CHINESE ART EXPERTS EXAMINE A BOWL FROM THE SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTY AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM IN...

Chinese art experts examine a bowl from the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279), which was returned from the United Kingdom in 1998 as a smuggled and stolen antiquity, at the National Museum in Beijing, July 4, 2003. China says the illegal export of antiquities is one of the biggest threats to the nation's cultural heritage. The government is imposing stricter rules against the plundering of ancient tombs and other cultural property and has stepped up efforts to repatriate stolen artifacts. In the most recent recovery of Chinese relics, six ancient terracotta figures smuggled to the United States were returned to China last month. REUTERS/Guang Niu GN/TW