Text / Compiled and reported by the editorial team of MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network
The highly anticipated Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum has been confirmed to commence trial operation on December 28, 2015. To invite everyone to visit, free admission will be offered through reservation for the first three months.
The Southern Branch of the Palace Museum is set to open for trial operation at the end of the year. (Image source / Southern Branch of the Palace Museum)
The Southern Branch of the Palace Museum is located in Taibao City, Chiayi County, Taiwan, serving as a major cultural construction project in southern Taiwan and one of the "Love Taiwan" construction projects. It complements the Taipei branch to form a "dual-star" cultural and tourism highlight in northern and southern Taiwan. Upon completion, the main building of the Southern Branch museum will reflect its positioning as an "international-level museum of Asian art and culture." Its design incorporates elements such as the "dragon," "elephant," and "horse," symbolizing the interaction and unique vitality of the three major civilizations in Asia—Chinese, Indian, and Persian—throughout history. To fulfill its responsibility as a global citizen for environmental protection and energy conservation, the overall architectural planning will demonstrate the building’s "green essence" through green construction methods, materials, design, and energy.12The overall architectural design of the Southern Branch reflects green concepts, complementing its transparent and bright spatial layout, giving a sense of the building's vitality. (Image source / Southern Branch of the Palace Museum)
In addition, the museum’s landscape park combines ecological environment experiences and learning, while also taking into account contemporary orchid biotech agriculture, agrarian culture, and lifestyle. It features four major themed gardens: Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia, and orchids. The Southern Branch of the Palace Museum is not only an international-level "Asian Art and Culture Museum," but also a key hub for cultural education, creative culture, and tourism in southern Taiwan. With carefully curated exhibitions and creative cultural planning, both the Northern and Southern branches are expected to comprehensively boost Taiwan’s cultural tourism and creative industries, especially in the Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan regions, realizing the vision of "balancing north and south, equalizing artistic wealth."
Architectural illustration of the Southern Branch of the Palace Museum. (Image provided / National Palace Museum)
Overall floor plan of the Southern Branch of the Palace Museum. (Image provided / National Palace Museum)
The ticket prices and trial operation benefits for the opening of the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum are consistent with those of the Northern Branch, and are also referenced against ticket prices of major museums abroad. The ticket pricing is as follows: General admission ticket NT$250, group ticket NT$230 (plus NT$30 for audio guide rental), and concessionary ticket NT$150.
In addition, to coincide with the opening and trial operation, the Palace Museum has established a series of accompanying preferential measures, including:
◎ Free admission for the first three months of trial operation (12/28/2015 ~ 3/31/2016), by reservation only. (Please make a reservation via the Southern Branch of the Palace Museum official website.)
◎ Taiwanese citizens can enjoy the concessionary ticket price of NT$150 at all
◎Domestic visitors can enjoy a discounted ticket price of 150 RMB regardless of time slot by presenting their ID card.
◎Low-income households, people with disabilities, students, and seniors aged 65 and above are eligible for free admission.
