Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Yunlin County’s Huwei Township in southern Taiwan, the ChengLin Agarwood Forest Museum (澄霖沉香森林館) stands as a captivating attraction rich in cultural and natural heritage. Covering an area of 5.8 hectares (14.3 acres), this forest museum offers agarwood enthusiasts and nature lovers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the remarkable world of agarwood.
Please watch the following video for more interesting ChengLin Agarwood Forest Museum photos.
Surrounded by lush greenery and serene landscapes, the museum can give visitors an immersive experience that transcends the ordinary. Upon entering this oasis, visitors are greeted by a 300-year-old banyan tree and an earth guardian shrine.
History of the Agarwood Forest Museum
Opened to the public in 2017, the original purpose of establishing the ChengLin Agarwood Forest Museum was to bring to life the most natural, pure, and non-toxic fragrance of the logs so that Taiwan’s local agarwood could be rooted in this small town of Yunlin and promoted on the international market.
To bring agarwood into public life, transform the agarwood industry, and reverse the culture of using incense, the museum has reduced the price of agarwood to less than one-fifth of the market price. Nowadays, it has become a beautiful spice in our daily lives while allowing people to appreciate the purity of good incense.
In this way, the public can eliminate the harm caused by poor-quality incense. The Agarwood Forest Museum is a natural recreation farm and an environmentally friendly, high-quality agarwood ecological garden, where visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery and also experience and gain insight into the world’s most beautiful fragrance.
Exhibition hall
The museum’s spacious exhibition hall houses various carefully curated exhibits, botanical wonders, and educational displays that unfold the story of agarwood and its deep-rooted connection to the local culture.
The displays highlight the evolution of the use of agarwood and the craftsmanship involved in transforming it into sought-after products such as incense, perfumes, and medicines.
In addition to agarwood objects and products, visitors are most fascinated by the wooden sculptures displayed throughout the museum. Most of them are works of art carved from Chamaecyparis obtusa (日本扁柏). Among them is a 3,000-year-old Chamaecyparis obtusa collected by the museum owner from Alisan (Ali Mountain), the largest of its kind in Taiwan.
By looking at these objects and reading the explanations, visitors can better understand the planting, growth, and use of agarwood.
Picturesque park
Another museum highlight is the unique park with its beautiful gardens and ponds. The Japanese-style Kenrokuen garden (兼六園日式庭園) features ornate bridges and simple zig-zag paths that wind through the garden.
Over 80 species of beautiful trees have been planted in the park. Among them, the bald cypresses in the pond behind the exhibition hall get the most attention from visitors. They are particularly beautiful when their leaves turn green to orange in the autumn. There is also a heart-shaped piece of land in one of the ponds, which has become a hot photography spot.
About Agarwood
Agarwood is a precious tree and a raw material for making incense products. Often referred to as “Black Gold,” “Wood of God,” or “Diamond of the Forest,” high-quality agarwood can cost as much as US$100,000 per kilogram, making it one of the most expensive raw materials in the world.
The resinous wood is used to make incense and also serves as Chinese medicine. In contrast, the resin produces daily necessities, such as essential oils, perfumery, soap, cleaning supplies, and even health food and skincare products.
Agarwood is derived from an infected part of the tree. Only about 2 percent of wild Aquilaria trees are estimated to be adequately infected to develop agarwood naturally. Due to its unique formation process, agarwood can take up to 10 years to develop in a natural environment. There are about 27 species of agarwood in the world.
Therefore, the ChengLin Agarwood Forest Museum is undoubtedly a hidden gem that offers an enchanting and educational journey through the fascinating world of agarwood. By exploring the museum’s diverse exhibits and tranquil surroundings, visitors can appreciate the wonders of this rare and precious wood, leaving them with a lasting admiration for its beauty and significance.
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