Shilin Official Residence
Encyclopedia
The Shilin Official Residence is the former residence of late Republic of China
President Chiang Kai-Shek
located on Zhongshan North Road in the Shilin District of Taipei
, Taiwan
.
, it was the location of the Shilin Horticultural Experimental Station. After the Republic of China
lost the Chinese Civil War
in 1949 and retreated to Taiwan, the property was requisitioned to the government and transformed into the residence of Chiang Kai-Shek
and Soong May-ling
by architect Yang Cho-cheng
. Construction was completed by the Continental Engineering Corporation
In the early days of the Republic of China
on Taiwan, the residence was heavily militarized, fortified, and closed to the public. Since 1996, it 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 May-ling
. The official residence home is a two-story western style home. The official residence house is currently opened to the public as of January 2, 2011. In addition, the grounds also include Madame Chiang Kai-Shek's former Cadillac
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
revealed that the grounds contain a hidden tunnel that connects to the Presidential office in downtown Taipei.
including then President of the United States of America Dwight D. Eisenhower
and U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles
. In 1971, then Governor of California
, Ronald Reagan
, stayed at the residence when he was in Taipei as the United States
representative to the Double Ten Day
Celebrations.
Image:Shilin Residence (6237).JPG|Xinlan Pavilion (新蘭亭)
Image:Shilin_Residence_(6236).JPG|Victory Chapel
Image:Shilin_Official_Residence2.jpg|Cadillac
of Soong Meiling
Image:Shilin_Official_Residence_Military_Bunker.jpg|Military Bunker
and Blockhouse
in front of the Residence.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
President Chiang Kai-Shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
located on Zhongshan North Road in the Shilin District of Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
History
During the Japanese Colonial era on TaiwanTaiwan under Japanese rule
Between 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
, it was the location of the Shilin Horticultural Experimental Station. After the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
lost the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
in 1949 and retreated to Taiwan, the property was requisitioned to the government and transformed into the residence of Chiang Kai-Shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
and Soong May-ling
Soong May-ling
Soong May-ling or Soong Mei-ling, also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek or Madame Chiang was a First Lady of the Republic of China , the wife of Generalissimo and President Chiang Kai-shek. She was a politician and painter...
by architect Yang Cho-cheng
Yang Cho-cheng
Yang Cho-Cheng was an internationally renowned Chinese architect based in Taiwan. His professional career spanned over 60 years. Even though he was best known for his expertise in the Chinese style architecture, he was also a leading expert in manufacturing, high tech, finance, performing arts,...
. Construction was completed by the Continental Engineering Corporation
Continental Engineering Corporation
Continental Engineering Corporation is a large Taiwanese Construction Company. It was founded in Sichuan, China in 1945 during the second world war period. On account of the Chinese as well as American Air Force, it accomplished many public engineering projects as well as military engineering...
In the early days of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
on Taiwan, the residence was heavily militarized, fortified, and closed to the public. Since 1996, it 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
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
and Soong May-ling
Soong May-ling
Soong May-ling or Soong Mei-ling, also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek or Madame Chiang was a First Lady of the Republic of China , the wife of Generalissimo and President Chiang Kai-shek. She was a politician and painter...
. The official residence home is a two-story western style home. The official residence house is currently opened to the public as of January 2, 2011. In addition, the grounds also include Madame Chiang Kai-Shek's former Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
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
Chen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
revealed that the grounds contain a hidden tunnel that connects to the Presidential office in downtown Taipei.
Famous guests
During its history, the residence home has hosted famous guests and foreign dignitaries visiting TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
including then President of the United States of America Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
and U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. He was a significant figure in the early Cold War era, advocating an aggressive stance against communism throughout the world...
. In 1971, then Governor of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, stayed at the residence when he was in Taipei as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
representative to the Double Ten Day
Double Ten Day
Double Ten Day is the national day of the Republic of China and celebrates the start of the Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911, which led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in China and establishment of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912...
Celebrations.
Gallery of images
Image:Shilin Residence (6237).JPG|Xinlan Pavilion (新蘭亭)
Image:Shilin_Residence_(6236).JPG|Victory Chapel
Image:Shilin_Official_Residence2.jpg|Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
of Soong Meiling
Image:Shilin_Official_Residence_Military_Bunker.jpg|Military Bunker
Bunker
A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks...
and Blockhouse
Blockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
in front of the Residence.