GREAT MUSEUMS of the WORLD: As one of the world’s premier art museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art is home to the finest collection of Chinese artistic masterpieces of any museum outside of China. The collection spans 5,000 years of changing political dynasties and varying religious and foreign influences and represent every period of Chinese history. One of the most astonishing things about China is how little most Americans actually know about it, even though China’s culture is so present in our western world. We often see China as a nation casting off tradition in a mad rush to westernize. But below the hectic surface lies a steadfast culture that has influenced the West in deep and subtle ways. “I’m hoping that when people come in here to see the museum, they would come away not only saying ‘oh, I’ve seen so many splendid, spectacular works of art,’ ” says Jason Sun, associate curator in the Department of Asian Art, “but they really will learn about the culture, the people behind all these works of art. They really will learn about China.”