The magnificent Inca civilization may be long lost, the Cusco people's lifestyle may have long changed, but Peru's past still resonates in people's memories. On the afternoon of October 27, Peru's Millenarian Cultures Exhibition and Cusco Photographic Exhibition opened in Beijing's National Museum of China.

The first lady of Peru Ms. Eliane Karp de Toledo, Peruvian ambassador Luis. V. Chang and China's Vice Cultural Minister Zhao Weisui unveiled the two exhibitions at the National Museum On the afternoon of October 27.

The Exhibition of Replicas of Pre-Inca Archaeological Relics has over 80 exhibits, most of which are sculptures and ceramic pots in human and animal shapes.

They are replicas of archaeological relics from Peru's nine Pre-Inca cultures, from the earliest Curayacu Culture some 7,000 years ago, to the latest Chimu Culture dating from just 800 years ago. Though just copies, these pieces demonstrate the stylized and schematized imagery of Peru's early civilizations.

The Cusco photographic exhibition features the work of Peru's most renowned photographer of the 1920's to 40's, Martin Chambi. Born in 1891 and died in 1973, Chambi was Peru's first major photographer of Indian descent.

Over 70 photos taken by Chambi were on display, including his most famous pieces "The Giant of Pamro", "Marriage of Convenience" and "The Policeman Arresting a Young Boy". The photos recorded the life of early Peruvians living in the Cuzco area in the first half of the 20th century.

Sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture and organized by the Embassy of Peru in China, the one-week exhibitions of Peru's early life and civilizations will wrap up Nov.3 in Beijing.

(CCTV.com October 29, 2003)