The classic painting attracted instant widespread attention when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao mentioned the work at a recent press conference, saying that he "cherished the same wish not only for the painting but also for people on both sides of the Straits."

Yang Jianxin, head of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture said he had been calling for a joint exhibition of the painting for over a decade and Zhejiang Provincial Museum is willing to send The Broken Mountains to be displayed in Taiwan anytime.

He also asked if that one day the whole painting could be exhibited in Fuyang, where it was created centuries ago, which he said will be both a homage to the painter Huang Gongwang and to all Chinese art lovers who have long been anticipating seeing the famous painting in its entirety.

"The fate of the painting is actually a reflection of the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits," Yang said. "How great it would be if the two pieces were exhibited together one day!"

The possibility of holding a joint exhibition of the two separated pieces has been discussed by Zhejiang Provincial Museum and the Palace Museum in Taipei several times in recent years, according to Chen Hao, vice director of Zhejiang Provincial Museum.

Chen said that although there are still several difficulties in displaying the two pieces of the classic painting together, both sides are trying hard to find a solution and developments have been made.

Chou Kung-shin, director of the Palace Museum in Taipei said Tuesday that the museum would welcome "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" from Zhejiang Provincial Museum for a joint exhibition.

Chou said that an exclusive exhibition of Huang Gongwang would be held in Taiwan in 2012 and she hopes that the two parts could be displayed together then.