Our 337th entry in our digital diary is our first time visit to Chiang Kai‑shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan.

This is a national monument and tourist attraction erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China.

The memorial sits in a large public square with important landmarks: Liberty Square – a major public gathering space, National Theater, and the National Concert Hall. These buildings form a symmetrical layout inspired by traditional Chinese city planning.

The main hall is a white marble building with a blue octagonal roof. White symbolizes purity and integrity. Blue represents liberty and is associated with the ROC flag.

The octagon shape is significant in Chinese culture, symbolizing good fortune and eternity. The hall sits on a raised platform with 89 steps, representing Chiang Kai‑shek’s age at death. The design was inspired by traditional Chinese palace architecture, especially from the Ming dynasty.

Over the years, the memorial has been a place of state ceremonies and a site for public protests, democratic movements, and civic events. There was an event when we visited here. It has lots of flowers, dancers, and some school children with bikes.

Chiang Kai‑shek Memorial Hall is a major landmark in Taipei built in 1980 to honor Chiang Kai‑shek, former President of the Republic of China. It features a white marble structure with a blue octagonal roof, symbolizing purity and liberty, and is set within Liberty Square alongside the National Theater and Concert Hall. The site is known for its hourly changing of the guards, museums, and role as an important cultural and civic space.