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The main building of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

No. 27 Top 100 Most Visited Art Museums 2025 · 2,426,842 visitors in 2025

National Palace Museum

Taipei, Taiwan · City guide: Taipei

One of the world's great collections of Chinese imperial art, from the Jadeite Cabbage to Song porcelain, in Taipei.

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Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The National Palace Museum is No. 27 in The Art Newspaper's survey of the world's most visited art museums, with 2,426,842 visitors in 2025, up 29% on 2024. Its collection of nearly 700,000 objects, mostly from the Chinese imperial collections, spans some 8,000 years.

The main building in the Shilin district of Taipei, set against wooded hills, opened in 1965. Only a small part of the collection can be shown at a time, so displays change regularly. A Southern Branch in Chiayi County focuses on Asian art and culture.

The National Palace Museum seen from its forecourt, Taipei
The National Palace Museum seen from its forecourt, Taipei. Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings and late afternoons are the quietest; tour groups are busiest at midday. Check the official website for hours.

Highlights & collections

  • 1

    Jadeite Cabbage

    A piece of jadeite carved into a bok choy, with two insects hidden in its leaves.

  • 2

    Meat-shaped Stone

    A piece of jasper carved and dyed to look like a cube of braised pork belly; it is sometimes on loan elsewhere.

  • 3

    Ancient bronzes

    Ritual vessels including the Mao Gong Ding, which bears one of the longest known bronze inscriptions.

  • 4

    Ceramics

    Rare Ru ware of the Song dynasty and imperial porcelain from later dynasties.

  • 5

    Painting and calligraphy

    Masterpieces are shown for short periods because of their fragility.

Getting there

From Shilin MRT station (Tamsui–Xinyi line), take a bus such as R30, 255 or 304 to the museum, or a taxi.

Visiting tips

Tickets & hours
Buy tickets online or at the museum. Check the official website for prices, hours and which highlights are on display.
Time needed
Two to three hours.
Currency
New Taiwan dollar (TWD). Cards are accepted at the museum.
Visa & entry
Citizens of many countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, EU countries, Australia and Japan, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. Fill in the online arrival card from the National Immigration Agency before you land, and check the Bureau of Consular Affairs (boca.gov.tw) for your passport.

Official information: National Palace Museum (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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