National Palace Museum

A number of the more famous items at the National Palace Museum are permanently on show, including the beautiful Jadeite Cabbage, an 18.7-cm-long jade sculpture of a Chinese cabbage head with some small insects crawling on it, dating from the 19th century. Historically remarkable items include the Zong Zhou Zhong – a bronze bell, cast by royal decree from as early as 850 BC, which carries the longest Chinese bronze inscription so far found.

The rest of the National Palace Museum’s remarkable exhibits, which an audio tour system will guide you around, are divided as follows:

Level 1: Introductory gallery, special exhibits, rare books, Qing and Ming dynasty furniture, and religious sculptures.
Level 2: Interactive area with videos and virtual tours, paintings, calligraphy, and Chinese ceramics.
Level 3: Bronzes, weapons, ritual items, Ming and Qing dynasty carvings, and the jade collection, including the Jadeite Cabbage.

As well as beautiful gardens, the National Palace Museum has a range of food and drink choices, including a traditional-style teahouse, a high-class Chinese restaurant and a food hall. It is found in the Shilin District and can be reached by leaving the Shilin MRT Station from Exit 1 and catching the R30, minibus 18 or 19, or buses 255, 304 or 815, all of which stop by the gate. Entry is NT$250 per person, with some discounts available for large groups of 10 or more people.