National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum's collection originated as the Imperial Collection of the Forbidden City in Beijing, accumulated over 1,000 years by Chinese emperors. During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–45), the most important objects were shipped to Taiwan for safekeeping. When the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949 with the Communist victory, the Nationalist (ROC) government took approximately 600,000 of the most prized objects to Taipei. The Palace Museum in Beijing (the Forbidden City) retained many items; both institutions hold part of what was once one unified collection.

The Jadeite Cabbage (翠玉白菜) is a small sculpture (19 cm tall) carved from a single piece of jadeite stone that naturally has a white and green pattern — the carver used the colour distribution to make the leaves pale green fading to white. Two insects — a locust and a katydid — perch on the cabbage leaves, symbols of fertility and offspring. It was likely created during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) as a wedding gift for an imperial concubine. It is the most popular single object in the museum and often attracts long queues.

The Jadeite Cabbage is on display most of the year in a dedicated case in the permanent collection galleries. However, it occasionally travels for temporary international exhibitions, during which a notice is posted. Due to its immense popularity, there can be significant queues to view it up close. It is advisable to check the museum's official website (npm.gov.tw) to confirm it is currently on display before visiting.

The National Palace Museum holds nearly 700,000 artefacts — one of the largest and most important collections of Chinese imperial art in the world. Because the collection is so enormous relative to the gallery space, only about 3,000 items can be displayed at any one time, with displays rotated every three months. To see every object in the collection would theoretically require 12 years of visits. Holdings include jades, bronzes, imperial porcelain, calligraphy, paintings, lacquerware, and rare books spanning 8,000 years.

Both institutions are successors to the imperial collection of the Forbidden City. The National Palace Museum in Taipei holds pieces evacuated to Taiwan in the 1930s–40s — generally emphasising portable and moveable objects (jade, ceramics, bronzes, paintings, calligraphy, rare books). The Palace Museum in Beijing (the Forbidden City) retains the architecture itself and many larger objects that could not be moved. Each institution considers its collection the authentic continuation of the imperial collection — the question of which country holds the 'real' collection is politically sensitive.

Plan 2–4 hours for the highlights. Add time for temporary exhibitions, the museum shop, and café.

It is on display most of the year but occasionally travels — check npm.gov.tw before visiting.

Nearly 700,000 artefacts — only about 3,000 displayed at a time, rotated every three months.

Yes — the Southern Branch in Chiayi displays Asian art and tea culture. It is a separate visit, about 90 minutes from Taipei by HSR.