Chimei Museum is one of Taiwan's most unusual cultural institutions: a private museum that grew from the personal passions of Shi Wen-long, the founder of the Chi Mei Corporation, who was also an amateur violinist. The collection began in 1992 inside a company administration building and moved to its present purpose-built home on Wenhua Road in Tainan, reopening in 2015. The neoclassical building, with its columns, domes and long approach across ornamental water, looks more like a European national gallery than something in southern Taiwan. Inside are five main collections: fine arts including painting and sculpture, musical instruments, natural history and fossils, arms and armor, and antiquities. The violin collection is the headline, with well over a thousand instruments including celebrated Italian makers, and it has earned the museum a reputation far beyond Taiwan. It is an ideal half-day stop for anyone who wants something quieter than temples and night markets, and it sits within easy reach of Tainan's other historic sights.
What to expect
The museum is large and rewards a slow visit. The musical instruments galleries are the most distinctive, with rows of violins and other string instruments displayed by maker and period, while the arms and armor halls and the European-style sculpture are the other crowd favourites. The natural history and fossil displays add variety for children.
Because the collection is wide rather than deep in any single area, it suits visitors who like to wander and let one gallery lead to the next. Wear comfortable shoes and expect air-conditioned rooms, which is a welcome relief on a hot Tainan afternoon.
Getting there and timing
The museum stands in the Rende District of Tainan, within walking distance of Bao'an Station on the Taiwan Railway, so a train from Kaohsiung followed by a short walk is the simplest approach and takes well under an hour each way. The museum opens in the morning and closes late in the afternoon, and it is closed on Wednesdays and on some other designated days, so check the schedule before you travel. Allow at least two to three hours inside and arrive early if you also want to see the grounds and take photographs of the building.
How it fits a Kaohsiung trip
Tainan is the natural companion to Kaohsiung because the two cities are close and very different, with Tainan offering older streets, forts and temples. Pair the museum with Chihkan Tower and the Anping area for a full day, taking the train in and out.
Visitors who prefer the harbour and the beaches will happily skip it, but anyone with an interest in music, art or history will find it one of the most surprising museums in Asia. It suits couples, adult groups and school-age children, and it works well when the weather is hot or wet.
What to expect
The experience
A large private museum in a neoclassical building, with galleries for violins and instruments, fine art, arms and armor, natural history and antiquities.
Best time
Morning, so you have time for the galleries before the museum closes in the late afternoon.
How long
Two to three hours inside, plus travel time from Kaohsiung.
Tips
Check the closing days before travelling, wear comfortable shoes and combine the visit with Chihkan Tower or Anping.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Music, art and history lovers who want an indoor highlight.
- Families
- Good for school-age children, especially the fossils, armor and large sculptures.
- Couples
- A calm, elegant stop that makes a good change of pace.
- Pair with
- Chihkan Tower, Anping Tree House and Teyang Navy Destroyer Museum.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours inside; a full day with other Tainan sights.
Good questions
What is Chimei Museum best known for?+
Its violin collection, which is among the largest in the world and includes instruments by celebrated Italian makers. The museum also holds paintings, sculpture, arms and armor, and natural history displays.
Which day is the museum closed?+
It is closed on Wednesdays and on a few other designated days, so check the schedule before you go.
How do I get there from Kaohsiung?+
Take a Taiwan Railway train to Tainan and get off at Bao'an Station, from which the museum is a walk away. The journey is well under an hour.
How long should I allow?+
Plan on two to three hours for the galleries, and longer if you like to read every label or visit the grounds.
Is it suitable for children?+
Yes. The fossils, armor and large sculptures hold the interest of most school-age children, and the air-conditioned halls make it a comfortable choice in summer.
