Illustrations: Peter C. Espina/GT

Recently, a mural painting in a subway station of Xi'an, capital city of China's Shaanxi Province, has invoked a heated debate. The painting showed the pilgrimage trip of Xuanzang, a Chinese Buddhist monk of the Tang Dynasty, to India in the seventh century, but wrongfully used Taj Mahal to represent the destination. But, the Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century, long after the journey. The depiction in the painting is an obvious historical mistake, and its appearance in Xi'an, a city famous for its long history and diverse culture, may be a stain on its reputation. Reportedly, there are more mistakes in mural paintings in the metro, such as errors in mapping world famous cities. For people who have little understanding of China's culture and history, these paintings can be misleading. What's more, being knowledgeable in history and culture is important for people who create works of art, and the authorities need to be more vigilant when displaying such paintings in public spaces.