Taiwan's National Palace Museum offers visitors an augmented reality guide that runs on their own smartphones. Visitors scan an exhibit with the phone camera, without downloading an app, and the guide starts straight away. It combines AI-assisted exhibit recognition, web-based AR, 3D interaction, a digital gallery, audio guide content and story tasks in one phone experience.
The service went live at the museum's Northern Branch on 1 October 2025. From 30 September 2026 it was extended to the Southern Branch, where it covers 20 selected AR exhibits and nearly 100 audio guide items.
Northern Branch launch
The museum's release says it is the first time a museum in Taiwan has introduced AR combined with AI for guiding. The launch content is organised into three exploration routes: Magical Beasts, Ingenious Craftsmanship and Good Fortune. It draws on selected ceramics, jade and bronzes from the permanent galleries, and the interface is available in Chinese and English. One featured piece is a Qing-dynasty revolving vase, which visitors see turning in AR in front of them; launch photos show visitors using a tablet as well as phones at this display.
Southern Branch
The Southern Branch guide includes story routes such as "Tasting Tea, Viewing the Buddha", in which visitors find exhibits and collect stamps. Visitors bring their own phone and headphones. According to the Southern Branch's launch post, the experience costs NT$250 per use, valid until midnight on the day it is activated.
Partners
- Yumeng Digital Technology developed the guide on its self-developed CoreXR platform, which also provides guide view, interaction hotspot and usage analytics.
- Yakai Art co-developed the service with Yumeng.
