The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is a shrine to the former President of the Republic of China.
Situated within Liberty Square, a huge open expanse covering over 24 hectares, it also boasts the National Performance Halls, along with the Gate of Integrity and some beautiful gardens and trails.
Two ceremonies are performed on the Memorial Hall site. Both the Changing of the Guards and the Flag Ceremony come highly recommended.
Chiang Kai-Shek
Chiang Kai-Shek was a Chinese military leader and politician who served as the leader of mainland China between 1928 and 1949, and then of Taiwan until his death in 1975.
A highly divisive figure in Taiwan, Chiang Kai-Shek is both hated and revered here.
On the one hand, he helped China overcome the Japanese threat in 1945. But his authoritative rule spanning almost 40 years (known as the ‘white terror’), plus his apparent role in the 28 February massacre, have left many with a very bitter taste in their mouth.
Memorial Hall
The huge memorial hall was erected in Chiang Kai-Shek’s honour a year after his death, in 1976. Constructed using mainly concrete and marble, the 89 steps leading up to the Bronze Statue Hall represent the number of years he was alive.
The hall features a large statue of the former leader and is guarded by two military personnel.
Changing of the Guards
Every hour between 09:00 and 17:00, the changing of the guards ceremony will take place. The current guards, who have been stood completely motionless for the previous hour, will be replaced by two new guards (much to their relief!).
If you come over the weekend, it is recommended to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the ceremony, otherwise you’ll have to watch it over the crowds. It will be much more manageable during the week however.
While the changing of the guard ceremonies at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the Martyr’s Shrine are also highly accomplished spectacles, I believe the best military personnel are saved for the ones here. The one-handed rifle spinning routine is especially impressive.
Within the base of the Memorial Hall are a number of exhibition rooms, including a museum documenting the history of Chiang Kai-Shek.
The museum has several rooms, each focusing on different aspects of Chiang Kai-Shek’s life, including his ascension to power and his presidency in Taiwan.
There are many of Chiang Kai-Shek’s possessions found here, including furniture and even a couple of the Cadillac’s he owned.
There is also a reconstruction of his office, complete with original desk and chairs.
Also found within the memorial hall are four exhibition halls.
Three of them can be found on the ground floor, and usually have some great exhibits. They’re usually free to enter, and will have both local and international artwork.
You will have to pay for entry into some of the more recognised artist’s work however. Recent exhibitions here have included Andy Warhol and Japanese anime from Studio Ghibli.
Click here to see the current exhibitions within the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
Performance Halls
Two large performance halls face each other on either side of Liberty Square.
The National Theatre and National Concert Hall, collectively known as NTCH, are two striking buildings that share very similar architectural aesthetics.
Featuring red pillars and classic pagoda-style roofs, both are free to enter and have some galleries, cafes and gift shops inside. The National Concert Hall also has a branch of Chun Shui Tang, the brand that created the first Bubble Tea.
NTCH are two of the best venues in Taipei for watching international music, theatre and dance acts.
The National Concert Hall is the music venue, hosting classical, jazz, choirs and traditional Taiwanese concerts. It boasts a huge pipe organ, which was the largest in Asia for a number of years.
The National Theatre shows theatrical and dance performances, with Taiwan’s world famous contemporary dance group Cloud Gate often performing. It also hosts some world class ballet productions, with the St. Petersburg ballet recently performing here.
The halls also have an experimental theatre and a recital hall. There are usually a few performances each day in either these or the main halls.
Many performances are easy to get tickets for – these can be purchased on site or via their website (tickets can be collected here too).
Democracy Boulevard & Square
A large open area in the centre is a great place to relax or take pictures, and will often host many activities and events throughout the year.
The Gate of Integrity is the impressive main gate that sits to the west of the square.
The square will often host concerts, markets or other events, and is a focal point for pro-democracy rallies.
Flag Ceremony
In the centre of the square is a long pole with the Taiwanese flag raised high into the sky. If you are here during early morning or evening, you can witness the raising/lowering of the national flag, an impressively well-drilled and rehearsed ceremony.
1st April to 30 September: Flag Raised: 06:00 / Flag Lowered : 18:10
1st October to 31st March: Flag Raised: 06:30 / Flag Lowered : 17:10
Again, there will usually be a large crowd gathered for this, but there’s more space for people to get a good view. The flag is expertly lowered and carefully folded into a neat roll. The guards will then march off back towards the hall.
Tip: If you stand between the flag pole and the memorial hall, you’ll get some great pictures as they march past.
Gardens and Trail
Around the edges of the grounds are some beautiful gardens and tree-lined avenues.
The Chinese-style gardens have been exquisitely landscaped, and feature bridges, rock formations and many plants and trees. Guanghua Pond and Yunhan Pond are a haven for wildlife, with koi, turtles, squirrels and many species of heron and other birds found here.
The gardens are connected by the Araucaria Trail, a long tree-lined path that goes around the back of the memorial hall. It features dozens of species of trees, including those found in southern and central Taiwan, and also ones found on Orchid Island. If you’re visiting during the spring, the Taiwanese cherry blossom garden will be in full bloom (01 on map below).
If you have time, I would recommend walking through the gardens and trail here as they’ve been beautifully landscaped.
It goes without saying that the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is a must see attraction. Since it’s such a huge area, it will never feel overcrowded, although if you wish to see the changing of the guards, it’s best to avoid the weekends.
Virtual Tour
Traveller Tips
Free guided tours are available in English. These must be booked at least 7 days in advance from their online application form.
Make sure you’re there for the guards to troop and raise/lower the Taiwan flag:
1st April to 30 September: Flag Raised: 06:00 / Flag Lowered : 18:10
1st October to 31st March: Flag Raised: 06:30 / Flag Lowered : 17:10
The changing of the guards ceremony takes place every hour on the hour from 09:00 until 17:00.
Try Chun Shui Tang inside the National Performance Hall, the brand that created the first Bubble Tea.
See the Memorial Hall as part of a walk I’ve devised. The Daan route is a weekend walk with a flower market and park, while the Zhongzheng route would be preferred by architecture and history buffs.
Opening Hours
Memorial Hall: 09:00 – 18:00
Memorial Park: 05:00 – midnight
Closed for February 28th anniversary day, Chinese New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
Location
Closest MRT: Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (green/red lines – exit 5)
Located Nearby
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