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Overview of the National Palace Museum.

The National Palace Museum (traditional Chinese: 國立故宮博物院; simplified Chinese: 国立故宫博物院; pinyin: Gúolì Gùgōng Bówùyùan) is an art gallery and museum in Taipei City, Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan containing artifacts of ancient China. It should not be confused with the Palace Museum (note the absence of the word "National"), which is the Forbidden City in Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China. Both institutions derive from the same original institution, which was split in two as a result of the Chinese Civil War. The National Palace Museum in Taipei holds one of the largest collection of Chinese artifacts and artwork in the world.

The museum reopened on Christmas of 2006 after an extensive renovation project. The renovation project lasted for four years, during which two-thirds of the museum were closed. Three "Grand View" exhibits in honor of the reopening will run from 2006/12/25 ~ 2007/03/25: Ju Ware from the Northern Sung Dynasty, Painting and Calligraphy of the Northern Sung, and Sung Dynasty Rare Books.

The Jade Cabbage at the National Palace Museum, Taipei.

The Meat-Shaped Stone

The museum houses several items that are the pride of their collection and famous worldwide. They include:

• The "Jade Cabbage", a piece of jade carved into the shape of a head of cabbage, with two insects attached. The fame attached to this piece is due to the masterful utilisation of natural colour variations in the jade to recreate colour variations in the cabbage.
• The "meat-shaped stone", a piece of agate, the strata of which are cleverly used to create a likeness of a piece of pork cooked in soy sauce.
• The "Palace version" of the Qingming Scroll. Even though this is only a copy (the original is in the Palace Museum, Beijing), it is nevertheless regarded as an artistic masterpiece.
• A boat carved from an olive pit
• The "Painting of One Hundred Horses"

Taipei's National Palace Museum with apartments blocking the view.

Main Hall of the National Palace Museum in 2003, prior to renovations. The Chiang Kai-shek statue has since been removed.

Main Hall of the National Palace Museum in 2007.

Main entrance gate to the National Palace Museum.

• Chinese art
• Forbidden City
• Taipei City
• Republic of China

• National Palace Museum Official Website
• Chinese Paintings
• The Splendors of Imperial China: Treasures from the National Palace Museum, Taipei
• NY Times (subscription)
• The National Palace Museum
• NY Times: Rare Glimpses of China’s Long-Hidden Treasures
• Taipei's National Palace Museum
• In Pictures: NPM reopens (BBC)
• A Visit To The National Palace Museum In Taipei

Coordinates: 25°06′07″N, 121°32′55″E