The Palace Museum is an absolute must-do when visiting Taipei. This Met-like museum hosts some of China’s most valuable ancient imperial artifacts. With nearly 700,000 pieces, it is the largest collection of its kind anywhere in the world, which I find incredible as Taiwan is a rather small island to begin with.

Collections of coins, textiles, paintings, sculptures, vases, rare books and more were brought over from mainland China by Chiang Kai-shek, as the Chinese Civil War threatened the immediate safety of these precious items. So you can now find some of China’s oldest and most profound cultural staples, lining the corridors of this magnificent museum on the outskirts of Taipei City.

There are four floors of art and artifacts, gardens, pavilions, memorials, and common areas. Above are the sculptures, gardens, and entrance to the museum as photography inside is strictly forbidden. The Palace Museum offers a beautiful assortment of China's rich history right in Taipei’s backyard and was a perfect way to spend the afternoon.