The Campus
The conception of the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum is not solely about the establishment of a museum, but it is also the creation of a new, cultural tourist site in Central-Southern Taiwan.

The Southern Branch Museum and its vicinity constitute a total area of 70 acres. There is a man-made lake, an Asian-themed courtyard and other peripheral facilities within the entire plot.

Other than beautiful scenery, space devoted to leisure, the gardens boast a design that hearkens to the general architectural theme of the Museum and so they become an extension of the main exhibition complex. The objective is to paint the image of the Southern Branch as a museum perfectly blended into a cultural garden.

Man-made Lake :
This man-made lake, which occupies a central position in the gardens, is one of its most important elements. The lake provides the 70-acre garden with a scenic visual experience. A visitor can circumvent the periphery of the lake, or rest their feet at an occasional bench along the way. The beauty of nature can be thoroughly enjoyed and admired around the lake.

The Design Plan of the Gardens :
In order to complement the concept of exchange, discourse within an Asian cultural context exemplified by the Southern Branch Museum, the gardens' design shall follow its aesthetic and thematic path in exhibiting a quality of interaction between the Asian cultures and landscapes first connected by trade.

The Open Auditorium :
There will be an open auditorium, an area for performance and activities, in the gardens. Celebrations and events will be held there. Not only will the gardens offer activities that will attract throngs of visitors, but also, a center for community life will also be established.

Space not designated for Museum Use :
Since the Southern Branch Museum will be situated far away from bustling city life and the centers of gathering, visitors will tend to allocate one whole day for the trip. As a result, the Museum must provide areas and facilities for leisure and recreation apart from the exhibition building complex, such as restaurants and shopping, etc. A variety of interactive events should also be offered, especially those that would attract families.

The gardens will reserve space for commercial purposes, such as hotels and housing facilities, etc. In order to build a rapport between government and private businesses, a BOT/OT approach will be used.