中國在悠久歷史的發展中，產生了各類的歷史文物，且分散於各角落。今天這些歷史文物均因各種因素而價值不低（世界其他國家之歷史文物亦同），中國的歷史文物更因在各地的拍賣會上，被哄抬而價格飆漲，中國圓明園內的鼠、兔二獸首即是。它們是園內西洋樓中之海晏堂前的文物，堂前水池周邊十二件生肖獸首中的二件。西元1860年，英法聯軍闖入園內並遭掠奪而流失者。一百多年後，其中五件陸續出現，且經轉手而身價高漲。去年（2008年）又有鼠、兔二獸首出現，並經由法國佳士得公司，宣佈並於今年（2009年）拍賣。從拍賣的訊息公佈，到拍賣時及拍賣後，均產生各類的風波，中國亦因此事件而有各種不同反應，並重新看待歷史文物及其討還……等等的問題。

There were so many kinds of historical culture heritage have lost throughout long history of China. For many reasons, these heritages are much higher valued in price now days (like other countries). Chinese culture heritages were even auctioned one after one for increasing the value of price. The bronze rabbit and rat head are two of the 12 zodiacal clepsydras built in front of Haiyantang in Yuanming Yuan. They were looted when the palace was burned down by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860. After a hundred years, five heads were sold at high price in auctions. In 2008, the bronze rabbit and rat heads were recovered and auctioned by French company Christie's in Paris this year (2009). Indeed, many issues came up from the beginning to end of the event. Because of this, China would revaluate themselves and think to retake those heritages.