National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium

The National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium is located in Checheng Township in southern Taiwan's Pingtung County. It is the largest marine life museum in Asia.

At present, the museum's three main exhibition halls are "Waters of Taiwan", "Coral Kingdom Pavilion" and "Waters of the World".

In the "Waters of Taiwan" exhibition, the museum introduces the ecology of Taiwan's waters. It divides Taiwan's underwater creatures according to their specific natural environments, such as high mountain streams, brook edges about riverbeds, inter-tidal waters, and the ocean area.

In the "Coral Kingdom" exhibition, local and international visitors are invited to encounter a variety of colorful coral as well as the cetacean creatures living among them. There is a 80-meter-long underwater corridor through which visitors can walk through and gain a close view of various types of coral reefs. Meanwhile, in the "Waters of the World" section, the interactions and impacts among main waters and civilizations are displayed. Different kinds of marine habitats around the world are demonstrated via virtual tunnels and 3D theaters.

The museum's wavy shaped roof is meant to arouse among visitors the idea of water. The museum also has other recreational facilities such as restaurants, seaside coffee shops, gift stores and other services. Being a neighbor of the Kenting National Park, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium has made itself another great spot on the long list of museums that have been contributing to education of natural life in Taiwan.

Here is an interesting article to read:

• Exhibition teaches about plight of sharks (June 6, 2003)