The exhibition will run until Nov 15.

"In an era of both hope and challenges, the design industry in China started steadily amid continuous exploration and gradually gave birth to a unique design concept with Chinese characteristics," said Han Xu, vice-president of the China Academy of Art, at the opening ceremony.

Gathering precious collections from some 40 institutions across China, the exhibition features more than 500 artifacts and historical documents, ranging from architecture, industrial design and handicraft to fashion and visual design, among other fields.

"This exhibition is a great review of the early design history, and it is also a high tribute to the source of its design, which has provided invaluable inspiration for today's innovative design," said Han.

It showcases plenty of "firsts" in design in the early years of the People's Republic of China, including the first national gift, the first generation of national porcelain known as "Jianguo Porcelain" and the first foreign trade exhibition.

History plays an essential role in the healthy and vigorous development of a nation, said Hang Jian, deputy director of the Academic Committee of the China Academy of Art, in his speech.