Zhongshan Hall
Encyclopedia
Zhongshan Hall is a historical building which originally functioned as the Taipei
City Hall. It is located at 98 Yanping South Road in the Ximending
neighborhood of the Zhongzheng District in downtown Taipei City, Taiwan
. In 1992, it was recognized by the government as a historic site.
government office in Taipei
and began the plan to erect the former Taipei City Hall.
On November 26, 1936, the construction of Taipei City Hall was finally completed after four years of extensive labor, which began on November 23, 1932. Ide Kaoru, the main architect serving as Chief Engineer in Taiwan under the Japanese Government, put to use the full cost of 980,000Yen and some 94,500 workers.
The four-story steel structure of the building was designed to be fire-resistane and to withstand severe earthquakes and typhoons. The original building was faced in light green tile to make it less visible to aerial bombers. The windows are adorned with classical designs in a Spanish Islamic style. Accounting for roughly 44179 square feet (4,104.4 m²) for the ground floor, the total area of the Taipei City has is around 113750 square feet (10,567.7 m²), thus placing itself as the fourth largest City hall in the Empire of Japan at that time. It was smaller than only the City Hall of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.
After Taiwan's Retrocession
to the Republic of China
in 1945 after World War II, the Chief of Taiwan Provincial Administrative Office, Chen Yi
represented the Allies and accepted a formal surrender from the Japanese. The surrendering Japanese commander was Ando Rikichi. The former Taipei City Hall was renamed Zhongshan Hall in honor of Sun Yatsen and functioned as an official meeting place under the Chinese government.
Zhongshan Hall has always been one of the formal reception areas for welcoming foreign guests and diplomats. Former guests have included US President Richard Nixon
, former Korean President Syngman Rhee
, former President of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem
, former Philippine President Carlos P. Garcia
, former Iranian Shan Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
and others. Zhongshan Hall has also hosted memorial ceremonies such as the signing of the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty
and three formal inauguration ceremonies of the second, third, and fourth presidency and vice-presidency of the Republic of China
.
Image:公會堂01.jpg|Taipei Zhongshan Hall as it appeared in 1940.
Image:Ando Rikichi surrender.jpg|Chen Yi
(right) accepting the surrender of General Rikichi Andō (left), the last Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan, in the Zhongshan Hall.
Image:Japanese_Surrender_Room.jpg|The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed in this room on October 25, 1945.
Image:Resistance_against_Japan_Memorial_Taipei.jpg|Resistance against Japan and Taiwan Retrocession Memorial Wall.
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...
City Hall. It is located at 98 Yanping South Road in the Ximending
Ximending
Ximending is a neighborhood and shopping district in the Wanhua District of Taipei, Taiwan. It was the first pedestrian zone in Taiwan.-Overview:...
neighborhood of the Zhongzheng District in downtown Taipei City, 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...
. In 1992, it was recognized by the government as a historic site.
History
As a tribute to mark the ascension of the Japanese Emperor Hirohito in 1928, the Japanese government in Taiwan dismantled the Qing DynastyQing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
government office in 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...
and began the plan to erect the former Taipei City Hall.
On November 26, 1936, the construction of Taipei City Hall was finally completed after four years of extensive labor, which began on November 23, 1932. Ide Kaoru, the main architect serving as Chief Engineer in Taiwan under the Japanese Government, put to use the full cost of 980,000Yen and some 94,500 workers.
The four-story steel structure of the building was designed to be fire-resistane and to withstand severe earthquakes and typhoons. The original building was faced in light green tile to make it less visible to aerial bombers. The windows are adorned with classical designs in a Spanish Islamic style. Accounting for roughly 44179 square feet (4,104.4 m²) for the ground floor, the total area of the Taipei City has is around 113750 square feet (10,567.7 m²), thus placing itself as the fourth largest City hall in the Empire of Japan at that time. It was smaller than only the City Hall of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.
After Taiwan's Retrocession
Retrocession Day
Retrocession Day is an annual observance in the Republic of China to commemorate the end of 50 years of Japanese colonial rule of Taiwan on October 25, 1945.-Background:...
to 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...
in 1945 after World War II, the Chief of Taiwan Provincial Administrative Office, Chen Yi
Chen Yi
Chen Yi may refer to:* Chen Yi , Chinese communist military commander* Chen Yi , Chief Executive of Taiwan Province* Chen Yi , Chinese composer* Chen Yi...
represented the Allies and accepted a formal surrender from the Japanese. The surrendering Japanese commander was Ando Rikichi. The former Taipei City Hall was renamed Zhongshan Hall in honor of Sun Yatsen and functioned as an official meeting place under the Chinese government.
Zhongshan Hall has always been one of the formal reception areas for welcoming foreign guests and diplomats. Former guests have included US President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, former Korean President Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee or Yi Seungman was the first president of South Korea. His presidency, from August 1948 to April 1960, remains controversial, affected by Cold War tensions on the Korean peninsula and elsewhere. Rhee was regarded as an anti-Communist and a strongman, and he led South Korea through the...
, former President of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngô Đình Diệm was the first president of South Vietnam . In the wake of the French withdrawal from Indochina as a result of the 1954 Geneva Accords, Diệm led the effort to create the Republic of Vietnam. Accruing considerable U.S. support due to his staunch anti-Communism, he achieved victory in a...
, former Philippine President Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos Polistico García was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader...
, former Iranian Shan Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
and others. Zhongshan Hall has also hosted memorial ceremonies such as the signing of the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty
Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty
Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty was a treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of China; it was signed on December 2, 1954 at the Zhongshan Hall in Taipei and came into force on March 3, 1955...
and three formal inauguration ceremonies of the second, third, and fourth presidency and vice-presidency 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...
.
Gallery of Images
Image:公會堂01.jpg|Taipei Zhongshan Hall as it appeared in 1940.
Image:Ando Rikichi surrender.jpg|Chen Yi
Chen Yi
Chen Yi may refer to:* Chen Yi , Chinese communist military commander* Chen Yi , Chief Executive of Taiwan Province* Chen Yi , Chinese composer* Chen Yi...
(right) accepting the surrender of General Rikichi Andō (left), the last Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan, in the Zhongshan Hall.
Image:Japanese_Surrender_Room.jpg|The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed in this room on October 25, 1945.
Image:Resistance_against_Japan_Memorial_Taipei.jpg|Resistance against Japan and Taiwan Retrocession Memorial Wall.