Half Day Taipei City Tour
Date: Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Visiting Time: 13:00-18:00
Boarding Time: 12:50-13:00
Boarding Location: Lobby, 1 F., TICC (Conference Venue)
Price: Free for all registered accompanying persons.
Ticket (NT$700) could be extra purchased.
Lunch: Free lunch box will be provided on the bus.
Itinerary:
Taipei International Convention Center (TICC) → National Palace Museum → Martyrs’ Shrine → Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall →Taipei International Convention Center (TICC) / The Grand Hotel, Taipei

National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is located in the heart of Taipei City. The area is 250,000 square meters and it is the attraction most visited by foreign tourists. Outside the gate of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, there are poles carrying the sign of true rightness. The architecture of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is inspired by Tientam in Beijing. The four sides of the structure are similar to those of the pyramids in Egypt. The material is white marble. The roofs are decorated with deep-blue glass as part of the reflection of blue sky and bright sun. It adds a touch of grandeur. The garden is planted with red flowers. As a whole, the colors of blue, white and red express the National Flag and the spirit of freedom, equality and brotherhood.

The great building has become a landmark of Taipei City. There are also places for international art performances. They are National Theater and National Concert Hall. World famous musicians (such as the great cello performer Yo Yo Ma and the great violinist Shao Lian Lin) and renowned playgroups have conducted performance here. The garden with beautiful flowers, miniature hills and plants, ponds, ornamental bridge and waterfalls as well as green grass present scenery beauty. The walls surrounding the area are with nostalgic design. The place is enriched with the beauty of traditional Chinese gardens. There are various activities taking place in the square. There are the concert of the world renowned three tenors, the decorative lamp festival, school bands performance, cheerleaders performance and fairs. One can pay respect to the historical great leader, as well as participate in the relaxation activities of local residents. The place provides a precious plain view among the tall buildings of Taipei.

Office of the President, Republic of China

The Presidential Office Building is located on Chongqing S. Road and facing Ketagalan Boulevard. On the back it is Bo-ai Road, on the left it is Baoqing Road, and on the right it is Guiyang Street. The Presidential Building is close to Taipei Main Station and Ximending. The building was built during Japanese colonization period. It was the governor's mansion at that time. During the ending period of World War II, the building was seriously damaged due to bombing. After Taiwan was reclaimed by R.O.C., the building was re-constructed in 1946. The building was re-named as "Jieshou Building" in celebration of the 60th birthday of former president Mr. Chiang Kai-shek. The building has been used as the presidential mansion after the central government of R.O.C. was re-instated in Taiwan.

The main body of the Presidential Office Building is a five-floor structure and the central tower is eleven-floor high. The area is 6,930 square meters. The outer portion is covered with steel concrete. Gravel is used as decoration horizontally. A sense of grandeur and vigorousness is presented via the red-white composition. The Presidential Building was announced by the President as "national historical site" in 1998 and was open for public tour since then. The general public will be able to see in person the location where the president works. The distance between the President and his people will be shortened.

National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum houses the world's largest collection of priceless Chinese art treasures, one which spans China's nearly 5,000-year history. Most of the museum's 620,000 art objects were part of the Chinese imperial collection, which began over 1,000 years ago in the early Song dynasty.

Martyrs' Shrine

The Martyrs' Shrine, resting on the slopes of the Qing Mountain and overseeing the Keelung River, is located right next to the Grand Hotel. It was built in 1969 and covers a large area. Its grand and magnificent architectural style is similar to that of the Taihe Dian Imperial Palace in Beijing, Mainland China, and symbolizes the martyrs' brave spirit.

More than 33,000 square metres of grass fields surround the structure, and protected by the neighboring mountains it breathes a serene atmosphere which even more emphasizes its solemn and stately character. The 330,000 men who sacrificed their lives to the revolution before the establishment of the Republic of China and who fell during the Sino-Japanese war and the Chinese Civil war are worshipped here. Plates of these brave and loyal martyrs have been inserted into the four walls of the main building in testimony of their heroic deeds.

Each spring and autumn the president of Taiwan leads both civil and military officials in a public worship, while leaders from Taiwan's befriended countries come and pay floral tribute. Each year in October groups of overseas Chinese also come to visit the site.

Worth mentioning are the military police officers who guard the main gate, and who have been rigidly trained to stand like expressionless statues. Tourists alike are amazed at this display of composure and flock to see the ceremonial changing of the guards.