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Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Taiwan Trip Day 13 - Taipei (台北) | Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (國立中正紀念堂)

13 December 2018

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (國立中正紀念堂) is a famous tourist attraction in Taipei. Located in the Zhongzheng District, the national monument is erected in memory and honour of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, former President of the Republic of China.

After our morning walk at Wulai, we decided to make an impromptu trip to C.K.S Memorial Hall before going for our climb at Elephant Mountain later that evening.



How to get here?

Take MRT (Red or Green line) to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station. Take Exit 5 and C.K.S Memorial Hall is next to the exit.




Upon exit, there are two grand Chinese palace alike traditional buildings at the sides of C.K.S Memorial Hall - National Theater and National Concert Hall where locals can enjoy performing arts shows. I was awed and impressed by the architecture of the structure! Really feel like I am within the palace grounds.




Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall was designed by renowned architect Yang Cho-cheng and was opened to the public in 1980. Standing 76 meters, the blue and white colours represent the ROC's national emblem "Blue Sky and White Sun". The building's square base indicates impartial (中) and righteous (正) of the late president's name. The roof is shaped like 人 (chinese character for person) and points into the sky, representing "the joining of heaven and man" ( 天人合一). There are two sets of stairways leading to the main hall which has a total of 89 steps - the age when President Chiang passed away.


Enjoying the open space where we can walk, run and jump freely!!


Lovely view of the garden and landscape from the top of the memorial hall.


If you like to learn more about the stories of Chiang Kai-Shek, head to the ground floor where the exhibition hall shares his life story. 

Within the memorial hall lies the 6.3 meter bronze statue that weighs 21.25 tonnes. The characters "Ethics, Democracy, Science", the central ideas of The Three Principal of the People, written by President Chiang himself are engraved on the wall behind the statue. At the side of the white marble pillars engraved "The purpose of living is to improve the living of whole human beings; the meaning of life is to create the proceeding life".

生活的目的 在增进人类全体之生活  生命的意义在创造宇宙继起之生命



The large bronze statue of Chiang is protected by the military guard which change duty every hourly from 9am to 5pm. If you like to catch the changing of the honor guards, do get a good spot.

The guards stood firmly and motionless. I don't think they even blink! Our boy thought that they are statue! Really salute them to preserve the hour with so many tourist snapping pictures and trying to get up close with the guards.


Posing at Liberty Square - covering 240,000 square meters. This area is HUGE and you feel FREE with all the space at the surrounding!





Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (國立中正紀念堂)
Address: No.21, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm daily (aside from Chinese New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year's Day, & maintenance days)
Changing of the Honor Guard: Every hourly from 9am to 5pm

Check out our 2 Weeks Taiwan Itinerary Family Trip here

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