FOR a York firm, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is in China.

Continuum Group, the £5.5 million turnover designer and operator of visitor attractions, has reached an agreement with design company Beijing Rainbow Sky International Science & Technology to develop millions of pounds worth of opportunities there.

Beijing Rainbow Sky will be the eyes and ears of the Margaret Street firm, seeking out museum and display projects which the Chinese Government is eager to design and complete as showpieces in time for the 2008 Olympics.

Already Dominic Tweddle, chief executive of the Continuum Group, is in Beijing with Rainbow Sky, hoping to complete deals on a number of projects.

Mark Bates, Continuum's new business director, accompanied Mr Tweddle to China earlier this year, joining a DTI trade mission lecturing at museums and attractions in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzen.

He said: "We cannot disclose exactly what these projects are because we don't have the agreement of clients.

"We hope to announce details in the next few months in which we provide top level international consultancy and project management, but the physical effort of designing and building will be sourced in China."

It is known, however, that Continuum has already submitted a tender to one Beijing museum, is in talks with a further museum in the capital city and another in Shanghai.

Mr Bates said: "Chinese museums are vast. They have to be to accommodate so many visitors, but they often follow the dry, glass case principle.

"Some of the recent ones, though, are a lot more interactive and encourage the public to touch and feel exhibits and integrate using technology."

The Chinese connection was announced hot on the heels of Continuum unveiling the controversial £30 million Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, which was funded by Portsmouth City Council and is being managed by the York venture.

Among the Continuum attractions applauded all over the world includes Caesarea Maritima, the six-year multimedia project to revive an ancient Roman city in Israel.

Updated: 11:13 Monday, November 21, 2005