Poly Art Museum was founded in December 1998 with the approval of State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China and Beijing Cultural Relics Bureau and opened to public in December 1999. It is the first museum operated by a state-owned enterprise in the Chinese mainland. The aim of the museum is to develop and display traditional national culture and art, and to rescue and protect Chinese cultural relics lost abroad. It has two parts of exhibition: bronze and stone carvings. Most of the exhibits have been retrieved from abroad, and a considerable part has especially high historical and artistic value as they are quintessence or the only existing versions. The “China Ancient Bronze Art Exhibition” displays more than 100 pieces (groups) of excellent bronzes that present the development and charm of China 's ancient bronze civilization. The “China Ancient Stone Carvings Exhibition” displays more than 40 exquisite stone carvings from the fifth to eighth century, a peak period of China 's Buddhist art. Now the Poly Art Museum is regarded in China and abroad as one of the best known museums in the Chinese mainland.
In May 2000, the Poly Group retrieved three national treasures – the Cattle Head, Monkey Head and Tiger Head, all made of bronze. They were robbed out of China by western powers from Yuan Ming Yuan Park more than 100 years ago. The retrieve action won approval and support from a large social circle both at home and abroad, and inspired patriotism among the Chinese people, especially overseas Chinese. Poly Group exhibited the treasures in Hong Kong and several other cities including Beijing , Shanghai and Guangzhou and Taiwan . More than four million visitors have seen them during the tour exhibition, which has boosted the prestige for Poly Group and Poly Art Museum .
