The Xi’an Beilin Museum, also called the Stele Forest, is a museum that contains stone sculptures and steles, which are tall and narrow slabs made out of stone or wood usually for a funeral or to commemorate something. The museum was opened in 1944 in Xian, China, on the site of a Confucius Temple dating to the eleventh century. The Xi’an Beilin Museum was renamed in 1992 and is now called the Forest of Stone Steles due to the increase in the number of steles kept here. In total, there are about three thousand steles that are showcased in seven exhibition halls along with traditional paintings and calligraphy. It is best not to skip any of the halls as they each have something different to offer.
In addition to the seven exhibition halls the museum also contains two separate galleries for the stone sculptures. The old gallery contains intricate pieces from the Tang and Han Dynasties while the newer gallery has sculptures from the Song Dynasty. Opening hours are between 8 am and 6 pm, although the museum is open longer during the summer months. It can take about three hours to take in all the exhibits at the museum. Visitors have the option of hiring an English tour guide, which is a good option for those who want to learn more about the displays.
Xian is a city located in China’s Shaanxi Province that is famous for the army of Terracotta Warriors found just outside the city. Xian has a number of other interesting attractions as well. These include the Eight Immortals Temple, the Grand Mosque, the DaMing Palace and Park and the Shaanxi Historic Museum. The city is one of the most popular tourist destinations inside China and offer visitors gripping insights into Chinese history and culture.
Tourists should be able to get around the city with relative ease as there are always plenty of buses. Although Xian has a subway system it is still not complete. Finding Xian accommodation with a central location can also greatly ease the hassles of travel. The Citadines Xingqing Palace Xi’an offer spacious serviced apartments Xian that are well appointed and conveniently located.