The National Palace Museum in Taipei’s Shilin District holds one of the world’s largest collections of Chinese imperial art and artifacts, spanning nearly 700,000 pieces of porcelain, painting, calligraphy, jade, and bronzework accumulated over centuries of Chinese dynastic rule. The hillside compound is a calm counterpoint to central Taipei’s density.
The two most-photographed pieces are the Jadeite Cabbage, carved to resemble a real cabbage with insects, and the Meat-Shaped Stone, a piece of jasper naturally banded to look like braised pork belly. Rotating exhibitions bring rarely-shown pieces from storage into public view throughout the year.
Most visitors spend 3 to 4 hours seeing the main highlights; art enthusiasts often stay longer. The museum’s Silks Palace restaurant, known for artifact-inspired dishes, is popular enough to warrant reservations.
