A fascinating tour of the The National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan, @sweetsssj.

First, let me congratulate you on the quality of the writing in this post - it is some of your best work.

The photo spread was visually stunning and comprehensive featuring exquisite and priceless treasures. I especially loved the Jade pieces.

You also did an excellent job of providing the historical perspective so readers and potential visitors could appreciate the significance of the collection both culturally and historically, and you managed this by being non-partisan and fairly representing the interests of both sides.

It is the mark of an educated person to utilize one's education to gain an insight into society, but you also rose above the deficiencies of a certain limited viewpoint of recent history that you were taught in China, and that is a tribute to your objectivity, sssj.

I was impressed with the locale of the museum. It was built with the same architectural principles in mind as one sees in traditional temples. It was built into a hillside, a high place, with stairs leading up to it, and mountains in the background.

The presence of lions as guardian entities and the Huabiao with the cloud and the lion atop it contribute to evoking the sense of a religious dimension in an otherwise secular setting.

I found the part on the evolution of Chinese script fascinating. I can recall taking books out of the library when I was in grade three and trying to figure out Chinese writing.

The two characters depicted reminded me of child-rearing and animal care, but that might be my own curious imagination, lol.

Your photo essay reignited my fascination with ancient China and the intrigue of the past. It made me want to visit Taipei and China too, for that matter.

I find you are able to make history and culture come alive,sssj, and that is what makes your posts so effective and compelling.

Excellent work, my friend.