The Shilin Official Residence () is the former residence of late

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

President Chiang Kai-shek located on Zhongshan North Road in

Shilin District Shilin District (also spelled Shihlin District, zh, t=士林區, p=Shìlínqū, poj=Sū-lîm-khu) is a district of Taipei. The central command center of the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) is located in Shilin. History The name ''Shilin'' w ...

Taipei , nickname = The City of Azaleas , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

History

During the Japanese Colonial era on Taiwan, it was the location of the Shilin Horticultural Experimental Station. After the

lost the

Chinese Civil War The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led Nationalist government, government of the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic of China and the forces of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Armed conflict continued intermitt ...

in 1949 and retreated to Taiwan, the property was requisitioned to the

government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...

and transformed into the residence of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling by architect Yang Cho-cheng. Construction was completed by the

Continental Engineering Corporation Continental Engineering Corporation (CEC; ) is a large Taiwanese construction company. History The company was originally founded by Glyn T. H. Ing in 1941 as Wei Dah Corporation in Chongqing, Sichuan. In 1945, the company was restructured to be ...

In the early days of the

on Taiwan, the residence was heavily militarized, fortified, and closed to the public. Since 1996, the Residence has been open to the public and is a popular place for viewing the gardens. The gardens include both Chinese- and Western-style horticulture. In addition to the gardens, the official residence includes the former home of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling. The official residence is a two-story western-style home. The residence is currently open to the public as of 2 January 2011. In addition, the grounds include Madame Chiang Kai-shek's former

Cadillac Cadillac Motor Car Division, or simply Cadillac (), is the luxury vehicle division (business), division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM). Its major markets are the United States, Canada and China; Cadillac models are ...

limousine, Chiang Kai-shek's personal Victory Chapel, and the Xinlan Pavilion (新蘭亭) with inscription by Yu Youren, which hosted Chiang's birthday celebrations. Former President

Chen Shui-bian Chen Shui-bian ( zh, t=陳水扁; born 12 October 1950) is a Taiwanese former politician and lawyer who served as the fifth president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2000 to 2008. Chen was the first president from the Democratic Progres ...

revealed that the grounds contain the entrance to a hidden tunnel that connects to the Presidential Office Building in

Zhongzheng District Zhongzheng District (also Jhongjheng District) is a District (Taiwan), district in Taipei, Taiwan. Taipei Main Station is located in the district. It is home to most of the national government buildings of Taiwan. Overview The district is n ...

, Taipei.

Famous guests

The residence has hosted famous guests and foreign dignitaries visiting

, including then

President of the United States of America The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionar ...

, and U.S. Secretary of State

John Foster Dulles John Foster Dulles (February 25, 1888 – May 24, 1959) was an American politician, lawyer, and diplomat who served as United States secretary of state under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 until his resignation in 1959. A member of the ...

. In 1971, then Governor of

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...

, stayed at the residence when he was in Taipei as the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

representative to the

Double Ten Day The National Day of the Republic of China, also referred to as Double Ten Day or Double Tenth Day, is a Public holidays in Taiwan, public holiday on 10 October, now held annually as national day in the Taiwan, Republic of China (ROC, commonly ...

Celebrations.

Transportation

The residence is within walking distance of Shilin Station on the

Taipei Metro Taipei Metro (also known as Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and branded as Metro Taipei) is a rapid transit system operated by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation serving the capital Taipei and New Taipei City in Taiwan. It was the first rapi ...

References

External links

*{{commonscat-inline
Taipei City Government Shilin
Buildings and structures in Taipei Presidential residences in Taiwan National monuments of Taiwan Chiang Kai-shek

History

Famous guests

Transportation

See also

References

External links