Times Square may have problems with its public space but there's no dispute about the merit of the recent classy exhibits. The mall's savvy curators are back in the saddle again with some ancient royal saddles. Since Monday, more than 30 horse-riding accoutrements, from saddles and stirrups to whips dating from the Yuen to the Qing dynasties, have been on display for the first time in 50 years. They are all from the private collection of renowned Taiwanese antique collector Wellington Wang Du.

'China has been in disarray for 200 years so I have tried my best to share with other Chinese our history,' Wang said. 'It is our history I have been collecting from around the world. Today's saddles can be made in a short time and they are much more soft and comfortable. In the past, saddles were like custom artworks made of gold or bronze and made to please the emperor. It could take a year to make one and the emperor would just use it for display.'

Besides coinciding with the Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong, the exhibition is also a way for Wang, who has been collecting antiques including ancient weaponry for 25 years, to celebrate his 70th birthday tomorrow. One of the items alone cost him close to US$250,000, but he doesn't judge his prizes on monetary value. 'Some of them may be more expensive, while others may have a longer history. But I like them all or else I wouldn't have bought them.' The royal exhibit continues until Monday at Times Square's second floor atrium.