The Grand Hotel retains the elements of classic Chinese architecture in its building. It is not only the most splendid landmark of Taipei, but representative of contemporary palatial architecture. The guest rooms, decorated with both oriental and western details, offer the most comfortable stay. Dining services are available from 07:00~22:00; no matter you are on a business or a leisure trip, we make sure you enjoy the greatest convenience at the Grand Hotel.
The Grand Hotel (Chinese: 圓山大飯店; literally "Yuanshan Great Hotel"), is a landmark located at Yuanshan (圓山) in Zhongshan District, Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan). The hotel was established in May 1952 and the main building was completed on October 10, 1973. It is owned by the Duen-Mou Foundation of Taiwan, a non-profit organization, and has played host to many foreign dignitaries who have visited Taipei.
The main building of the hotel is one of the world's tallest Chinese classical building,[1] it is 87 metres (285 ft) high.[2] It was also the tallest building in Taiwan from 1973 to 1981. (See List of tallest buildings in Taiwan).
With its vermilion columns, the roof makes the hotel a visible showplace of Chinese architecture and culture. The hotel itself contains numerous objets d'art, wall panels, paintings, carvings, and significant restaurants. Dragon motifs are frequently intertwined throughout the various structures that make up the hotel, earning the hotel the name "The Dragon Palace". Beside dragons, lion and plum flower motifs also make a significant presence in the hotel.
Each of the eight guest levels represent a different Chinese dynasty, as reflected through the murals and general decor. The hotel has a total of 490 rooms. The rooms facing south offer guests a paranomic view of Taipei City. The presidential suite, as the hotel claims, has former President Chiang Kai-shek's desk and Madame Chiang's dressing table. Currently, the presidential suite costs NT$160,000 per night (Approx. $4,850). Budget rooms are available from ca. $99 per night.
The hotel also features auditoria and meeting rooms, making it a popular venue for conventions and conferences in Taiwan.
Ever since the opening of the hotel, rumour had it that secret passages ran from the hotel to the nearby Shilin Official Residence and further Presidential Office Building for Chiang's convenience.
The truth was uncovered after the 1995 fire, as part of the safety commission that was conducted. The secret passages were revealed to be two air-raid tunnels, each of them 180m in length leading to nearby parks, not to the presidential residence or the emergency headquarters as rumours had suggested. The western passage is equipped with a slide for the disabled as an alternative to the spiraling stairs.
The exits are obscured with concrete walls, thus escaping public detection for decades. The tunnels have a maximum capacity of about 10,000 people.
As of 2005, the tunnels were closed to the public except for special events, when hotel officials invite the press and public inside the tunnels for a tour.
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 meters 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 worshiped 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 is 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.
| Tel | +886-2-2885-4162 |
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| Address |
No.139, Bei'an Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Longitude/Latitude (25.078328,121.533071)
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| Web |  |
| Transportation |
Nat'l Hwy 1 → Yuanshan Interchange → Songjiang Rd. → Minzu E. Rd. → Xinsheng Elevated Rd. → Exit at Beian Rd. Interchange → Beian Rd. → Taipei Martyrs' Shrine
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| Public |
Take the THSR or train to Taipei Station, transfer Taipei City Bus (No. 247, 287) to Taipei Martyrs' Shrine Stop.
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