Chimei Museum is a private museum in Rende District, Tainan, founded and funded by Chi Mei Corporation founder Shi Wen-lung. Established within the company's factory grounds in 1992, it moved to its current site and officially reopened in 2015; its collection spans European painting, sculpture, weapons, and musical instruments, making it the largest private museum in southern Taiwan.
Chimei Museum was founded in 1992 by Chi Mei Corporation founder Shi Wen-lung, initially housed within the Chi Mei factory complex in Rende and offering free admission for 21 years. After an extensive search for a larger site, the new museum building officially opened on January 3, 2015, in Tainan Metropolitan Park (Wenhua Road, Rende District); the building was subsequently donated to the government, with the nonprofit Chimei Museum Foundation holding a 50-year operating concession. The permanent galleries display over 4,000 works, roughly one-third of the total collection, spanning European painting, sculpture, weapons, musical instruments, and natural history. Current admission is NT$200 for a full ticket and NT$150 for a concession ticket for the permanent exhibition; Tainan City residents and students studying in Tainan can enter free with valid ID, while special exhibitions are ticketed separately.
What to See at Chimei Museum
The museum grounds are located on Wenhua Road in Rende District, Tainan City. Its predecessor was housed inside the Chi Mei industrial zone, and the relocated site covers a larger area. The building exterior features white colonnades and a dome; the plaza holds large sculptural fountains, with an overall style recalling 19th-century European museum architecture. The collections grew from Shih Wen-lung's decades of collecting and span European paintings, Western musical instruments, Asian artifacts, weapons, and several other thematic galleries.
The permanent exhibitions are divided by theme: the instrument gallery holds a large collection of string and wind instruments; the weapons gallery displays armor and swords from various eras. The natural history gallery, with its animal and mineral specimens, is well suited to family visits. The art gallery has a number of European oil paintings from the 17th to 19th centuries; while not world-famous masterpieces, they hold a certain reference value for art history. The outdoor plaza is open for free strolling and photography — even without entering the museum, you can take in the architectural atmosphere.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There & Timing
- Located on Wenhua Road in Rende District, Tainan City; driving or riding is most convenient, with a parking area near the museum grounds.
- Tainan city buses run to and from the site — check the Tainan City Bus real-time system for schedules; allow extra waiting time on weekends.
- The museum has specific closed days; check the Chimei Museum official website for the latest opening hours and ticket information before your visit.
Nearby Connections
- From Rende District you can continue to Tainan Metropolitan Park — good for a walk.
- After returning to central Tainan you can connect to historic sites such as Anping Old Fort and Anping Old Street.
Source: Chimei Museum official information and the Wikipedia entry 'Chimei Museum.' Photos pending replacement with Dio's actual shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Chimei Museum admission cost?
The permanent exhibition costs NT$200 for a full ticket and NT$150 concession; Tainan residents and students studying in Tainan enter free with ID, and special exhibitions are ticketed separately.
When did Chimei Museum open?
It first opened free within the Chi Mei factory grounds in 1992; the current museum building officially opened on January 3, 2015, in Tainan Metropolitan Park.
What does the collection cover?
Galleries span European painting, sculpture, weapons, musical instruments, and natural history, displaying over 4,000 works — about one-third of the full collection.
Who owns the museum building?
After completion, Chi Mei Corporation donated the building to the government; the nonprofit Chimei Museum Foundation now holds a 50-year operating concession.
Sources
- 創館故事 - 奇美博物館 — 1992年創立、2015年新館開幕、50年經營權
- Chimei Museum - Wikipedia — 2015年1月開幕日期
- 奇美博物館常設展全票200元&優惠票150元 — 現行門票價格