A sex culture research center will be set up soon in Tongli, Jiangsu Province, which is expected to attract scholars from around China, Shanghai sex expert Liu Daling said over the weekend.

The center will open within a year if it wins backing from the Ford Foundation in the United States, Liu said at the Fifth China International Adult Toys and Reproductive Health Exhibition on Saturday.

The three-day fair has attracted more than 10,000 visitors, mostly male, said event organizers.

In addition to the latest products for reproductive health and sexy lingerie shows, a sex-themed stamp exhibition was also on show for the first time.

Liu, founder of the country's first sex museum in Tongli, contributed 600 exhibits to the stamp exhibition.

Liu said he would pick successors to manage the sex museum and the planned research center. But it was a struggle to raise money, he said.

"Compared to sex museums in other countries, our museum is more interesting because of China's long history and diversified culture. But lack of money has always been a problem," said Liu.

(Shanghai Daily July 21, 2008)