National Palace Museum Introduction
The National Palace Museum was completed in 1965 in Shilin, featuring palace-style architecture. The first to third floors serve as exhibition spaces, while the fourth floor houses a tea room called "Sanchitan." It boasts the world's largest collection of Chinese artistic treasures, primarily inherited from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, covering nearly 5,000 years of Chinese history with almost 700,000 items, earning it the reputation as the "Treasure House of Chinese Culture." Within the museum, there are two sets of famous treasures known as the "Three Treasures of the Palace Museum." The first set is recognized in the art academic world, consisting of three monumental ink paintings from the Northern Song dynasty, which are rarely exhibited and therefore seldom seen by the public. The second set, known as the "popular version" of the Three Treasures, includes the Jadeite Cabbage, the Meat-shaped Stone, and the Mao Gong Ding. This trio is nicknamed after the popular Taiwanese dish "Sour Cabbage and Pork Hot Pot," due to their resemblance to it. The National Palace Museum is surrounded by two gardens: the Zhishan Garden on the left and the Zhide Garden on the right. Zhishan Garden is a garden built in the style of Song Dynasty architecture and is open to visitors every day except Mondays. It features two ponds, three pavilions, and various fish and small animals, making it a perfect spot for family visits. Zhide Garden, located at the intersection of Zhishan Road and Gu Gong Road, is currently free to visit. The garden, which is small in size, has a quaint classical archway at its entrance and a lotus pond where visitors can see a large number of blooming lotuses in summer. For those who prefer to avoid crowds during weekends, the museum offers an online platform called "Online Palace Museum" where visitors can preview exhibitions, appreciate various collections, and engage in interactive experiences that let them feel as though they are entering ancient artworks. Furthermore, the 720° VR experience allows visitors to virtually explore the museum's areas, view presentations, and listen to introductions about the exhibitions and collections from the comfort of their homes. In addition to its rich exhibitions, the National Palace Museum provides professional guided tours and regularly organizes various cultural workshops, lectures, and traveling exhibits. It has published over a hundred publications and albums, making it a true cultural treasure of the world. The National Palace Museum is a must-visit destination for travelers in Taiwan. (Some information sourced from the National Palace Museum)
