National Palace Museum Southern Branch: tea culture experience

To "balance north and south and share culture equitably," the Executive Yuan approved on 2004/12/15 the establishment of the National Palace Museum Southern Branch in Taibao City, Chiayi County, with the goal of "two shining cultural stars in north and south, achieving equal access to art."

The Southern Branch is planned and designed with a contemporary museum approach. Its exhibitions display National Palace Museum collections and add an Asian cultural perspective to enrich how artifacts are interpreted. The spacious, comfortable outdoor grounds and lively educational programs let visitors approach culture and art from different angles.

★Tea Culture Experience★

Learn about Chinese gaiwan tea and Japanese matcha through digital experiences.

In the little tea setting area there are all kinds of tea utensils. Kids can put together their own tea setting and brew tea for family or friends!

★Circular Theater★

On both sides of the Circular Theater there are photo areas where kids can take photos and pick national costumes to go with them. The photos can then be found in the Circular Theater.

Circular films also play at 05 and 35 minutes past every hour!

Exhibits a Mongolian ger, food and traditional clothing to help kids understand Mongolia better.

★Ceramics Zone★

Ceramics are closely tied to our lives. Cups, toilets and even space shuttles are all made from ceramics. Here you can touch famous Asian ceramics and feel their warmth and shape with your hands. Asian ceramics also use impressive techniques such as inlay and doucai, and you can watch how they are made here, so seeing the real thing will feel like magic! Finally, kids can rub the beautiful patterns on ceramics onto paper and take them home as keepsakes.

★Interactive Experience Area★

Cloisonné Maze

Using motion-sensing interactive devices, everyone explores a maze designed in the shape of the "Qing Qianlong cloisonné enamel duck-shaped zun." Along the winding paths you will face various challenges related to cloisonné. Follow Hanuman through the levels and help the duck zun win back its lost colors!

Learn About Thai Traditional Dance and Instruments

In Thai dance, each movement stands for an emotion or meaning, and the movements follow the lyrics. When watching Thai dance drama, once you understand the meaning of the movements, you can follow the story even without understanding Thai lyrics. Big and small visitors are welcome to try Thai dance movements with the motion-sensing digital devices.

Thai traditional instruments fall into several categories: first, melodic percussion such as the xylophone and gong circle; second, rhythmic percussion such as small cymbals and drums; third, wind instruments such as clarinet and pi; fourth, string instruments such as the high-pitched two-string fiddle, three-string fiddle and dulcimer. On display are the ranat ek (ระนาดเอก) and the taphon drum (กลองตะโพนไทย), which you can try tapping gently to experience traditional Thai instruments.

Four Seasons of the Palace Museum: Summer Lotus

Artifact source: Song dynasty, Feng Dayou, "Lotus Breeze at Taiye Pond"

"Lotus leaves stretch endlessly green to the sky; lotus flowers glow in a different red against the sun."

Welcome to a summer lotus pond. Enjoy lotuses swaying in the breeze and cute ducklings on the lake. Look and listen closely: what other little animals are there? Don't be afraid. This is the only place where you can stand in the water and see little fish playing beneath the lotus leaves. Step lightly on the water and you may find a small surprise!

Painting Horses: Co-creating the Hundred Steeds

Art creation: Professor Shao Zhifei

Technology: Lu Guantai

Artifact source: Qing dynasty, Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining), "One Hundred Steeds"

Kids can color on a tablet. Use your creativity to paint horses together with Giuseppe Castiglione, who came from Italy over 300 years ago.

★Magnetic Block Wall★

Kids can create their own patterns with magnets here!

★Culture Street★

Vietnam Zone

Vietnamese water puppetry is a traditional Vietnamese art. Performers use bamboo and ropes to control the puppets' movements in the water. Beside it is a dough figurine stall, where toys are shaped from rice flour and glutinous rice. Look up at the lanterns: Vietnam's Mid-Autumn Festival is also their Children's Day, and common lantern shapes include teardrop and cylinder, with the most popular being star lanterns made of bamboo and colored paper. The star is also the symbol on Vietnam's national flag!

India Zone

Indians believe shiny objects like tin, silver and coins can ward off bad things, so they embroider shiny items onto fabrics. The seats here have "Shisha embroidery" cushions. Pick one up and take a look!

Turkey Zone

Turkish rugs and coffee are very famous! There is also the mysterious and magical blue eye, the Turkish charm against evil and a symbol of peace and blessings.

Traditional costumes available for kids to try on