An ancient Egyptian king is commanding royal attention in east China's Shanghai after the world's largest exhibition of ancient Egyptian treasures opened in the city on Saturday.

The display includes the first appearance in China of Akhnaten, king of Egypt 3,500 years ago, at the Shanghai International Exhibition Center.

The 143 items in the show give an insight into life in Egypt 2,000 to 4,000 years ago.

Worth 260 million US dollars, the treasures include the Bust of Akhnaten, the Statuette of the Cobra Goddess, the Relief of Ramses II Smiting the Enemies, and the Pyramidion of Ptahenia. The oldest item dates back 5,000 years and latest come from the Ptolemy Dynasty, which began in 400 B.C.

Insurance worth 193.7 million yuan has been provided for the treasures and special facilities have been used in the transport.

The treasures will stay in Shanghai for a month and then go on show in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2003)