"The past is a different country; they do things differently there, "L. P. Hartley wrote in one of his best-known novels, The Go-Between. To the British novelist, the past was not closely connected. And one of my Chinese students once told me, "I have no interest in the past. I'm only interested in the present and the future. "I have to disagree. The"past"is a very interesting country, and the more we know about it, the more we will be able to understand the present and in this way, prepare ourselves for the future.
An ideal place, as I see it, that can allow us to look back on the past is the museum. I prefer to visit museums as if you are sitting in the same room with some of the greatest men in history. While no museums can make sure to offer a complete picture of human history, the lessons we can learn from the events and wonders of the past are of great value.
Thanks to modern technology, museums are being turned from placesof looking and learning to spaces for people to really take part in. A large number of multi-media(多媒体) shows, which allow visitors to keep their interest in its exhibits during their visit, play a big part at the Shanghai Natural History Museum.
The rise in technology has also made museums more reachable than ever. Since the outbreak of pandemic, traditional museums have started to think outside of the box in order to create new ways for visitors to experience their collections online. It is surely good news for those who are crazy about museums but have difficulty actually going there. However, you shouldn't expect to get the same experience that an in-person visit would provide, at least, that is, for now.
International Museum Day is on May 18 every year. This is a quick reminder that you should always spare some time to visit museums and enjoy the "must-see" things that are an important part of the cultural heritage(遗产) of humankind.
