The National Palace Museum contains much of the historical loot taken by the Republic of China government as it fled the victorious Communist armies for the haven of Taiwan. The Museum collection contains a vast horde of treasures from imperial China, and is rotated every ten years. The Museum site itself contains some lovely areas to walk, and it is located in a valley surrounded by beautiful green mountains topped by temples. The Museum website is here (web page photos from two different visits).
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Climbing the steps to the Museum.
The front of the museum, with apartments opposite.
The Museum and its environs.
Truckloads of tourists hit the Museum.
A typical museum display, this of a porcelain bowl.
Inside an exhibition area.
Another typical museum object on display.
Posing in front of an exhibition.
The famous jade cabbage.
A text about the objects on display.
Posing in front of an exhibition announcement.
After visiting the Museum, you can drop a few bucks at the coffee shop and gift shop.
Serious reproductions and....
....loads of kitschy crap are both available.
Here we are strolling through the gift shop with my parents during their visit in July of 2006.
Falun Gong fanatics hang out at all the tourist sites.
My father hunts for a shot.
Tourist buses disgorge more hordes.
My own prize: this...um... wonderful ruler.
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