Xi'an is Xi'an after all, it is such an element that can never be missed out when writing about China, to discuss the past and now.

                                                                                                                                         ——Jia Pingwa Lao Xi'an (Old Xi'an)

Behind the door, here come the stories of the city

When most people arrive at the entrance of the Muslim Quarter, the convergence of crowd and various cuisine, it may be hard for them to capture this small exhibition center with this vintage plaque written with "Xi'an Historical and Cultural Exhibition Center".

The visit is free with no tickets needed. When you cross over the red wood door, the hustle and bustle seem to quickly melt away behind you. The entire exhibition center is not very big with two floors in total, yet the atmosphere is pretty special. At the first floor, you can see the past and now of Xi'an intertwined with each other at every corner, and the chemistry between the old and new era is perfectly reflected. At the second floor, a variety of retro objects featured by elements of last century are sold here at good prices.

         

Cultural Symbols of Xi'an

The Bell Tower Milk Popsicle

The Bell Tower Milk Popsicle was born in the 70s of last century, originating from a food shop near the Bell Tower. Featured by the soft texture and sweet flavor, this popsicle quickly went viral among the residents. Take a bite, you may capture the taste of the old times. For most post-80s and post-90s, the Bell Tower Milk Popsicle has been the major element of summer in Xi'an. Passing through over half a century to help people expel the heat, this little popsicle surely has become a cultural symbol of Xi'an.

Food Stamp (ticket)

The food stamp already disappeared in 1993, but it used to play a very important role in the special economic period of China. Now it has become a mark of that era with high collection value. Perhaps only those who have used it can truly sense the material scarcity in the 50s and 60s of last century. A small piece of food stamp may carry the hope of life, which is a national memory that can never be reproduced.

         

Nowadays, there are tons of high-rise buildings in Xi'an, and high-end buildings constantly emerge from the ground. The footprints of old Xi'an seem to fade away as time goes by, but as long as you slow down a little bit, you can always identify the traces of old Xi'an in the streets and alleys.

         

As I recall the marks of the long-gone times every now and then, there is a special feeling growing in my heart. Each NOW will become the PAST, but Xi'an will always refresh itself with its full energy.