the rooms felt cold, damp, and lonely....
These rooms are found in the 'A' block. Currently, the Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei is holding a 'sound' exhibition in these cells. Inside each cell, visitors are invited to sit and listen to spoken words, poetry, and music by people who have been detained for the creative expression of their beliefs. It was very moving. (my favorite was the recording 'Massacre' (about the tiananmen square massacre) by Chinese dissident Liao Yiwu: http://vimeo.com/68644515 ... there was power and anger in his voice.)
Was there last year, gave me the creeps, even with all the people (tourists) milling about.