An exhibition depicting the origin and early stages of China's civilization will open Saturday in the Capital Museum ahead of the country's eight-day National Day holiday.

The event, jointly organized by ministries of culture, finance, science and technology, will be the first time for China to showcase the origin of its civilization in the form of exhibits.

The exhibition will cover China's history from 3,500 B.C. to 1,400 B.C. About 212 groups of treasured cultural relics including a pottery Dou patterned with petals, a popular object to hold food around 4,000 B.C. in central China will be on show. The exhibits come from 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

The exhibition will provide answers to such questions as why and how the Chinese race gathered, said Yao An, deputy curator of the museum.

The show will last until Oct. 30.

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2009)