Taipei in its current incarnation is a young city; most of it was built since the end of WWII. There are famous landmarks here that look really old, but were constructed bewteen the 50s and the 80s in the Tang Dynasty style and layout. I visited the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Park that has the CKS Memorial Hall, the National Concert Hall, Theater and two gates that remind me of the layout of Tiananmen Square and its related buildings in Beijing.
The Concert Hall near the MRT
The National Theatre on the other side of the square
The focal point of the park is the big memorial hall devoted to the memory of Chiang Kai-Shek. It’s very large and full of symbolism.
Chiang sitting like Abe Lincoln
Impressively large and lit
The ceiling of the Memorial Hall
I also paid a visit to the Martyr’s Shrine, where the Republic’s heroes are enshrined. But first, you have to pass the Grand Hotel. It’s really huge and you can see it with the naked eye from Taipei 101.
It’s bigger than it looks!
The Martyr’s Shrine is a 10 minute walk from the Grand Hotel which is another 10 minute walk from the MRT station. Before you hit the shrine, you pass an ROC Army Barracks. Walk pass the sentries and then you’re there.
The main gate
The shrine is made up of several buildings like another landmark in Beijing…
The actual shrine where you pay your respects
Honor Guard as you leave the complex