Long-standing preferences for goldandjade, both associated with good fortune, are being supplanted by a fascination with Western culture, with an extra boost from lower taxes and tariffs on diamonds.
Officials have said foreign banks could later apply for licenses for wholly-owned subsidiaries in a country with an antiquated banking system that only recently added interlinked ATMs. Many people stash money in safes or buy goldandjade rather than trust local banks, which last suffered a run in 2003.
Pre-Columbian animal figures went in, along with prehistoric "mirrors" of hammered gold, ancient Chinese faces carved from jadeand antique jewelry with rubies and emeralds.