National Archives draws nearly 10,000 visitors on opening day

Taipei, Nov. 23 (CNA) Taiwan's National Archives officially opened Saturday, drawing nearly 10,000 visitors on its first day, according to the National Development Council (NDC).

In his remarks, NDC Deputy Minister Peng Li-pei (彭立沛) said the archives will follow the principle of "maximum openness, minimum restrictions" in promoting public access to records.

The archives is an important public infrastructure project that reflects the government's long-term efforts to preserve and make the nation's intellectual assets accessible, he said.

Peng noted that the National Archives preserves records across all media formats and provides easy access and curated displays, enabling stories from different eras to be passed across generations.

He invited the public to explore what he described as "everyone's archives" and witness Taiwan's historical development together.

To celebrate the occasion, the NDC hosted an opening-day carnival featuring archive-themed games and hands-on activities.

The archives began trial operations on Sept. 2, and an opening ceremony presided over by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) was held on Nov. 17. More than 200,000 people have already visited, according to Peng.

The National Archives is located in New Taipei's Linkou District. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and closed on Sundays, Mondays, national holidays and the Lunar New Year holiday period.