Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum
The Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum, commonly referred to as the NPM Southern Branch, is located in Taibao City, Chiayi County, Taiwan, and is one of the two main campuses of the National Palace Museum. Situated near Chiayi High-Speed Rail Station and the Suantou Sugar Factory, it enjoys convenient transportation and serves as a museum park combining Asian art and culture with modern architectural aesthetics. Positioned as an “Asian Art and Culture Museum,” the NPM Southern Branch is dedicated to the collection, research, exhibition, and educational promotion of artifacts from across Asia, making it a significant cultural landmark in southern Taiwan.
The expansive complex includes the main museum building, an outdoor artificial lake, and leisure spaces. Designed by architect Kris Yao, the museum’s architecture draws inspiration from the dragon, elephant, and horse—symbolizing the cultural exchange among China, India, and Persia. The building comprises three interwoven streamlined structures, each reflecting traditional Chinese calligraphic techniques: “dense ink” (nongmo), “flying white” (feibai), and “ink wash” (xuanran), creating a strong sense of Eastern aesthetics. The “Ink Rhyme Pavilion” (Moyun Lou) on the west houses collection and exhibition spaces, while the “Flying White Hall” (Feibai Guan) on the east contains public facilities and administrative offices. A scenic bridge crossing the lake connects the two.
The museum has four stories and a mezzanine, with a total floor area exceeding 38,000 square meters and exhibition space of about 8,800 square meters. It features five permanent galleries, spaces for special exhibitions, multimedia displays, and a children’s creative center. It is also the first museum in Taiwan to include a prayer room for Muslim visitors, reflecting cultural diversity and inclusivity. Additionally, a second building, designed by architect Chen Yu-Lin, continues the museum’s cultural symbolism, integrating imagery of bronzeware, ink textures, and landscape aesthetics to provide expanded exhibition and event space.
The outdoor grounds are equally well-designed, with the centerpiece being an artificial lake divided into Zhishan Lake and Zhide Lake, connected by a waterfall. The lakes serve both aesthetic and flood control purposes—Zhishan Lake maintaining a stable water level for viewing, while Zhide Lake functions as an ecological basin to regulate water flow, with circulation facilitated by underground pipelines. Connecting the main building to the southern shore of the lake is the “Zimei Bridge,” a 141.74-meter-long scenic bridge with an arch height of 17.5 meters, designed to harmonize with the terrain and water level, allowing visitors to appreciate the interplay between architecture and the surrounding waterscape.
The grounds also include a green corridor and lakeside trails for walking, cycling, and sightseeing tram rides. Along the way, visitors can encounter outdoor installations by various artists, such as stone sculptures by Yayoi Kusama and giant stones engraved with calligraphy by Zhang Daqian, blending art with natural scenery to create a space rich in both cultural and environmental charm.
