<strong>Chimei Museum, Tainan: </strong>Founded by Wen-Long Shi, one of Taiwan's richest businessmen, Chimei Museum is meant to be museum for everyone, especially the underprivileged.
Chimei Museum, Tainan: Founded by Wen-Long Shi, one of Taiwan's richest businessmen, Chimei Museum is meant to be museum for everyone, especially the underprivileged.
courtesy Chimei Museum Foundation
<strong>Museum for the poor: </strong>Relocated to the Tainan Metropolitan Park in 2014, the museum is modeled after a European palace. Focusing on Western arts and collections, Shi hopes that Chimei will offer a glimpse of the world to those who don't have the money to travel.
Museum for the poor: Relocated to the Tainan Metropolitan Park in 2014, the museum is modeled after a European palace. Focusing on Western arts and collections, Shi hopes that Chimei will offer a glimpse of the world to those who don't have the money to travel.
courtesy Chimei Museum Foundation
<strong>Chimei collection: </strong>The Chimei Museum exhibits around 4,000 items -- about a third of its entire collection. Items on display include Western arts, musical instruments, armors, animal taxidermy and antiques.
Chimei collection: The Chimei Museum exhibits around 4,000 items -- about a third of its entire collection. Items on display include Western arts, musical instruments, armors, animal taxidermy and antiques.
courtesy Chimei Museum Foundation
<strong>World's largest violin collection: </strong>With a collection of 1,376 string instruments from the violin family, by 1,122 violin makers, Chimei Museum boasts the world's largest and most comprehensive violin collection.
World's largest violin collection: With a collection of 1,376 string instruments from the violin family, by 1,122 violin makers, Chimei Museum boasts the world's largest and most comprehensive violin collection.
Maggie Wong/CNN
<strong>Prized instruments: </strong>Some of its most valuable string instruments include the world's oldest cello (from 1566) by renowned luthier Andrea Amati. There are works by the Stradivari and Guarneri families, too.
Prized instruments: Some of its most valuable string instruments include the world's oldest cello (from 1566) by renowned luthier Andrea Amati. There are works by the Stradivari and Guarneri families, too.
courtesy Chimei Museum Foundation
<strong>The violin master: </strong>Dai-Ting Chung, senior consultant for the Chimei Museum and a violin maker, is in charge of purchasing and collecting most of the violins. His daily duties also include working on Chimei's impressive violin database as well as repairing violins.
The violin master: Dai-Ting Chung, senior consultant for the Chimei Museum and a violin maker, is in charge of purchasing and collecting most of the violins. His daily duties also include working on Chimei's impressive violin database as well as repairing violins.
Maggie Wong/CNN
<strong>Studies of woods and sounds: </strong>"I also have to follow up on collaboration research projects every day -- like the studies of violins' woods and violins' sounds," says Chung.
Studies of woods and sounds: "I also have to follow up on collaboration research projects every day -- like the studies of violins' woods and violins' sounds," says Chung.
Maggie Wong/CNN
<strong>Violin dreamland: </strong>"This is like a violin dreamland -- where all your violin fantasies come true," says Chung. The workshop is also home to a high security vault for the rest of the Chimei Museum's violin collections.
Violin dreamland: "This is like a violin dreamland -- where all your violin fantasies come true," says Chung. The workshop is also home to a high security vault for the rest of the Chimei Museum's violin collections.
Maggie Wong/CNN
<strong>Painting a complete picture: </strong>"We don't aim to collect the most valuable and celebrated violins but ones that have an important role to play in completing the history of string instruments," says Chung. The collection also includes other elements related to violins like this vintage violin maker's table.
Painting a complete picture: "We don't aim to collect the most valuable and celebrated violins but ones that have an important role to play in completing the history of string instruments," says Chung. The collection also includes other elements related to violins like this vintage violin maker's table.
Maggie Wong/CNN
<strong>Chimei Cultural Foundation Scholarship: </strong>The museum offers a Chimei Cultural Foundation Scholarship to support talent. It also lends violins to students and musicians who may need one for studying or performing.
Chimei Cultural Foundation Scholarship: The museum offers a Chimei Cultural Foundation Scholarship to support talent. It also lends violins to students and musicians who may need one for studying or performing.
Maggie Wong/CNN
<strong>Walk-in orchestra: </strong>Chimei Museum works with Taiwan's National Symphony Orchestra to create an immersive walk-in orchestra performance. Visitors can stroll around and listen to various instruments during the performance.
Walk-in orchestra: Chimei Museum works with Taiwan's National Symphony Orchestra to create an immersive walk-in orchestra performance. Visitors can stroll around and listen to various instruments during the performance.
courtesy Chimei Museum Foundation
<strong>Fine Arts Hall: </strong>Chimei Museum showcases paintings from the 13th to 20th century, illustrating the evolution of Western art history.
Fine Arts Hall: Chimei Museum showcases paintings from the 13th to 20th century, illustrating the evolution of Western art history.
Maggie Wong/CNN
<strong>Natural History and Fossils Hall: </strong>The Natural History section displays taxidermy of animals from five continents.
Natural History and Fossils Hall: The Natural History section displays taxidermy of animals from five continents.
courtesy Chimei Museum Foundation
<strong>Rodin Gallery: </strong>Surrounding a large statue of Auguste Rodin are his own works as well as those of his teachers, peers and apprentices to create a well-rounded picture of the French sculptor.
Rodin Gallery: Surrounding a large statue of Auguste Rodin are his own works as well as those of his teachers, peers and apprentices to create a well-rounded picture of the French sculptor.
courtesy Chimei Museum Foundation
<strong>Arms and Armors: </strong>"Shi likes history so he collects weapons," says Patricia Chung, deputy director of Chimei Museum. "It's because the most advanced technology of the time is often applied to weapons. Winning and losing a war will determine the path of history."
Arms and Armors: "Shi likes history so he collects weapons," says Patricia Chung, deputy director of Chimei Museum. "It's because the most advanced technology of the time is often applied to weapons. Winning and losing a war will determine the path of history."
Maggie Wong/CNN
<strong>Sculpture Halls: </strong>The hallway leading to various galleries and halls is called the Sculpture Halls, showing sculptures from the ancient Greco-Roman period to the 20th century.
Sculpture Halls: The hallway leading to various galleries and halls is called the Sculpture Halls, showing sculptures from the ancient Greco-Roman period to the 20th century.
Maggie Wong/CNN
<strong>The philanthropist: </strong>Growing up during wartime, the young Shi Wen-Long found peace and pleasure in a small museum in Tainan, which inspired him to build a museum for all.
The philanthropist: Growing up during wartime, the young Shi Wen-Long found peace and pleasure in a small museum in Tainan, which inspired him to build a museum for all.
courtesy Chimei Museum Foundation