The Daxi Wood Art Ecomuseum is a public ecomuseum in Daxi District, Taoyuan, established on January 1, 2015 and opened to the public on March 28 of the same year; it positions the entire Daxi old town as a museum without walls. Eleven venue buildings are scattered around the old street, housed in historical structures left from the Japanese colonial period—including the former police headquarters, Wude Hall, and the Assembly Hall—and it was the first public museum established after Taoyuan’s 2014 upgrade to special municipality status.
The Daxi Wood Art Ecomuseum was formally established on January 1, 2015 and opened to the public on March 28 the same year, making it the first municipal public museum founded after Taoyuan County was upgraded to a special municipality on December 25, 2014. The complex now comprises 11 venue buildings, repurposing Japanese-era structures such as the former police headquarters, Wude Hall, and the Assembly Hall as exhibition spaces, with the buildings themselves serving as part of the display.
What to See at the Daxi Wood Art Ecomuseum
The museum officially opened in 2015 and was designed around the concept of an "ecomuseum," emphasizing connections between the local community and indigenous crafts rather than simply preserving a collection of objects. The museum buildings themselves are the exhibit: the former police headquarters retains its Japanese-era red brick and timber roof framing, the Wude Hall's Tang-style roof and column arrangement conveys the formal character of a martial arts training hall, and each building has its own independent historical context explained on site.
The woodcraft galleries present Daxi's woodworking tradition from the Qing dynasty onward, covering furniture, spirit shrines, deity figure carving, and architectural components, with explanations of the division of craft labor across timber selection, joinery, and lacquerwork. Some venues feature resident craftsperson studios, and on open days you can observe actual woodworking or restoration work in progress. The museum also holds community events and special exhibitions throughout the year, with content updated seasonally.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There & Time
- From Taoyuan Train Station, take a bus to Daxi, then walk or ride a YouBike to the various old town venues.
- Most venues close on Mondays and are open all day on weekends; see official announcements for detailed hours.
- The museum overall is free to enter; some special exhibitions may charge an additional fee — confirm before visiting.
Nearby Connections
- The venue locations overlap extensively with Daxi Old Street and can be combined into a half-day to full-day itinerary.
- A short walk leads to Daxi Puji Temple, Meishan, and other nearby attractions, extending your spatial understanding of the local settlement.
Sources: Daxi Wood Art Ecomuseum official website. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Daxi Wood Art Ecomuseum established?
It was formally established on January 1, 2015 and opened to the public on March 28 of the same year.
Why is it called a “museum without walls”?
Because it isn’t housed in a single building—its 11 venues are scattered across the old town, treating the entire district as the exhibition space.
What is its significance in Taoyuan’s history?
It is the first municipal public museum established after Taoyuan County was upgraded to special municipality status in 2014.
Sources
- 桃園市立大溪木藝生態博物館 - 維基百科，自由的百科全書 — 設立與開館日期、館舍沿革
- 桃園市立大溪木藝生態博物館官方網站 — 官方館舍資訊