Former Land Bank Transformed into Museum — Vault Preserved for Public Tours

Text and Photos /miss kitB

After visiting the National Taiwan Museum (Main Building), why not cross the street to check out this Land Bank Exhibition Hall? The building’s exterior instantly transports you to Osaka’s Nakanoshima area in Japan, as it was originally an old Japanese bank. Constructed in 1933, it initially served as a branch of the Yokohama Specie Bank, was reorganized into the state-run Taiwan Land Bank in 1946, and transformed into a museum in 2009. After undergoing multiple renovations and reconstructions, the interior structure is now vastly different from the original design. To learn more about the building’s original architectural details and renovation process, the museum also features a heritage restoration room that provides explanations, along with displays of some structural components removed from the old building.

Since it was formerly a bank, the exhibition hall has preserved the vault for visitors to explore!! Access to the vault is controlled, allowing only 20 visitors at a time, but you usually won’t need to queue on weekdays. It’s my first time visiting a bank vault, and after passing through a thick iron door with several locks, you’re greeted humorously and realistically with the sound effect of a theft alarm — pretty fun.

The original shelves used for storing gold and silver now display exhibits related to the bank’s history. There’s a wide variety of items, interspersed with text panels that provide an overview of the bank’s development and services. The dim lighting and posted seals create a uniquely atmospheric experience.

The highlight of the museum is actually the dinosaur bones. One of the permanent exhibitions here is “The Epic of Life – Dancing with Evolution,” which starts with the birth of the Earth. It then covers trilobites (who knew there were so many types!), followed by the evolution of marine life to land animals. The most eye-catching part, of course, is the dinosaur bones, but don’t forget to take a closer look at the informative panels nearby.

This is the Taiwan Bio-Light Wall exhibition area, which is also one of my favorite parts. The display cases feature native Taiwanese animals. Remember to grab a beautifully designed field guide at the entrance — you can use it to compare what you see on-site and even take it home for further learning.

This is the Formosan flying squirrel.

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The interior architecture here isn’t as ornate as the main building’s, but it still has a quaint charm. The stairwell and even the restrooms (!) are quite lovely — I wonder if the men’s restroom has the same brick walls, window frames, and thick wooden doors? Also, I think the row of lockers by the entrance is surprisingly thoughtful. They’re just lockers, but each one features a different plant, almost like a little herbal collection — is that taking it a bit too far?
National Taiwan Museum (Land Bank Exhibition Hall)
Address: No. 2, Xiangyang Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan
Phone: +886-02-23822566
Opening Hours: 09:30 ~ 17:00 (Tuesday to Sunday)
Admission: NT$20 (full price) (With same-day admission ticket, you can also visit the Main Building and the Land Bank Exhibition Hall)http://www.ntm.gov.tw

miss kitB

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An active core member of the Unserious Professionals Association, or a “multifunctional cross-media freelance creator.” Believes boredom is the mother of creativity and happiness is life’s greatest asset. Eats breakfast every day and travels the Earth daily.http://kitx.mysinablog.com/index.php