National Palace Museum - Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwan - Day 1
One of my favorite things to do in Taiwan is to go to the National Palace Museum with my Uncle. Despite stemming from the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City, the National Palace Museum in Taiwan actually has the largest collection of ancient Chinese treasures and art, as Chiang Kai-Shek ordered as many of the artifacts to be moved to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War. While some view this as an act of looting, consider the fact that had they not been moved, the artifacts would most likely have been destroyed during the Cultural Revolution (much of what is on display in the Forbidden City was reacquired from Western countries). What's amazing is that while the exhibits are in constant rotation, save for a few of the most famous artifacts, you rarely see the same thing twice - my Uncle has been going on a monthly basis for the last 15 years and always sees something new. That's how much stuff there is.

One of the reasons I love going to the National Palace Museum is because my Uncle has a very deep understanding of ancient Chinese culture and artistry, so with over 5000 years of history and culture, there's always something new for me to learn. What truly amazes me is the pure skill and artistry behind all the artifacts. Even with all of our tools and technology today, scientists still can't quite figure out how many of the items were actually made. I think my Uncle put it best when he said that the ancient Chinese were very intelligent people who came up with many advanced ways to improve both their everyday life and that of their artistry. Unfortunately, what they were lacking were the scientific breakthroughs that fueled growth and revolutions in the Western countries.