Sharing stories and heartache at Chengdu's Museum of Brokenhearted

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Breakup museums seem to be all the rage in China these days – with one opening after another across the country.

According to Xu Jie, the curator of The Museum of Brokenhearted in the city of Chengdu in southwest China, there is a need for such a concept. He added that it's timely too.

"Young people need a platform to release their emotions about breakups and relationships, and to learn from stories of others," Xu said. For couples, he hopes they can cherish each other more after walking out of the museum.

It wasn't challenging sourcing items, Xu said, as the young Chinese are very open about donating, considering it a symbol to get over their sadness. Having thousands of fans on his social media account (bilibili) helped too.

Xu brought to light a phenomenon in today's China: young Chinese people are seemingly reluctant to fall in love.

"They think they don't need love because of the huge pressure in one's daily life and having many alternative forms of entertainment. This has led to many being afraid to fall in love, to give love," he told CGTN.

"It's like they have given up on love altogether, and instead prefer to get rich."

The Chinese saying translates to “After trying my best, I choose to leave it [love] to fate”. /CGTN Photo

Xu weighed in on the issue. "I think the perfect love doesn't exist and while you can't guarantee your choice is 100 percent correct, we should [still] try to love, to know how to love, although it's very hard."

A few reasons guided him to open the Chengdu installment: he was inspired by the world's first breakup museum in Zagreb, Croatia; and the fact that he had just emerged from a breakup himself.

Just as how love and love lost are universal, visitors at the museum transcend age.

"Promises of forever" linger on a visitor in his early 20s. He broke down after seeing a couple of dolls in their old age.

"My ex-girlfriend and I took a couple picture, and edited it using an app to make it seem like we're 70 years old. We each kept a photo of it. We promised to settle down together then," said the visitor.

He recalled having gone through a tough and long journey chasing after her, in what was initially a case of unrequited love.

The Museum of Brokenhearted features over 40 exhibits donated by people across China.

Visitors at The Museum of Brokenhearted in Chengdu come from all walks of life, with some still reeling with emotions. /CGTN photo

Going through the items and stories, with love and breakup songs playing in the background, it's hard not to be filled with emotions.

Stepping into the museum was accidental for a local woman who seems to find the most meaning in a simple "I miss you" message written on the wall.

"I am 72 years old, but I think love does not matter how old you are, where in the world or which country you're from. So this subject touched me," Lisa Luo told CGTN.

Luo and her foreign boyfriend broke up because of distance.

A girl in her late teens says while she currently has a boyfriend, being at the museum, she can't help but recall memories of her past relationships.

"People who have experienced breakups will understand the bitter pain behind them. It's not easy to find love between two people, so we need to cherish our loved ones."

Each item at the museum has a story behind it – be it cheating, falling out of love for whatever reason, or long-distance relationship.

Each is left to the viewer's interpretation. And each is worthy to be told, shared, and learned from.

(Video filmed by Zhang Kai)