gansu province, Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Esfahan in Iran, Damascus in Syria and Mecca.

The scroll will be exhibited at the Hong Kong Science Museum at the end of the year, Shan said. Presentations on ancient mapping methods also will be given.