Coral Realm Museum

Hidden in the alleys, this white building is a small, family-run museum, documenting the glory of Taiwan's coral and serving as a sanctuary preserving the history of Nanfang'ao's coral culture. Nanfang'ao's coral industry was once the most brilliant chapter in the history of the global coral industry. This was because the waters surrounding Taiwan harbored a rare abundance of gemstone coral worldwide, producing raw coral materials that were exceptionally fine in texture, rich and complete in color gradation, and globally unsurpassed in production volume. Consequently, Nanfang'ao played a pivotal role in the entire coral industry ecosystem and became the primary collection and distribution center for Taiwan's coral industry. During the heyday of Taiwan's coral industry, more than 400 boats were involved in coral harvesting in Nanfang'ao, illustrating the scale of its prosperity at the time. Today, only about 50 coral harvesting boats remain, indicating the rapid decline of the coral industry. Witnessing this rise and fall, Lai Rong-hsing resolved to preserve coral and its complete record for future generations of Taiwan. He therefore renovated his home to establish the 'Coral Realm Museum,' showcasing many exquisite coral artworks and allowing visitors to feel the warmth of Nanfang'ao's local culture and strong human touch. The museum has three floors, serving as an art space, a cultural history museum, and a cafe. The 1st floor houses the host's Coral Cafe, where guests are welcomed, and a gift shop. The 2nd floor is the Gemstone Coral Cultural Space, offering an in-depth introduction to Nanfang'ao's culture and coral industry, as well as the ecology and distinctions of gemstone corals. The 3rd floor is the Collection of Coral Art Museum, primarily featuring the curator's decades of exquisite gemstone coral carvings and sculptures. It's well worth a thorough look, and if you love coral, it's recommended to stay for at least half an hour and take a guided tour led by a professional to explore Nanfang'ao's coral era! [A friendly reminder] All ticket holders receive guided tours. Groups are advised to call and make reservations a week in advance to arrange for professional guides for group tours of the museum.