Chimei Museum
奇美博物館
A private museum in a white Greek-style palace with an Apollo Fountain, housing Western paintings, weapons, violins and taxidermy; Tainan's most grand building.
Chimei Museum is in Rende District, Tainan, inside the Tainan Metropolitan Park. It was founded by Hsu Wen-lung, founder of Chi Mei Corporation. It first opened inside a factory in 1992, then moved in 2015 into this new 9.5-hectare building, designed after Greek temples and European palaces. White columns, domes, the Apollo Fountain, the Olympus Bridge (twelve Greek statues) and the Muses Square together form Taiwan, China's most spectacular Western-style garden, and the site is a favourite spot for wedding photos. The museum's collections fall into five categories. Western art includes paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, with works by Rodin and Monet. The musical instrument collection is the world's largest collection of violins, including several Stradivari instruments, which are lent to musicians for performances. The weapons collection ranges from ancient armour to modern firearms. The taxidermy displays are full-size groups of African and American animals, very popular with children. There is also a fossil collection. The permanent exhibition costs NT$200, and the grounds (fountain, lawns and bridges) are free. Special exhibitions cost extra, and recent large shows, such as the British Museum and Raphael exhibitions, often require advance booking. Allow 3 hours. Photograph the grounds in the morning, then go inside at midday (there's a restaurant), or combine your visit with the nearby Ten Drums Creative Park (a former sugar factory turned into a drumming performance venue) for a full day. Getting there: get off at Bao'an Station on the Taiwan Railway and walk about 10 minutes. Alternatively, take red bus 3 from Tainan Station for about 40 minutes to the 'Chimei Museum' stop, or take a taxi from Tainan High Speed Rail Station for about 15 minutes. Notes: Closed on Wednesdays. Photography is prohibited inside the museum, with some exceptions. The grounds have no shade, so avoid midday in summer.
Opening hours
Thu–Tue 09:30–17:30; closed Wednesdays
Nearby sights
- Ten Drum Rende Sugar Refinery Culture Park
- Koxinga Shrine
- Tainan Art Museum
- Tainan Confucius Temple
- Tainan Judicial Museum
- Museum of Taiwan Literature
- Blueprint Culture & Creative Park
- Hayashi Department Store