What?! You can actually spot a Whale Shark and sea turtles in the heart of Taipei's Xinyi District shopping zone? As someone who has lived in Taipei for years, I could barely believe it — but with an adventurous spirit, I set off to find out. Let's pull back the curtain on this hidden ocean journey and its cast of mysterious marine life, tucked away inside one of the city's most upscale department stores!
An Ocean Journey at BELLAVITA
Stepping into the first-floor lobby of BELLAVITA, I was immediately greeted by marine life covering the floors and hanging from the ceiling. A magnificent Whale Shark and an enormous sea turtle came into view all at once — and just like that, my camera's memory card had a little less space on it!
The floor decals feature sea turtles, Whale Sharks, and more — how many species can you spot?
I wonder if real whales are actually this big.
Welcome to the BELLAVITA Aquarium!!
Think the first floor is all there is to see? Wrong, wrong, wrong! Head straight down to the B1 exhibition hall — that's where the real heart of this ocean special exhibition lies!
It turns out this exhibition is co-hosted with National Geographic.
A spacious and open exhibition area.
The exhibition space may be modest in size, but it's packed with stunning photographs of marine life — including Whale Sharks, sea lions, walruses, and sea turtles. More importantly, the exhibition touches on key marine conservation topics, such as the well-known shark fin trade and marine debris issues. It's a truly meaningful show!
A display of truly iconic underwater photography.
A very comprehensive introduction to sharks — including, of course, the shark fin issue.
The undisputed highlight of the entire exhibition was the VR virtual reality experience. Once you strap on the headset and phone, you're instantly immersed in an underwater world, taking in the sweeping grandeur of a sunken wreck. Schools of fish and manta rays glide past you; you can walk around freely and even try to reach out and touch them (though of course, you can't!). And then, the crowning moment — the appearance of a colossal Whale Shark that had me completely transfixed.
A display of truly iconic underwater photography.
Exhibition Wrap-up:
This exhibition is a special showcase celebrating BELLAVITA's 7th anniversary, running from 9/8 to 9/21. The space is on the smaller side, but if you're taking family or a partner for a stroll around Xinyi District, it's well worth a visit — you'll come away with a deeper understanding of ocean issues, all while soaking up the fancy department-store atmosphere (wink~). I sincerely hope more people will attend events like this, so that companies willing to invest in ocean awareness are encouraged to keep channelling resources toward making our oceans a better place. Sharing this with others is your small contribution to advancing the cause!
Exhibition website: BELLAVITA【7th Anniversary】Deep Blue Ocean
