I love museums, and whenever I travel, I make sure that I get to visit at least one or two museums to learn a little bit more about the culture of the country or city I visit. My last visit to Taipei last December was no exception with a visit to the world-famous National Palace Museum’s Northern Branch high on my bucket list.
Located on the northern section of Taipei, the National Palace Museum is a complex of buildings and gardens and houses one of the largest collection of Chinese antiquities spanning thousands of years of history. I remember visiting the museum for the first time when I was still in high school and memories of peeking into the displays showing artifacts that date back millennia are still fresh in my mind.
In the past, all the artifacts were house in the museum complex in Taipei, but in 2015, a new southern branch of the National Palace Museum was opened in Taipao, Chiayi Country just north of Tainan City.
The National Palace Museum Northern Branch has two exhibition halls with the main exhibition hall housing exhibits in three floors. Inside, once can see treasures such as magnificently carved jade, porcelain, clay statues, bronze implements, and even wood and silk artwork. Some of the items that I found most fascinating are the Ivory balls of nested concentric layers which are all carved from one single piece of ivory and the Dongbo “pork” sculpture carved from Jasper which looks hyper-realistic.
All exhibits are all labeled in Chinese and in English for visitors to better understand the items on display as well as to give viewers a better understanding of the gallery. There are also guided tour services and audio guides in English for a more in-depth appreciation of the artefacts.
The National Palace Museum Northern Branch is open 7 days a week and entry tickets cost NT$350 (roughly Php600). Children under the age of 18 can enter free. Entry to the nearby Zhishan Garden is at NT$20 (Php34) but is free by presenting a National Palace Museum ticket stub from the same day.
Although the National Palace Museum in Taipei is a bit difficult to get to, needing an MRT and bus ride to get to the destination. The trip to the museum is truly worth it as the exhibits truly bring one back in time with the treasures of China.
