Today I went to the Xi'an Beilin Museum, and my emotions were like a rollercoaster ride. Now that I'm sitting down, I absolutely have to write down these complex feelings.
At first, it completely exceeded my expectations. As soon as I entered, the guide's voice started talking about Confucius. I was a little surprised; I didn't expect it to start there. But as I listened, I found the opening very meaningful, as if it were starting from the roots of our culture. Then, the focus shifted to Buddhism. When those carved stone tablets, Buddha statues, especially the Tang Dynasty artifacts, appeared before my eyes, I was truly awestruck. The details of the carvings explained by the audio guide—the lines were so smooth, so full, and every stroke had meaning. The expressions on the Buddha statues' faces were so serene yet full of power. Standing there, watching the artisans of over a thousand years ago use their knives as pens to carve out faith and narratives, a strong sense of pride suddenly welled up inside me—our ancestors created such amazing things! Immersed in it all, three hours passed by in the blink of an eye, and I didn't feel tired at all.
However, things gradually changed. The latter part of the exhibition mostly featured artifacts themed around calligraphy. I know calligraphy is a national treasure, an art form, and I told myself it was precious. But honestly, my interest waned considerably. The passion ignited by faith seemed to slowly cool. I began to feel that the museum's style was somewhat "polar"—on one hand, visually striking sculptures, and on the other, calligraphy requiring quiet contemplation. Personally, I lost motivation for the latter half. The Stele Forest Museum itself is also incredible, possessing its own unique charm.
Finally, I must say that most of the staff here are exceptionally friendly. The cleaning ladies smiled and gave directions, the security guards were always ready to answer questions, and the ticket sellers and checkers were very gentle. These small acts of kindness made the entire visit feel warm and welcoming, and I felt particularly good. Unfortunately, this good mood was interrupted at the last moment. Around 1:00 PM, as I was preparing to leave and returning the audio guide, the younger guide on the left side of the counter seemed extremely impatient and her tone was agitated. I was momentarily stunned and completely bewildered. Was it because I had kept her from leaving work? Or had something unpleasant happened to her? This stark contrast left a small knot in my heart and a tinge of inexplicable resentment as I walked out of the museum. It was like a beautiful song, perfect at the beginning and middle, but the last note went off-key, diminishing the overall charm of the piece! Oh well, regardless, those artifacts, especially those from the Tang Dynasty, are now etched in my mind. As for that last bit of unpleasantness, let it go with the wind. Overall, it was still a wonderful day. (Ticket 85, audio guide 30)