TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taichung Aquarium opened Thursday, offering visitors an immersive experience that goes beyond simply observing marine life.

Built around the theme “from the rivers of Taichung to the world’s oceans,” the aquarium takes guests on a flowing journey that begins in mountain streams and extends to the open sea. The exhibits are designed not just to recreate ecosystems, but to present them from a fresh perspective, the aquarium told Taiwan News.

From the moment visitors enter the lobby, the aquarium offers a visually captivating experience, beginning with a rocky tunnel where rippling light and shadows mimic waves. Guests then descend into a watery world, moving from forest streams to canyons and waterfalls, and finally to the vastness of the ocean.

Eight Zones of Discovery

The aquarium’s layout follows a single, downward-flowing pathway through eight themed zones:

• Taichung Water Journey (3F)

Visitors start at Taiwan’s first suspended lotus-shaped tank, designed to give the illusion of walking inside the Dajia River. Twelve micro-habitats depict how river life connects nature and community.

The journey continues through the upper stream, inspired by Xiaoxueshan Heavenly Pond at 2,200–2,600 meters. The middle stream is modeled after Longgu Falls and Butterfly Valley Waterfall, and the lower stream, referencing the Gaomei Wetlands, is complete with reflective surfaces and LED-covered floors.

• Wetland (4F)

Taiwan’s first indoor artificial wetland brings tides and mudflats indoors. Visitors can step in and experience the ebb and flow of the water.

Guests can observe common estuarine species up close, including fiddler crabs and mudskippers, as well as the rare archerfish, whose powerful water jets used to hunt prey offer a striking ecological spectacle. The zone concludes with Taiwan’s largest garden eel display, featuring a seven-meter-long tank.

• Jellyfish (3F)

Home to Taiwan’s largest jellyfish collection, this zone features 20 species. A panoramic tank with thousands of glowing jellyfish is paired with immersive projection mapping.

• Penguin (2F)

      

Magellanic penguins from South America inhabit the aquarium’s first open-display penguin tank in Taiwan. Visitors can hear their calls and observe them from multiple perspectives, including beneath the tank.

• Coral Exhibition (2F)

Around 40 coral species are presented in Taiwan’s first open 3D coral exhibit, designed like a jewel box to allow up-close exploration.

• Shark Cruise (2F)

A 360-degree transparent tank allows visitors to observe sharks up close, enhanced by interactive projections simulating the deep sea.

• Kuroshio-scenery (1F)

The final descent immerses visitors in the Kuroshio Current, the world’s second-largest ocean current. A large tank showcases the rich marine life, including zebra sharks, while an 8.5-meter-high projection enhances the experience, vividly depicting the warmth and flow of the current.

Behind the scenes — open backstage experience

The aquarium also offers a transparent backstage view of its care and research facilities. Guests can watch aquarists at work in coral and jellyfish nurseries, a wetland research lab, and central Taiwan’s first aquatic animal rescue center, observing the growth of jellyfish from polyps to full bloom.

The aquarium is in trial operation until Sept. 21, with general admission priced at NT$400 (US$13). After the opening, tickets will be NT$500.

Operating hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the aquarium closed every Tuesday. The aquarium currently employs an online reservation system with timed entry slots. Seven time slots are available each day for booking.

Nearby attractions

Located in Qingshui District, Taichung Aquarium is near several popular scenic and leisure spots. The Gaomei Wetlands feature stunning sunsets and abundant birdwatching opportunities.

Wuqi Fishing Harbor has developed as a hub for recreation and tourism, with connected pathways, scenic waterfronts, and leisure piers. It is a popular spot for enjoying fresh seafood and coastal activities.

The Taichung Star, a 60-meter-high waterfront Ferris wheel at Mitsui Outlet Park, offers visitors a unique vantage point to enjoy Taichung Harbor.