Visitors to Taiwan’s southern-tip Hengchun Peninsula should be certain not to miss the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium. Here, you’ll see a vast, colorful array of corals and the fascinating creatures that inhabit the reef area, as well as a wonderful collection of sea animals that to a large extent, swim around you, giving you the feeling that you’re the exhibit. There are actually two main viewing areas, the Waters of Taiwan and the Coral Kingdom. The aquarium itself is huge, and you want to ensure that you see both areas.

A friendly Lionfish resident of the aquarium, up close & personal

For us here at WoWasis, the Coral Kingdom’s Underwater Tunnel was a highlight, where rays, sharks, and colorful fish swim above and to either side of you, as you walk and stop along the glass-enclosed tunnel. In another tank, friendly belugas nuzzle the glass, curious about onlookers. In the large coral tanks, the colors of the corals and fish living among them are amazing, the Lionfish being among the most spectacular. Across the outside patio at the Waters of Taiwan exhibit, not-to-miss exhibits include the High Mountain Streams, Estuary, Intertidal Zone, Subtidal Zone, and Open Ocean.

There’s a lot to see, and you should plan at least half a day here. Be prepared, though, for lots of screaming kids, and overt commercialism (there’s a gift shop seemingly every 30 feet). Somewhat surprisingly, no shops carry any books in English on the sea life of Taiwan. One kids’ exhibit we really did enjoy were the touch pools, where, under the guidance of friendly staff, we were able to touch all sorts of tide pool creatures.

This is a remarkable aquarium, and there’s a lot to see here, in exhibition tanks that are visually interesting, and contain fascinating sea animals that you may not see in your own country.

National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium
2 Houwan Road
Tel (08) 882-5678
http://www.nmmba.gov.tw/english/index.aspx
GPS: N22°02.768’  E120°42.001’