Culture

As introduced by the Taiwan Yearbook 2006:

Museums and Memorial Halls

Taiwan has more than 500 museums and cultural centers. Publicly or privately funded, they range from single-room memorials commemorating local artists to the National Palace Museum, which has the world's largest collection of Chinese art treasures. The latter's collections of jade, porcelain, paintings, and bronzes, spanning several millennia, are so immense that they must be rotated regularly, making each visit unique. The museum held a series of exhibitions to celebrate its 80th founding anniversary in 2005 and, for 2006, has curated what the director described as a "once in a lifetime" exhibition of Sung dynasty artifacts to mark the completion of extensive renovations.

Taiwan's cultural treasure trove is continually expanding and includes both new additions and old favorites.

The Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology opened in 2003. It is named after the site of an early settlement in Taipei County where iron was smelted, and introduces Taiwan's prehistoric cultures.

The Yingge Ceramics Museum opened in 2000 in Yingge Township, a center of Taiwan's pottery and porcelain industry. The museum makes good use of the community's resources and represents an example of a museum helping to revitalize a traditional industry.

The Gold Ecological Park opened in 2004. This park introduces Taiwan's gold mining industry and is centered on the abandoned gold mines at Jinguashih and the nearby town of Jioufen.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in central Taipei is among the island's top tourist attractions. With its massive marble hall and beautiful gardens and ponds, it offers a respite from the busy city. The Ming-style arch at its main entrance is flanked by the National Theater and National Concert Hall.

Temples and Historic Sites

Taiwan's historic sites show the influence of aboriginal habitation and four centuries of Spanish, Dutch, Ming, Ching, and Japanese rule.

Popularly known as the "Fort of the Red-haired", Fort San Domingo in the quaint seaside town of Danshuei was built by the Spanish in 1629, occupied by the Dutch in 1642, leased to the British in 1867, and bombarded by the French in 1884. With the town's fresh seafood and beautiful sunsets, it is not surprising that it is the number one destination for daytrippers from Taipei.

The Lin Family Mansion and Garden in Banciao, Taipei County, is Taiwan's best example of Ching dynasty architecture. Originally a Fuchien merchant's house, the garden is landscaped with pavilions, towers, cottages, bridges, artificial mountains, and placid pools.

Taipei's Dalongdong Baoan Temple won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Award in 2003. Established in 1742, the temple became a model for many other temples because of its art, architecture, and beautiful presentation of religion.

Inside the giant Buddha statue on Bagua Mountain overlooking Changhua City are dioramas illustrating Buddhist teachings. Visitors can also view the surrounding area through the statue's eyes. The quaint old town of Lugang south of Changhua is one of Taiwan's most important historical and cultural centers. Noted for its impressive Ma Zu and Longshan temples, Lugang also holds an annual four-day folk arts festival, which begins shortly before the Dragon Boat Festival in the fifth lunar month.

Tainan is the island's fourth largest city and its oldest. Among Tainan's historic buildings are Fort Zeelandia and Fort Provintia, both built under Dutch rule in the 17th century, and Eternal Fortress, built in 1876 during the Ching dynasty. Tainan provides some of the best remaining examples of southern Chinese architecture in Taiwan, ranging from the serene Confucian Temple, built in 1666, to the elaborate new Ma Zu Temple.

During their half-century occupation of Taiwan, the Japanese constructed numerous administrative and public buildings, often in grand colonial style. Many are still in good condition. The Office of the President, for example, was built as the Office of the Taiwan Governor-General. Similarly, the Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, and Tainan railway stations were all built during that period, and have been listed as protected historic sites.