"But now, they are in the renovated museum, which is over 1,000 square meters. And the animal specimens are placed in the spacious and bright showcases. The plant specimens, however are housed in the cabinets as they are not yet ready for display," says Tang.

Air conditioning has been installed to keep the room at about 20 C, a suitable temperature for the exhibits, he adds.

The pavilions showcasing the mammals and the birds are the two largest exhibits, and feature pandas, white-fin dolphins, cranes, storks and raptors.

Endangered or even extinct fish and amphibian specimens like alligators, lipotes vexillifer and beluga, are also on show.

Most of the specimens were collected in China by Tang Ziying, Tang Shimin's father, in the 1950s and 1960s.