| Chiang
Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (1976-80)
other
sites in Taipei |
Taipei, Taiwan |
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images for larger views
The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was built to the commemorate the life of the leader of Nationalist China who moved his government, the Republic of China, into exile on Taiwan after his defeat at the hands of Mao Zedong in 1949. Chiang had served as the leader of a major segment of China from the 1920s until his death on April 5, 1975.
The groundbreaking for the memorial hall and park was held on October 31, 1976. Construction began a year later. It was officially opened on April 5, 1980. The park covers 62 acres with nicely landscaped gardens, ponds, walkways and exercise areas. The Memorial Hall, in gleaming white marble is topped by an octagonal roof of brilliant blue-glazed tiles that reaches a height of 250 feet. The blue-glazed tile can also be seen on the major archways that lead into the grounds. The memorial statue and hall is on the upper level while the lower level of the structure contains an exhibition center and a library.
The Memorial Hall and Park remind one of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum which one can visit here on this website in Nanjing, China. Chiang had desired that his remains be transferred to Nanjing after the end of the communist regime on the mainland.
Bibliography:
All images copyright 2002 by Professor Robert D. Fiala of Concordia University, Nebraska, USA