National Taiwan Museum Tours and Activities

Embark on a fascinating learning adventure at the National Taiwan Museum. Tour four floors of halls and exhibit rooms that cover anthropology, earth sciences, botany and zoology.

The museum was established in 1908 and lays claim to being the oldest museum in the region. The current building was constructed in 1915 on the site of a Matsu Temple. On your way in, stop to admire the museum’s wonderful whitewashed lobby. The space is surrounded by 32 Corinthian columns and has a vaulted ceiling that is 52.5 feet (16 meters) above the ground.

On the second floor, find the exhibitions on prehistoric and indigenous cultures. See fossils of early humans that were discovered on the island, including Tsuo-Chen Man. His remains are between 20,000 and 30,000 years old. Study artefacts and multimedia exhibits that illustrate the rituals, cultures and lives of Taiwan's indigenous tribes.

Go up a floor for the permanent exhibition on Taiwan's flora and fauna. Look at photographs of endemic species and view marine ecology films in the projection room.

The museum also hosts a number of special exhibitions. Among the previous subjects to be explored were Taiwanese aboriginal clothing and the island's jade industry.

Save time to explore the grounds surrounding the museum, which form 228 Peace Memorial Park. The recreational area honours the thousands of civilians killed during anti-government protests in 1947, a massacre known as the 228 Incident. Visit the memorial statue in the centre of the park and stroll along paths to reach playgrounds, pavilions and shrines.

The National Taiwan Museum is located in the 228 Peace Memorial Park, a short walk from Taipei Main station. It is well served by local buses andthe city’s MRT system.

The museum is open every day except Mondays, Chinese New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year’s Day. The admission fee includes entry to the nearby Land Exhibition Hall which features palaeontology exhibits. There are half-price discounts for seniors over 65 years of age, students and children between the ages of 6 and 12.