Grass Mountain Chateau, the first residence of former ROC President Chiang Kai-shek when he came to Taiwan in 1949, has been rebuilt and is now open to the public, according to the Taipei City government Dec. 29.
Built in the early 1920s as a place for the Japanese emperor to stay during his tours of Taiwan, the 1,182 square-meter residence was almost completely destroyed by fire in April 2007.
“The chateau is full of historic significance because Chiang received foreign guests and decided on important policies here,” Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin said, adding that the residence also functioned as a summer resort for the Chiang family.
According to Hau, duplicated photos of the history of the chateau and an assortment of artifacts, including Chiang’s military uniforms and wedding suits, will be on permanent display at the rebuilt residence.
“The architects in charge of the renovation process have also designed a platform for arts and culture exchanges,” Hau said, explaining that different types of art activities and exhibitions will be held every year.
Admission to the historic site will be free of charge until March 31, 2012, after which the entrance fee will be NT$30 (US$1), according to the city government.
