Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

The memorial hall was built in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Republic of China. He died in 1975, and the Executive Yuan broke ground on the hall the following year. It was designed by Yang Zhuocheng, who also designed the Grand Hotel. The site was formerly the Army headquarters, then the largest military area in the city, and it is said that gold shipped from mainland China was once stored here. The hall's blue and white are the main colours of the national flag, the ceiling of the dome is decorated with the 12 rays of the Blue Sky with a White Sun, and the bronze statue faces west towards the Presidential Office and mainland China, each with its own meaning. As democracy developed and society opened up, the square in front of the hall became a gathering place for democratic movements. On either side of the memorial hall stand the National Concert Hall and the National Theater. The theatre hosts drama and dance, including large-scale productions of Peking opera, plays and children's shows; the concert hall hosts chamber music, symphonic concerts and other major music events. The plaza in front of the two halls also hosts occasional drama and music events. With white walls and blue tiles, the 70-metre hall stands at the centre of the memorial park. Displays, exhibitions and a souvenir shop are on the lower level.

Translated and shortened by DealTaipei from Taiwan's national tourism database. Sources are on the terms page.