The Xi'an Stone Steles Museum is an art treasure-house with the oldest and richest collection of steles in China. It is not only one of the centers of ancient Chinese stone-engraving classics, but also the focus of the works of art of celebrated calligraphers of past dynasties. The numerous standing steles resemble a forest, hence the name; Steles. With a history of almost 900 years, it is an art gem renowned at home and abroad. The Stone Stele Forest in Xian is not only a treasure house of ancient Chinese calligraphy, but also a rich collection of China's historical documents and records and stone carving patterns. These steles record a part of the great achievements of the Chinese culture and a testimony to the cultural exchanges between China and other parts of the world.
The museum, which used to be a holy temple of Confucius, is now a tranquil place in typical Chinese style. The stone tablets, which ages range from 4,000 years to the 20th century, were collected over the past 900 years from all over China. For archaeologists, steles are reliable storytellers. With nearly 10,000 pieces in the collection, the museum is like an encyclopedia of ancient China.Many people accredit the Forest of Steles as the Cradle of Calligraphy and Birthplace of Stele Engravings.