Making History for Cultural Exchange— A Remarkable Exhibition of Vatican Artifacts

“Treasures from Heaven: A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See” opens in early February. Representing an unprecedented example of transnational, multidisciplinary curatorial cooperation, the exhibition is writing a new page in the history of cultural exchange between the ROC and t......

A Cultural Rebalancing Act— The National Palace Museum’s Southern Branch

The Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum combines a broad general focus on Asian art and culture—the first major national-level museum in Asia to do so—with a special emphasis on local Taiwanese culture. Eagerly awaited by the nation’s people, the museum finally opened its doors at th......

Director Fung Ming-chu’s Hopes for the NPM’s Southern Branch

“I am proud of my colleagues at the National Palace Museum, and proud of the museum’s Southern Branch.” The night before the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum opened for scheduled visits, NPM director Fung Ming-chu sat down for an interview with Taiwan Panorama, revealing her inner......

A Gateway to National Culture

The National Palace Museum, famous the world over for its splendid collection of Chinese artifacts, has recently had two reasons to celebrate: First, the Southern Branch of the museum, which highlights Asian art and culture, has opened on the Jia­nan Plain in a striking building inspired by te......

Learning Huayu in Taiwan

—A Journey of Boundless Possibilities

Lukas Engström is a Swedish national based in Taiwan. Shortly after he started to learn Mandarin Chinese here, he visited a soft drinks bar to buy a cup of pearl milk tea. While in the queue, he kept repeating to himself the Chinese phrases he had to say to the staff. When at last he gave the ......

Soothing Taiwan’s Sweet Tooth

Stories of Local Pastries

Rivaling Willy Wonka’s legendary chocolate bars, and laden with even more stories than Marcel Proust’s madeleine cakes, Taiwanese pastries continue to satisfy our sweet tooth. With their origins in traditional Chinese confectionery, they are made with local ingredients rich in cultural meaning......

A New Trend in Medical Tourism

—Healthcare and Health Maintenance in Taiwan

Hospitals in Taiwan possess high-end medical technology and equipment, and Taiwan is a world leader in certain specialties, including liver transplantation and reproductive medicine. Institutions here provide very cost-effective healthcare services and have a competitive advantage against the ......

The Taiwanese Camino:

Mazu Pilgrimages

The activities that take place in Taiwan each March to celebrate the goddess Mazu are the island’s most boisterous folk culture events. For seven to nine days and nights, people follow Mazu—Taiwan’s “number-one goddess”—on pilgrimages and “tours of inspection.” Walking in these processions pro......