Green Island is 33km from Taitung. It was formed by undersea volcanic activity. The island is covered in hills and coral reefs surround it. This landscape suffers year-round land and sea erosion so the coast takes on a weather-beaten, rugged look. The sea is abundant with different species of coral and tropical fish. What’s more, Green Island has a rare underwater hot spring.

The Museum is designed by New York architect Michael Graves. It is situated to the south of Kangle Station with a rectangular area of approximately 10 hectare. The building itself is on the east side and the west side is the Scenic Garden. The building faces the east toward the Pacific Ocean and with the Central Mountains at the back. The building basement is used for storage. The open-air Mountain Square is the center of the building, and is surrounded by a three-section compound that serves as functional areas. The east side is the entrance of the Visitor Center, the north side is the exhibition hall, the south side is the administrative hall, and the west side is the Half-moon Pond, which links to the Scenic Garden. The design of the exterior wall resembles the pattern of indigenous weave, and reflects the unique characteristic of weaving in the indigenous culture. The local materials were largely used in the construction, including marble, ceramic bricks and slate. Earthly tone together with sky tone reflects the harmony of the nature and universe.