By Yuxin Kira Liu
As an international student from Beijing, I always pay attention to cultures while traveling. Museums are always my favorite places to visit.
In New York, after I went to several major museums, I discovered some features that are different from museums in Beijing. Like the city of New York itself, the museums show diverse cultures vividly.
It is truly amazing for me to see so many exhibits from countries all around the world in a decorative marble palace, which gave me a sense of cultural inclusion and enjoyment.
The museums in Beijing always impress me with the long history and fabulous cultures of my country, from thousands of years ago to today. The elaborate art works which are 800 years old still shimmer under the lights.
I am always proud of my country’s long standing history, while appreciating the amazing diversity of cultures mixed in New York City.
Yet the museums in Beijing focus on Chinese collections, while the museums in New York City include worldwide exhibitions.
The Museums in Beijing are mostly free, while the museums in New York City charge fees.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue
The Met Fifth Avenue is the most famous museum in New York.
Presenting various kinds of cultures over 5000 years, it elaborately shows a wonderful view of civilization.
The majority of visitors are tourists who come from different cities and countries, according to a small survey.
“We came from Tokyo,” said Alex, a girl with two of her friends.
“The main reason why we came to New York is to visit the Met! It is fantastic!” she said.
The Met has many separate exhibitions, such as the medieval area, the ancient European part, and so on.
“I love Van Gogh. All his worksare fabulous!” said Jenny, a 17 precollege student at NYU from Hangzhou, China.
The great artists such as Claude Monet and Paul Cezanne are also on display.
The Met Cloisters
Located in Northen Manhattan’s Fort Tryon Park, the MetropolitanMuseu
m’s Cloisters has unparalleled natural views of the Hudson River.
After walking the winding road through the park, the Cloisters museum came to view. Inside the stone building decorated with delicate design, assorted exhibits are on display. The designs of the whole museum was a mirror of the Medieval European monastic life, giving tourists a sense of the mysterious.
The majority of the collections inside were from Romanesque and Gothic periods, including art and architecture.
The whole museum is divided into four parts: the Cuxa, Bonnefont, Trie and Saint-Guilhem. Each of them represented unique style
s of a particular period.
Besides the material objects, Stained glasses inside the museum alsodrew a lot of attention. The vivid colors and abstract designs of these artworks add to the museum’s fascination.
“The most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” said Sue, a tourist from India.
The Museum Of Modern Art
For all art lovers, the Museum Of Modern Art is an obligatory stop. Because of its location (very close to the Met), tourists can visit these two famous museums in one day. But, if you want to carefully appreciate the works here, a one-day visiting is highly recommended.
Founded in 1929, MOMA is one of the largest modern art museums in the world. It is
famous for having the best collection of modern Western masterpieces in the world, such as “The Ladies of Avignon” by Pablo Picasso, “Reflection on the Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond” by Claude Monet, and “Starry Night” by Van Gogh.
There are always crowds in front of these world-famous modern artworks.
“The Starry Night is fabulous! Because Van Gogh is my favorite artist, I come here for his works,” said Mary, a visitor from South Korea.
In addition to the museum, there is a beautiful garden next to the building. Tourists after visiting always can rest and chat with friends there, while appreciating the gorgeous view and decorative sculptures.
National Museum of China
National Museum of China is an integrated museum famous for its long history. Its location, at the east side of Tiananmen Square and being opposite the Great Hall of the People, helps it to become the most popular museum in Beijing.
The goal of the Museum is to make all the most exquisite cultural relics in China be accessible to all people from different countries around the world, giving them a enjoyable visiting experience.
Whether you want to learn something about Chinese history or just want to view the delicate antiques, this should be the your first choice in Beijing.
“I go here once a month. Viewing these exhibits brings me enjoyments,” said Stephenie, a student who lives in Beijing.
“There are always new items on display, always updates,” she said.
Based on the ranking published by Themed Entertainment Association, the National Museum of China is the most visited.
Yuxin Liu is a student from Beijing Academy, China