National Palace Museum to reopen renovated tearoom

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on January 19, 2007. It reports that the National Palace Museum will reopen its San Hsi Tang Tearoom on January 20 as a prelude to its long-expected reopening scheduled for February 2007, after a three-year renovation project on the main building.

According to the museum's director, Lin Mun-lee, the renovated tearoom was originally built according to the furnishings of Ching (Qing) Emperor Chien Lung's study. It will now serve as a space for the public to "experience a new living aestheticism". The name San His Tang means in Chinese "a room keeping three pieces of unusual cultural treasure", which are all calligraphic works.

Chen Ruey-hsien, a designer in charge of the tearoom's renovation, expects that the old tearoom with a new face will become a place for leisure or business activities.