Separate ways

摘要

The curators of China's national museum in Beijing are wondering what to do with a three-metre high cylindrical copper container donated by a famous state-owned distillery in 2001. Inside it are 34 bottles of Chinese grain liquor, each representing one of what China regards as its regions-including Taiwan. The 2.3-tonne object is inscribed with the words: "Precious celebratory bottles for the unification of the motherland". The museum originally put it on display in the main hall, but it got in the way and last year was moved out into a courtyard off limits to the public. With a big refurbishment now under way, officials seem rather embarrassed by it.