Taiwan - Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

The Chiang Kai-shek memorial Hall is a famous monument erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, the former President of the Republic of China.

Sent by Shine, a postcrosser from Taiwan.

This is from Wikipedia : The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (traditional Chinese: 國立中正紀念堂; simplified Chinese: 国立中正纪念堂) is a famous monument erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. It is located in Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan).

The monument, surrounded by a park, stands at the east end of Liberty Square. The structure is framed on the north and south by the National Theater and National Concert Hall. The entire plaza is located within sight of the Presidential Office Building.

After President Chiang Kai-shek died on 5 April 1975, the Executive branch of the government established a Funeral Committee to build a memorial. The design, by architect Yang Cho-cheng, was chosen in a competition. Yang's design incorporated many elements of traditional Chinese architecture recalling the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, China. (The Kuomintang (KMT) revered Dr. Sun as founder of the party and government Chiang had led.) Groundbreaking for the memorial took place on 31 October 1976, the 90th anniversary of Chiang's birth. The hall officially opened on 5 April 1980, the fifth anniversary of the leader's death.

Yang's design placed the main building at the east end of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park (traditional Chinese: 中正紀念公園; simplified Chinese: 中正纪念公园), covering over 240,000 square metres in Zhongzheng District. A main gate, the Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness (Chinese: 大中至正; traditional Chinese: 大中至正; ) was placed at the west end on Chung Shan South Road, with a Gate of Great Loyalty (traditional Chinese: 大忠門; simplified Chinese: 大忠门) standing at the north side on Hsin Yi (Xinyi) Road and a Gate of Great Piety (traditional Chinese: 大孝門; simplified Chinese: 大孝门) standing at the south side on Ai Kuo (Aiguo) East Road. A Boulevard of Homage, bordered by manicured bushes, connected the main hall with the square. The name Liberty Square for the plaza dates from 2007.