For both Beijing and Tokyo,  the 18th century was a period when they began to FLOURISH as major cities. Drawing on the long history of cultural exchange between China and Japan, an ongoing exhibition at Beijing's Capital Museum is letting visitors compare and contrast the two cities in terms of lifestyle and culture.

Geographical barriers have never obstructed the exchange between China and Japan, which are situated across the East China Sea. With over 2-thousand years of communication, Beijing and Tokyo have been influencing each other with their rich cultures and history. Now the exhibition is giving viewers a glimpse of the prosperity experienced by the two cities in the 18th century, by showing a collection of ancient items collected by the Capital Museum and Japan's Edo Tokyo Museum. More than 180 items, from daily articles to artworks, are on display. The director of the Edo Tokyo Museum says they hope viewers can better understand the lifestyles and artistic cultures of Beijing and Tokyo in that period.

FUJIMORI TERUNOBU, DIRECTOR EDO TOKYO MUSEUM "We hope, through photos, sculptures, historical documents and other daily items, this exhibition will be a good opportunity for people in both countries to know each other, and to see what urban life and culture were like centuries ago."

The director also says 112 of the items on display are from the Edo Tokyo Museum, and they are being displayed in China for the very first time. Han Zhanming, director of the Capital Museum, says the exhibition reveals many aspects of history in both countries.

HAN ZHANMING, DIRECTOR CAPITAL MUSEUM "By putting together the collections of the same era, we hope the similarities and differences between the two cities and their material life reflect the commonalities and uniqueness of the two countries' cultures."

Since 2002, the Capital Museum and the Edo Tokyo Museum have carried out a number of cooperation and exchange programs. Organizers from the two museums hope this exhibition will become a catalyst in promoting greater understanding between the two cities.