National Taiwan Museum

National Taiwan Museum

The National Taiwan Museum is located on the north side of 228 Peace Park and is the oldest museum in Taiwan. It is also the first museum on the island to focus its collections on Taiwan’s indigenous natural history and the cultural heritage of its native peoples. Established in 1915, the museum is now designated as a third-grade historic site.

The museum houses a collection of about 50,000 items, with exhibition spaces both indoors and outdoors on the north side of 228 Peace Park. In the northwest corner of the park are ancient artifacts such as stone coffins and stone wheels excavated from Taiwan’s east coast—relics of Taiwan’s megalithic culture dating back over 3,000 years. Nearby are seven Qing Dynasty cannons, as well as two vintage German-made steam locomotives—the Tengyun and TRA No. 9. The Tengyun was introduced over a century ago when Liu Mingchuan built Taiwan’s first railway and is the oldest locomotive in China. In the northeast corner of the park lies a stele forest, which gathers nine stone tablets and plaques relocated from damaged historical buildings. One of them, the “Traveler’s Notice Stele,” is an advisory plaque originally erected in front of the Taipei Prefecture government office during the Qing Dynasty, advising visitors from mainland China to Taiwan to “refrain from... and be cautious with food and drink.”

The museum building itself is a masterpiece, representing one of the popular aesthetics of public architecture during the Japanese colonial period, blending various styles of Western classical architecture. The central dome covered in copper sheeting, the intricately decorated triangular pediment, the six towering columns at the entrance portico that mimic those of Greek temples, along with the elevated base and flanking colonnades, all create an imposing impression. Inside, the lofty atrium is spacious and grand, with natural light from the stained-glass dome casting a soft, bright glow over the exhibition areas.

The exhibition space covers approximately 900 pyeong (about 2,970 square meters), spread across three floors above ground and one below. The first floor is dedicated to special exhibitions. The second floor is for permanent displays, with the east wing themed “Taiwan’s Biodiversity,” using three-dimensional miniatures to showcase Taiwan’s ecosystems at varying altitudes. The west wing exhibits “The Traditional Culture of Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples,” presenting the life stories of various indigenous groups through traditional slate houses, clothing, tools, and models. The third floor has a nature audiovisual classroom for visitors to use and support learning. The basement houses an exploration room where children can interact with real specimens.

Address: No. 2, Xiangyang Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City

Phone: (02) 2382-2699

Opening Hours: 10:00–17:00

Closed: Mondays, the first week of December, New Year’s Eve, and Lunar New Year’s Day

Getting There:

1. Take Taipei City bus routes 0 South, 0 West, 20, 48, 222, 236, 241, 243, 244, 249, 251, 259, 263, 270, 291, etc., and get off at the Museum stop.

2. Take the Taipei Metro Tamsui, Xindian, or Zhonghe Line and get off at NTU Hospital Station.