The Tamsui Grand Theater looks like it descended from another dimension ! Admire the trees, listen to the sea, and enjoy free exhibitions

Reported and photographed by Peng Huaiyu / New Taipei City

When visiting Tamsui, do you only know to head to the old street or Fort San Domingo? Extending toward the One Drop Museum area, there are also plenty of attractions worth exploring. Travelers seeking an in-depth experience shouldn’t miss the super photogenic “Cloud Gate Theater.”

▲The surprisingly stunning Tamsui “Cloud Gate Theater,” where the entire venue is filled with great photo spots.

The “Cloud Gate Theater” moved to the Tamsui Cultural and Arts Education Center in 2015. It attracted 80,000 visitors within just under a year of opening, and has recently returned to its former tranquil ambiance. The massive grand theater was built using the imagery of floating clouds, with green climbing plants covering the cement walls, making it seem as if it descended from another dimension to Earth. Some even say it resembles the “Castle in the Sky” from a Studio Ghibli movie. For photography lovers, the whole venue is packed with spacious platforms.

▲Sculpture master Ju Ming lent 10 pieces from his “White Light Human” series, each with different poses, and you can also gaze at the beautiful views of the Tamsui River.

At its opening, sculpture master Ju Ming lent 10 pieces from his “White Light Human” series, each with different poses—some sitting, some standing—welcoming visitors. Walking up the stairs to the platform, you can enjoy views of the Tamsui River, taking in the green trees and sea scenery. In addition, a statue of the late dancer Lo Man-fei, created by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s first-generation dancers, vividly captures her spinning dance movements and is also a must-photograph highlight.

▲The dancing pose of the Lo Man-fei statue is also a must-photograph highlight.

In addition to enjoying wonderful performances by the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, the two theater buildings are only open to the public for ticketed entry during performances and are generally not open to visitors.

▲The venue features several free exhibitions that can be visited, such as Liu Zhenxiang’s photography exhibition “Scenes of Cloud Gate.”

Don’t worry if you don’t understand the intricacies of dance—the venue still has several free exhibitions to explore. For example, Dong Chenglian’s solo exhibition “Dance of the Universe” is quite impressive. The artist personifies clouds, combining light, shadow, and music to interpret the tangible and intangible aspects of all things in the universe. While creating a sense of closeness and distance, it is also full of philosophical meaning and offers vast room for imagination.

▲Dong Chenglian’s solo exhibition “Dance of the Universe,” where the gathering of clouds interprets the tangible and intangible of all things in the universe.

Got tired of walking? Under the lush banyan trees, there is a Tree House Library that offers drinks, cold drip coffee, mini scones, and lemon cakes, among other light snacks. Cozily flip through the store’s carefully selected books and steal a half-day of leisure. Even if you’re not into reading, you can grab a book and play the part of an intellectual for fun.

▲%The venue provides drinks, iced drip coffee, and other refreshments under the trees, allowing you to casually browse selected books and enjoy a moment of leisure.