Yuanshan Villa (aka MAISON ACME, Taipei Story House, or Yuanshan Mansion 圓山別莊) is a historic mansion right next to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum that has opened to the public as an art exhibition space and museum as part of Taipei Expo Park. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taipei.
Background: The Yuanshan Mansion was built in 1913 by a wealthy Taiwanese tea merchant Tan Tiau-chun (陳朝駿) who had a large business in Dadaocheng. Originally it was meant to act as a guest house for dignitaries. The first floor was built using red brick and the second floor was built using English Tudor-style wooden beams. After the owner's death in 1923, the house went through many different hands. The house was bought by the Taipei City Government in 1979 and was used as an office and storage space. In 1987 it was handed over to the Taipei Fine Arts Center and acted as part of the museum. It was declared a historic monument in 1998. From 2003 until 2015 it was open the the public as the Taipei Story House and acted as an activity area and exposition space. From 2015 to 2021 the Taipei Story House, another charity, took control of the building and used it as an art and entertainment space. From 2021 until the present the house came under the ACME group and it is used now as an exposition and performance space. There is also a coffee shop made from a shipping container next door. Usually there are not many people there even on weekends. Hours: 11 AM to 5 PM and closed Mondays Price: Free Tours: You can book a tour of Taipei on Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here. Hotels in Taipei: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. How to get there: By MRT: The closest MRT station is Yuanshan Station, and is about a one minute walk. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. By Car/Scooter: Driving or taking a scooter there can be hard because there is limited paid parking nearby. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy, however bikes are no allowed in the park. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Map: See below: Our Journey: We have been to the Yuanshan Villa or Maison ACME once. It was a pleasant surprise on our trip around Taipei Expo Park and truly a beautiful building. It is rare to see an old building in Taipei built in English Tudor style and is definitely an Instagram location. It will not take you very long to see the whole building, and the best part is it's free. 
View of the front of the building.
Looking up at the balcony and stained-glass window on the second floor.
Another balcony and glass-walled room in the back.
Ventilation shaft under the house.
History of Yuanshan Villa.
Another view from the side of the house.
Looking up at the English Tudor-style woodwork on the second floor.
Another view of the first floor.
View of the back of the building on the other side.
View of the second floor on the other side.
Back door and stairway.
ANA flight coming into land in Songshan Airport.
View of the front entrance.
Art gallery in a side room.
Current art exhibitions.
Old photo exhibitions.
More art on the second floor.
More photo exhibitions on the second floor.
View of the Taipei Fine Arts Museum from the second floor.
Small balcony on the second floor.
Mirror.
Hallway.
Another side room.
Ladder to the attick.
Another view of the ladder.
Stairs leading down. These steps were originally meant to resemble a pagoda.
You can look for more activities in Taipei such as Rock Climbing, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, Diving, Snorkeling, Cooking Class, Glamping, Motorcycling, and more on Klook here or KKday here. You can check out our full blog on Taipei Expo Park here. You can check out our Taipei Museum Guide here. Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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