[3][4] Forbes magazine, in its February 1996 article on private collectors in Asia, called the Chimei Museum "one of the world's most surprising art collections.

The museum was first established and housed in an administration building of the Chi Mei Corporation in 1992 by the company's founder Shi Wen-long, then relocated to the Tainan Metropolitan Park in 2014, and reopened in 2015.

[1] The museum has several exhibition areas, including fine arts, natural history and fossils, arms and armour, musical instruments, and sculptures.

The museum's founder grew up disadvantaged and wants to ensure that local children can be inspired by global culture even if their families do not have the resources to travel extensively.

[1] The museum collects musical instruments of historical significance, in particular violins and other string instruments by Antonio Stradivari, Guarneri del Gesù, Jacob Stainer, Amati, Rogeri, Joseph Guarneri Filius Andrea, Vincenzo Rugeri, Seraphin, Gagliano, Guadagnini and other famous artisans.

[10] The collection is noted for the Guarneri del Gesù "Ole Bull" violin of 1744, which is believed to be the last work of the famed artisan.

[19] The museum has offered reproductions such as canvas posters, simulating sculptures made from bonded marble powder, stationery items and many classic CD recordings performed by top Taiwanese musicians on the rare instruments from the Chi Mei Collection since 1997.