We finish in Shanghai where the International Table Tennis Federation has opened up a new museum. The four-storey building prividing fans of the sport the chance to witness its entire history. Song Wenjing tells us more. 

Near the World Expo Museum in Huangpu District, the four-story table tennis museum has two main sections -- the ITTF Museum, which has been relocated from Switzerland, and China's first ever table tennis museum.

The museum has more than 11,000 exhibits. Its international area features more than 8,000 items, showing how table tennis, which originated in England in the 1880s, developed into a global sport. Visitors can get a close look at the world's first pair of table tennis rackets -- shaped like those used in tennis, but smaller. There's also the world's first table tennis table, net, and ball. All were made around 1890.

"The ball was rubber, covered with white cloth, to make it look like a small tennis ball. But the rubber ball had a big bounce, too much bounce, and so that's why they used nets on the side of the table to catch the balls."

Chuck Hoey, former curator of the ITTF Museum in Switzerland, spent over 40 years collecting items related to table tennis around the world. He believes Shanghai is an ideal new home for the collection.

CHUCK HOEY ITTF MUSEUM HONORARY CURATOR "I remembered my first experiences here in Shanghai during the 2005 World Championships, and this is where I saw how popular table tennis was in China and I saw so many great Chinese superstars. So in my heart, I realized this is the best place I think."

THOMAS WEIKERT ITTF PRESIDENT "It's very important that table tennis and the history of table tennis is present in the home of table tennis in China."

The China section features more than 3,000 exhibits that shed light on how the sport was introduced in China around 1901 and gradually developed into a national sport. A racket painted with the images of late Chairman Mao Zedong and former US President Richard Nixon is also part of the exhibit, highlighting the Sino-US ping-pong diplomacy in the early 1970s.

Visitors can also see items belonging to famous Chinese players such as Deng Yaping's T-shirt and a pair of sneakers worn by Zhang Jike.

ZHANG YINING 10-TIME WORLD CHAMPION "As a professional player, I'm thrilled to see the museum. The history of the game is very informative. For example, the first rackets made with strings. I had never seen them before myself. The modern technologies demonstrate the sport very well. I think we should bring more young people here."

The museum also uses virtual reality, multimedia presentations and a 3D theater to showcase the sport. One of the most popular features is a smart ping-pong playing machine that simulates a playing style. It allows visitors to "play" with stars like Zhang Jike and Ai Fukuhara.

CHEN PEIJIE, PRESIDENT SHANGHAI UNIVERSITY OF SPORT "Young people can feel a love for their country and the spirit of the athletes. It's also an interesting education site in the new era. "

The museum is open from 9am to 5pm every day except Monday. Admission is free, but all guests need to show their passport or ID card. Song Wenjing ICS for CGTN, Shanghai.