Over 100,000 visit National Archives in first month of trial opening

New Taipei, Oct. 14 (CNA) Taiwan's first National Archives, located in Linkou, New Taipei, has drawn more than 100,000 visitors since its soft opening on Sept. 2, featuring exhibits on the nation's high-tech development and documents by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀), according to the National Archives Administration (NAA).

A centerpiece of the archives is the permanent exhibition "Island Reading: Our Story," which presents rare government records chronicling Taiwan's economic transformation and the roots of its high-tech industry in the 1970s and 1980s.

Among the highlights are documents related to the establishment of the Industrial Technology Research Institute and Chang's policy proposals outlining a blueprint for the country's electronics sector.

One notable exhibit showcases Chang's 1981 recommendations to the Executive Yuan, in which he urged a transition from labor-intensive to technology-driven industries -- a vision that helped shape Taiwan's rise as a global technology hub.

The archives' first to third floors are open to the public and include permanent and special exhibitions, a children's interactive area, cultural and creative shops and a café. The upper floors house professional facilities for the preservation, maintenance and research of archival materials.

NAA Director Lin Chiu-yen (林秋燕) said public enthusiasm since the Sept. 2 trial opening has far exceeded expectations. The agency is improving visitor flow and signage ahead of the official opening on Nov. 22, which will coincide with the NAA's 25th anniversary, she added.