While smaller than the National Palace Museum, the scope of the collection at the National Taiwan Museum is much larger, covering the culture, history, geography and zoology of Taiwan and Southern China. Opened in 1915, the museum is the oldest natural history museum in the country. The museum sits at the site of a former Taiwanese Matsu temple. During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, the temple was destroyed and a new Greek Renaissance-style building was erected in its place. The impressive Western architectural landmark only became the National Taiwan Museum after Taiwan was restored to China.
The museum’s permanent collection is divided into five departments: anthropology, earth sciences, botany, zoology and education, all displayed beautifully throughout the museum grounds. The National Taiwan Museum also hosts special and international exhibitions throughout the year in subjects related to natural history.
Free guided tours are available twice daily except on Mondays, when the museum is closes.When you visit the National Taiwan Museum, leave some extra time to tour the Botanical Gardens next door.