Where can a parent take curious, energetic kids to have some educational fun and get exercise, all while staying cool and being able to get that all important cup of Starbucks coffee? The National Taiwan Science Education Center (NTSEC) in the Shilin district of Taipei might just be the answer to every parent’s dream.
NTSEC is an ideal place to take children of all ages. It has four floors of permanent exhibits, ranging from biodiversity, chemistry, the human body, and physics, to the very interactive “Science Circus,” where kids can explore scientific principles by using their bodies to make things happen. Each section has lots of buttons to press, interactive exhibits, and cool things to see. Much of the information presented in the exhibits has been translated into English, as well, which is a definite plus. My kids’ favorites include the 3D human body puzzle, and the digestive tunnel, where you enter a giant mouth, go through the organs of the digestive system, and exit through a giant anus!
The seventh floor and part of the eighth floor house temporary special exhibits. Past temporary exhibits have included the Robot Zoo, a dinosaur exhibit from Japan, Body Worlds, and an interactive space exhibit.
The eighth floor is home to an inflatable playground where kids can bounce, jump, and slide to their heart’s content on huge inflatable structures. Parents can supervise or have coffee and read a newspaper on the mezzanine overlooking the playground.
Each floor has water fountains and very clean bathrooms, including special bathrooms for the handicapped that can also double as family bathrooms. For nursing moms there is a nicely done nursing room on the first floor, complete with comfortable sofas, water machine, and rooms that can be locked for privacy. Stroller rentals are also available on the first floor. Other conveniences include ATMs, drink machines, lockers, toy and gift shops, and public telephones.
Aside from the main exhibits, there are a variety of other great features. Hands-on science classes are available for children aged six and up (classes conducted in Chinese). Visitors can watch 3D and 4D movies and even experience a simulation of the 9/21 earthquake, all in state of the art theatres. Outside the museum there is a ball exhibit that seems to mesmerize kids and adults alike, various sculptures to explore, and more recently, some kiddy rides.
While the NTSEC is without a doubt one of my favorite places to visit, it is not without some minor problems. For example, the men’s and women’s bathrooms are not adjacent to each other- the men’s is on one side of the museum, the women’s on the other side. The food choices are pretty much limited to fast food, with only Burger King, Seven Eleven, Starbucks, and some snack stands. A third problem is the elevators. If you are visiting the regular exhibits on the 3rd through 6th floors, there is no public elevator access between these floors- you would need to use the escalator. After writing a letter to the museum director, I received a reply stating that they are looking into this problem and that in the meantime any museum employee would gladly escort parents with strollers on the employees-only elevator to get from floor to floor safely.
Despite these drawbacks, NTSEC is still on my list of the best places to take your kids in Taipei. If you live nearby, the membership is a great value. You can visit the permanent exhibits for free anytime and get one free hour of parking to boot. For non-members, regular admission is 100NT.
NTSEC is accessible by bus from the Jiantan MRT station, or by short taxi ride from either the Jiantan or Shilin MRT stations. There is ample basement parking for 30NT per hour for those who choose to drive. Whichever way you choose to get there, it is well worth the trip!
For more information in both Chinese and English, visit the NTSEC website.
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