Enjoying the Christmas Festival at the Chimei Museum in Taiwan
Hello.
Christmas is approaching, isn't it?
Do you have any plans?
Well, yesterday, December 14th,
I went to the Christmas festival being held at the Chimei Museum in Tainan.
I had a refreshing and fun day,
so I wanted to share its charm and have summarized it in this article.
(1) What is the Chimei Museum?
The Chimei Museum is a private museum founded by businessman Shi Wen-long.
According to the official website,
Shi Wen-long had been fascinated by Western works of art since his childhood.
Although he did not become an artist,
he actively collected works of art after becoming a businessman.
Initially, they were kept as a private collection,
but he founded the museum with the desire to let citizens
enjoy Western works of art that were not well-known in southern Taiwan.
In fact, until it moved to its current location,
there was a long period where anyone could enter for free with an advance reservation.
(I have also visited for free many times!)
Even now, after the move, if you meet the conditions listed on the official website,
you can enter for free.
Click here for the official website
(2) Christmas Festival at the Museum
The "Christmas Festival," held every year on the two weekends closest to Christmas,
is in its seventh year this year.
This year's dates are as follows:
・12/14 (Sat)
・12/15 (Sun)
・12/21 (Sat)
・12/22 (Sun)
The theme changes every year, but
this year it features the Chimei Museum's collection,
with the theme "Chimei Treasures: A Magnificent Feast."As for the admission tickets you are curious about,
・Advance tickets are 250 NTD,
・Same-day tickets are 300 NTD
(3) Highlights of the Christmas Festival
The Christmas festival is packed with events,
and it is almost impossible to experience everything in one day.
Therefore, I have picked out and introduced the events I actually experienced.
[Christmas Market]
When it comes to Christmas festivals,
Christmas markets are definitely a must.
It is said that nearly 100 stalls are set up on the museum grounds.
Click here for the stall map
In addition to gourmet food, there were also many stalls selling handmade products.
I wanted to enjoy dishes I don't often get to eat,
so for lunch, I had German cuisine:
'Jägerschnitzel with Spätzle' and
'Sweet potato potage'
.
For dinner, I enjoyed
'a combination of fried chicken and french fries'
.
It was unusually cold, so I also ordered
'Baileys with tea'
, which really warmed me up.
[Christmas Tree]
The Christmas tree, which adds to the festive atmosphere, is also a must-see.
Standing 13 meters tall against the backdrop of the Western-style museum,
it makes you feel as if you are in Europe.
[Music Events]
When it comes to Christmas, soul-stirring Christmas music is also essential.
You can check the event schedule on the signboards set up at the venue.
Music events are held separately on the outdoor stage and in the indoor main hall,
and performances begin at each location when the time comes.
The concert in the main hall, in particular,
made excellent use of the building's materials and space to let the sound expand,
resonating pleasantly and reaching far.
[Permanent Exhibition]
The permanent exhibition, which usually requires a 200 NTD admission fee,
is included in the Christmas festival ticket,
so you can visit it for free.
I would like to summarize a more detailed introduction in another article,
so for now, I will simply post photos of each area.
(I have obtained permission to take photos.)
*Updated December 19: Click here for an introduction to the permanent exhibition ↓
・Musical Instrument Area
・Western Painting Area
・Arms and Armor Area
・Animal Area
・Sculptures in the Corridor
[Outdoor Cinema]
In the evening, you can enjoy outdoor cinema in addition to musical events outside.
Two films are shown per day, starting at 18:00 and 20:00.
The film shown on Saturday, 12/14 at 20:00
was "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" starring Johnny Depp.
It might just be me, but
when I'm enjoying a movie on a sheet spread out on the grass in an open space,
for some reason, I feel a sense of unity with the other audience members.
When watching a movie in a theater,
I often don't feel anything special just from being in the same space,
but at an outdoor cinema, I get the illusion that everyone there is
an acquaintance.
Perhaps it's the 'magic' unique to outdoor cinema.
(4) A final word
How was it?
Speaking from personal experience,
at the Chimei Museum Christmas Festival, I was able to have wonderful experiences such as
・Enjoying the Christmas market
・Experiencing works of art
・Enjoying Christmas music
・Immersing myself in the Christmas spirit
.
If you have the chance to visit southern Taiwan during the Christmas season,
please be sure to visit the Chimei Museum Christmas Festival.
Of course, it is full of highlights at other times of the year as well,
so please visit in person and experience the charm of the Chimei Museum for yourself.