In early 2002 the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation was approached by Mayor Jason Hu of the City of Taichung with the idea of establishing a Guggenheim Museum in Taichung. Taichung is seeking to reform itself as a business and cultural world-class city through a plan that includes leveraging its existing assets of an excellent location and climate, solid educational institutions, a robust base of small and mis-sized businesses and regional tourist attractions