A woman visits an exhibition titled “The Countless Aspects of Beauty in Ancient Art“ at the National Museum of China in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

　　BEIJING, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- “From differences results the most beautiful harmony.“ Niu Dong, 13, mused before the words of Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher who lived around 500 BC.

　　The junior high school student from Beijing was visiting an exhibition on Hellenic art and life at the National Museum of China. Though an avid enthusiast of Chinese history, Niu was amazed by the timeless appeal of Greek aesthetics.

　　The quote, displayed prominently on a wall, seemed to set the tone for a journey into an intriguing world of pottery, gold and silverware, murals and sculptures.

　　In China, there is rising interest in cultural things, with museums becoming increasingly popular.

　　“The demand for a deeper knowledge of culture, history and art at museums has soared in recent years,“ said Wang Xi, who works for the National Museum of China.

　　During the summer of 2024, an average of 1.6 million people applied for the 26,000 tickets in the daily quota of the museum.

　　CULTURAL CONFIDENCE

　　Guan Jian, a sociology professor at Nankai University, called this phenomenon “cultural awakening.“ Guan attributed it to the country's economic success in recent decades, which offers more resources and opportunities for cultural pursuits.

　　At the National Museum of China, Niu also visited an exhibition on ancient China. He was captivated by the bronze masks that dated back to around 3,000 years ago.