Taipei · art museum
Taipei National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院, Guólì Gùgōng Bówùyuàn)
The National Palace Museum holds the former Imperial Chinese collection evacuated from the Forbidden City in 1949, plus treasures from Beijing's other museums and palaces. Its 700,000+ objects span 8,000 years of Chinese art: jade, bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, painting, rare books, and the famous Chinese imperial seals. Only ~1,500 pieces can be displayed at any time, rotated every 3 months. The permanent collection is small but the rotating exhibitions are exceptional.
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Quick Answer
Is Taipei National Palace Museum worth visiting?
700,000 Chinese imperial treasures — the world's largest collection of Chinese art, brought from Beijing to Taiwan in 1949. NT$350. 3+ hours minimum.
Quick facts
| Category | art |
|---|---|
| Ticket | NT$350 (as of June 2026). |
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 (closed Mondays). |
| Recommended duration | 3+ hours minimum (the building is 4 floors, 1+ exhibitions at a time, plus the Southern Branch is separate) |
| Best time to visit | Tuesday–Friday. The museum can be quiet on weekday afternoons. Combine with the National Palace Museum Southern Branch in Chiayi if visiting both Taiwan cities. |
| How to get there | MRT Tamsui–Xinyi Line to Shilin station (5-minute walk). Bus routes 255, 304, R30 from central Taipei. DiDi: NT$150 from city center. |
| English signage | yes |
Why visit
This is the single most important Chinese art museum in the world. The collection is so vast that the museum displays about 0.2% at any time, but the selected pieces are extraordinary: the Jadeite Cabbage (翡翠白菜), the Meat-shaped Stone (肉形石), Mao Gong Ding (bronze cauldron), and masterpieces by Song Dynasty painters Su Shi and Mi Fu. Allow 3+ hours and prioritize the exhibitions of the season.
Collection highlights
- Jadeite Cabbage (翡翠白菜) — a 19th-century jadeite carving of a Chinese cabbage with insects hidden in the leaves
- Meat-shaped Stone (肉形石) — a piece of jasper that looks exactly like a piece of braised pork belly
- Mao Gong Ding (毛公鼎) — Western Zhou bronze, 800 BC, with 500+ characters of inscription
- Antiques Gallery — the museum's most extensive permanent collection, rotated every 3 months
- Southern Branch (in Chiayi, 2 hours south) — Asian art from a wider region, in a stunning modern building
Tips
- Buy tickets online (English available) to skip the queue
- Free 1-hour English guided tour daily at 10:00 AM and 14:30 PM (arrive 15 min early)
- Audio guide NT$100 (highly recommended)
- Don't miss the rotating exhibitions on the 1st floor — often the best pieces
- The Southern Branch in Chiayi is 1.5 hours by HSR and requires a full day
Frequently asked questions
What is the Jadeite Cabbage?
A 19th-century Qing Dynasty jadeite carving in the shape of a Chinese cabbage, with a katydid and a locust hidden among the leaves (symbols of fertility in Chinese art). It is one of the most popular exhibits in the museum. 18.7 cm long, weighing about 1.2 kg.
How is this different from the Beijing Palace Museum (Forbidden City)?
The Beijing Palace Museum keeps the architecture (the Forbidden City) and the larger collection of imperial palace artifacts. The Taipei National Palace Museum kept the finest treasures evacuated by the Nationalists in 1949 — roughly 1% of the original imperial collection but the highest-quality 1%. Both are worth visiting.
How did the collection end up in Taiwan?
In 1949, the most valuable artifacts from the Forbidden City and other imperial palaces were moved to Taiwan for safekeeping. The collection has remained in Taipei since. A small portion has been returned to mainland China, including a Song Dynasty brush washer and some calligraphy, but the bulk remains.
Should I visit the Southern Branch in Chiayi?
Only if you have a full day in Chiayi. The Southern Branch is 1.5 hours south of Taipei by HSR, in a stunning Wang Shu–designed modern building, with Asian art from a wider region (China, Japan, Korea, India, Vietnam). It is excellent but a separate visit. The main Taipei museum is the priority.