Schedule
Taipei City Tour ( 3 hours ) ( morning or afternoon )
Tour stops: Presidential Building ( pass by ),
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall,
Martyrs’ Shrine, Traditional Taiwanese
Temple, National Palace Museum,
Handicraft Center
Price
Adult: US$ 55
Children: US$ 48
This memorial hall is home to several classical Chinese buildings, including the stately
memorial itself as well as the National Concert Hall and National Theater. Another
highlight is the hourly honor guard display.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is located in the heart of Taipei City. The area is
250,000 square meters and it is the attraction most visited by foreign tourists. Outside
the gate of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, there are poles carrying the sign of true
rightness. The architecture of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is inspired by Tientam in
Beijing. The four sides of the structure are similar to those of the pyramids in Egypt.
The material is white marble. The roofs are decorated with deep-blue glass as part of
the reflection of blue sky and bright sun. It adds a touch of grandeur. The garden is
planted with red flowers. As a whole, the colors of blue, white and red express the
National Flag and the spirit of freedom, equality and brotherhood.
The National Palace Museum boasts the world's largest and most impressive
collection of Chinese art and artifacts, dating back more than 7,000 years. The full
collection comprises over 650,000 items, including calligraphy, paintings, jade,
bronze, silk and curio pieces.
This renaissance-style building has been the highest seat of government in Taiwan for
over a century, first as the office of the governor general's office during the Japanese
colonial period, and after 1949 as Taiwan's "White House." National festivals are
hosted here.
The Presidential Office Building is located on Chongqing S. Road and facing
Ketagalan Boulevard. On the back it is Bo-ai Road, on the left it is Baoqing Road, and
on the right it is Guiyang Street. The Presidential Building is close to Taipei Main
Station and Ximending. The building was built during Japanese colonization period. It
was the governor's mansion at that time. During the ending period of World War II, the
building was seriously damaged due to bombing. After Taiwan was reclaimed by
R.O.C., the building was re-constructed in 1946. The building was re-named as
"Jieshou Building" in celebration of the 60th birthday of former president Mr. Chiang
Kai-shek. The building has been used as the presidential mansion after the central
government of R.O.C. was re-instated in Taiwan.
The Martyrs' Shrine, resting on the slopes of the Qing Mountain and overseeing the
Keelung River, is located right next to the Grand Hotel. It was built in 1969 and covers
a large area. Its grand and magnificent architectural style is similar to that of the Taihe
Dian Imperial Palace in Beijing, Mainland China, and symbolizes the martyrs' brave
spirit.
More than 10,000 ping (33,000 m2) of grass fields surround the structure, and
protected by the neighboring mountains it breathes a serene atmosphere which even
more emphasizes its solemn and stately character. The 330,000 men who sacrificed
their lives to the revolution before the establishment of the Republic of China and who
fell during the Sino-Japanese war and the Chinese Civil war are worshipped here.
Plates of these brave and loyal martyrs have been inserted into the four walls of the
main building in testimony of their heroic deeds.
Each spring and autumn the president of Taiwan leads both civil and military officials
in a public worship, while leaders from Taiwan's befriended countries come and pay
floral tribute. Each year in October groups of overseas Chinese also come to visit the
site.Worth mentioning are the military police officers who guard the main gate, and
who have been rigidly trained to stand like expressionless statues and remain
unmoved by the teasing of tourists. Tourists alike are amazed at this display of
composure and flock to see the ceremonial changing of the guards.
