The Lidao Securities Museum, the first of its kind in the country, opened to visitors in Shanghai Saturday.

On display are thousands of exhibits, ranging from securities certificates to newspapers and photos reflecting the history of China's securities industry.

Among the exhibits, is the first Chinese stock certificate. It was issued by the Kaiping Mining Bureau in 1881. Also on display is a Chinese Cooperative stock certificate signed by the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

The museum, run by the Xiangcai Securities Company, has won official approval as a state-level institution by the State Cultural Heritage Administration.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2004)