CHIANG KAI SHEK MEMORIAL PARK – TAIPEI

The Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall is one of the most famous national monuments in Taiwan, built to commemorate Chiang Kai Shek, the first president of Taiwan. The design is white with a blue roof, and incorporates many elements of traditional Chinese architecture. The building is octagonal shaped with 8 sides, which is a very auspicious number in Chinese culture.
 
 

HOW TO GET THERE

Take the Red Line or Green Line on the Taipei MRT to “Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall Station”, and go out at Exit 5.

THINGS TO DO

Learn about Chiang Kai Shek & Taiwanese History

Underneath the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, there is a gallery that details CKS’s life and career. You can also find exhibits and displays on Taiwan’s history and how the Republic of China came to be. One of the showrooms keeps authentic records from that time period, where you can see important documents, photos, and items used by the former president during that time period. There’s even an exhibit that includes the Presidential car used to conduct official state business.

Visit the Park and Feed the Fish

The Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Park has a diverse ecological system. Scattered among the historical buildings, a plethora of trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants fill the grounds. The foliage changes with each season, meaning the scenery of the park is always changing! In the middle of the park is the Guang Hu and Yun Han Ponds. These two ponds are connected with a beautiful bridge, and you can look into the water to see brightly coloured koi fish and majestic, white egrets. They even have dispensers where you can buy fish food to toss into the pond and watch the koi feast!

Watch the Changing of the Guard

It’s no Buckingham Palace, but the changing of the guard happens every hour on the hour (from 9 AM to 4 PM) under the bronze statue of Chiang Kai Shek himself. The guard duty rotates between members of the Taiwanese Army, Air Force, Navy and Military Police, and they are all VERY good at not smiling. Trust me, I tried!

Visit the National Theatre and Concert Hall

The National Theatre and Concert Hall are two performing arts venues within Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Park. The National Theater and Concert Hall host a constant stream of events by local and international artists each year, so check out their website to see if any shows are playing when you visit!

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