Suzhou Imperial Kiln Gold Brick Museum | The Royal Floor Tiles of the Forbidden City

Space is the purest form of energy—I highly recommend visiting museums more often. I often go to museums alone, where I can stroll slowly and observe carefully, allowing my mind to settle into tranquility. The main hall is the centerpiece of the entire Suzhou Imperial Kiln Gold Brick Museum, where geometric minimalism, the raw texture of kilns, and the solemnity of palaces blend seamlessly. Architect Liu Jiakun uses modern architectural language to interpret the essence of Eastern Chinese aesthetics. My favorite area is the ancient kiln ruins. Stepping into one of these historic kilns, I noticed a small square window carved into the dome, allowing light to spill into the space. The circular kiln felt like a sacred altar—holy, dim, and serene. Coinciding with the rain, water dripped rhythmically from the kiln's ceiling, forming a ring of puddles on the ground. My teacher once told us that the floor tiles used in the Forbidden City's palaces were made from these very gold bricks. While not the "gold" of wealth, their rarity speaks volumes about their preciousness.