BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Going to museums dedicated to broken relationships has become an alternative choice for many lovestruck couples and singles to spend the traditional Qixi festival, or Chinese Valentine's Day.
"I came here to find an answer," said a 25-year-old girl who gave her name as Xiao Hua. She came to the Museum of Broken Relationships, located in central Beijing, ahead of this year's Qixi, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month on the Chinese lunar calendar, on Wednesday, to ponder over the relationship with her boyfriend.
Grouped by different themes, the exhibition at the museum features 110 personal items from across the country -- from faded couple photos, old love letters, to a wedding dress. Each of them contains a sentimental recollection, and even dredges up some sad memories of the past.
"We want to offer a space to store these memories of heartbreak, and also let lovers know how to maintain a relationship," said Zhu Zhaowei, the founder of the museum.
Gazing at the exhibits displayed in the museum, Xiao Hua gained a fresh understanding of her relationship.
"Being together for almost three years, we argue now much more than before. After reading many separation stories here, I think I learned how to cherish our love," she said.
Although break-up museums did not originate in China, over the past five years, they have sprung up in many cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Hefei and Chengdu.
Inspired by the idea, Zhu decided to launch a break-up museum putting more emphasis on young people.
"We hope that our museum can help soothe those that are hurt and overcome emotional barriers," Zhu said.
Some of the displayed objects, which were mostly collected by donations, are at first glance mundane items from daily life.
Lan Wenwen, a 23-year-old from Chengdu, brought to the museum a plastic water bottle left by her ex-boyfriend. She decided to leave the bottle there, together with all the memories of her ex-boyfriend.
"I was so caught up in misery that I couldn't stop thinking of him," she said. "I had been using that bottle for almost one year, but I think it is time for me to let it go and embrace a new life."
"Young people's love is intense, and a breakup may lead to depression for many," Zhu said. "We can help provide some psychological counseling for them as we also cooperate with some professional institutions."
A recent report published by the Institute of Psychology of the China Academy of Sciences shows a general decline in the national mental health index among youths, followed by an uptick among adults, indicating that people will experience a period of mental health downturn during their early years.
"With pressure from society and work, more young people, especially generation Z, are more open and tend to express themselves, and they want to find an outlet for their emotions," said Li Xiumei, manger of the museum.
"Stop thinking about your past. Seize the moment and live a wonderful life," a visitor wrote on the museum's guest book.
