Ancient relics enthusiasts from all over the world, including Italy, Germany and Russia, have been flocking to a non-profit private museum in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, since it opened in March.

Unlike many other private museums, the Eurasia Museum offers free admission to the public, and none of its collections are for sale.

Yan Xuejun, curator of the museum, said the 500-square-meter exhibition space displays more than 400 sets of artistic treasures originating from the Eurasian continent, dating back from pre-Christian to early modern times, using the Silk Road as a clue.

These ancient artifacts are selected from Yan's personal collection of some 4,000 antiquities from more than 30 countries over the past 15 years. Through them, visitors can see the transmission of civilization along the millennia-old Silk Road and the mutual influence between Chinese and foreign cultures.

"The enamel craft originated from Dashi (an ancient Chinese term for the Arab Empire) evolved into the magnificent art of cloisonne in China, and the use of Persian glaze produced the world-renowned blue-and-white porcelain. Were it not for the exchange of ideas and culture between the East and the West, how could such unparalleled works of art have been created?" Yan said.

The most eye-catching exhibits are two almost identical blue-and-white porcelain plates displayed side by side in the center of the exhibition hall.

One is a plate with floral and peacock patterns that dates back to the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722) in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and the other is a replica made in Meissen, Germany.

Yan said in the 16th century, large quantities of Chinese porcelains were exported to Europe, where they were so popular that an imitation craze was sparked among the local ceramic producers there, including Europe's top porcelain brand Meissen.

"These two exhibits are evidence of the vibrant East-West trade and the enormous influence of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain in the world at that time," he said.