Family Travel / National Taiwan Museum Lets Kids Step into a 3D Fairytale World

Summer is here and you want to take your little one out and about, but you’re worried about the scorching sun or afternoon thunderstorms? That’s when museums—cool, air-conditioned and sheltered from wind and rain—are the perfect choice!Located at the intersection of Nanhai Road and Nanchang Road in Taipei City, the National Taiwan Museum’s Nanmen Park reopened in late November 2013 after restoration of its historic structure. Not only does the second floor of the main Red House building feature the family-friendly “Journey Through Momo’s Hole Country” exhibition, but the most special part is an independent 3D interactive storytelling space that will definitely keep the kids entertained for hours!

Who says museums are boring or that kids can’t understand them? In fact, many museums these days combine education with fun and have introduced interactive facilities and related exhibitions for families. Take the National Taiwan Museum’s Nanmen Park, near the exit for Nancheng Market by Zhongzheng Memorial Hall MRT Station, for example. During the Japanese colonial period in 1897, it served as a production base and warehouse for two major monopoly goods: camphor and opium (used as chemical raw materials), and was also Taiwan’s only state-run camphor processing factory at the time.

Don’t let its smaller size compared to the main museum on Hengyang Road fool you—it’s about the size of a community park—but everywhere you look, you’ll see the dedication of the restoration team. Many buildings from the Japanese colonial era have been preserved, complete with restoration signs and explanations. Some features are even deliberately highlighted so parents and kids can observe and interact with them up close. For instance, there are holes in the walls showing drill test marks—exposing all the wall materials!The performance hall, known as the Little White House, also retains classical round arch windows and black roof tiles. If kids look up high enough, they can even see beautifully interlaced wooden beams.

It’s not just about architectural exploration for families. On the first floor of the administrative center, there’s a space that looks like a daycare called “The Sleeping King of the Old Camphor Tree,” which offers an educational exhibition for children aged 3 to 10. Stepping inside feels like entering a 3D magical world where kids can actually walk on the sky!Through storytelling and games led by guides, children are taken into a fairytale realm. They not only learn about birds such as magpies, fairy pittas, Japanese white-eyes, black bulbuls, and night herons, as well as the insect ecology around camphor trees, but also gain an understanding of the importance of ecological conservation. Just note that registration is limited to a maximum of 15 people (adults and children combined) per session, so it’s best to check with the front desk in advance.

Meanwhile, on the first floor of the main Red House building, you can learn about the camphor industry and the Nanshen Factory. If that might be a bit too advanced for younger kids, then don’t miss the “Journey Through Momo’s Hole Country” exhibition on the second floor, tailored for children aged 5 to 13. Through role-playing, computer mini-games, and motion-sensing games, kids are introduced to the world of organic farming, eco-friendly consumption, and environmental stewardship.

Watch videos and examine real soil samples to help kids understand the importance of soil to Earth’s organisms and ecosystems; use computer mini-games to learn the difference between “food” and “processed food,” and even turn into little chefs to cook delicious meals following on-screen instructions. There’s also a dress-up corner that little girls love, where they can cook healthy meals using various fruits and vegetables. And of course, what will excite little boys are the monster-shaped secret bases—see if you can find the soil-devouring monsters that destroy farmland hidden inside!

There’s also an “Organic Lifestyle” area where a variety of organic fruits and vegetables are neatly displayed. Kids can wear straw hats from the farming era and carry “Granny’s shopping bags” as they pretend to go grocery shopping. It’s a small but meaningful experience supporting eco-friendly agriculture and consumption, almost like visiting a fair-trade market that celebrates simplicity and authenticity. Want to try out the life of a farmer? There are interactive motion-sensing games that are super fun for both kids and adults. Put on a virtual straw hat, grab golden seeds, and plant them in the rice paddies. Before long, golden rice waves will ripple as the harvest ripens—so fun you’ll want to play again and again.

[Extended Information]
National Taiwan Museum Nanmen Park
Address: No. 1, Section 1, Nanchang Road, Taipei City (Zhongzheng Memorial Hall MRT Station, near the intersection of Nanhai Road and Nanchang Road)
Phone: (02) 2397-3666
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Open as usual during national holidays and consecutive holidays.
Admission: General admission NT$20, student discount NT$10, free for preschool children and seniors aged 65 and above.