Taipei Guest House Introduction
The Taipei Guest House, an architectural gem that has stood for over a century, has always been at the heart of Taiwan's politics. It originally served as the "Governor-General's Official Residence" during the Japanese colonial period. After the restoration of Taiwan, it became the residence of the provincial governor; in 1950, it was renamed the Taipei Guest House and serves as an important national venue for state banquets, hosting foreign guests, party-government meetings, and cultural activities. In 1998, it was designated a national historic site by the Ministry of the Interior. The Taipei Guest House was constructed in 1899, designed by Japanese architects Rinji Miyauchi and Ichiro Nomura. A renovation in 1911, designed by Matsunosuke Seki, shaped its current appearance. It underwent its most extensive renovation after the restoration of Taiwan between 2002 and 2006, reopening to the public for the first time on July 4, 2006, a step towards greater transparency with the public, allowing locals a glimpse into its century-old mystique. The site of the Taipei Guest House is rectangular, extending east to west, with the main building oriented north-south. It is a two-story structure built from bricks, stones, and reinforced concrete. Influenced by Western historical architectural styles introduced during the Meiji Restoration in Japan, the guest house features a mansard roof, Greek gables, Roman columns, and lavish Baroque-style decorations. It has expansive balconies on all sides, resembling official buildings in Southeast Asia's colonial towns. A terrace in the southeast corner of the third floor provides a viewing point for parades and a sightline of the street. Historically, during the Japanese occupation, besides serving as the governor's residence, it was also a venue for administrative work and social gatherings. One of the first significant events after its completion was receiving Princess Fumiko of Kuni, who visited Taiwan in October 1901. Subsequently, it hosted several members of the imperial family, including Prince Yoshihisa of the Kuni and Prince Yasuhiko of Chichibu. The most notable event was the reception of Crown Prince Hirohito (later Emperor Showa) during his visit to Taiwan in 1923. During his stay at the governor's residence, activities were primarily held on the second floor, where the ceremonial greetings of officials took place. On the first day of the crown prince's visit, the governor arranged for him to ascend the spiral staircase to the third floor and greet the cheering crowds from the terrace. After the restoration of Taiwan, while the Taipei Guest House ceased to be the governor's residence, it remained a key venue for government meetings and hosting foreign dignitaries. Various presidents have welcomed numerous guests on the first floor of the guest house, with notable figures including Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi in 1957, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1981, former U.S. President Bill Clinton in 2005, and Chinese Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits Chairman Chen Yunlin in 2008. Additionally, many significant international treaties and agreements have been signed in the banquet hall of the Taipei Guest House. The most notable is the "Treaty of Taipei" signed in 1952 by Foreign Minister Ye Gongchao and Japan's plenipotentiary representative, Akira Kawada, which has a significant impact on Taiwan's sovereign status. More recently, on May 14, 2009, President Ma Ying-jeou signed the "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights" and the "International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights," symbolizing an important step for Taiwan in integrating into the international human rights system and expanding international human rights cooperation. Reflecting on the history of the Taipei Guest House, it is clear that its value lies not just in its century-long history, but also as a building that masterfully combines Eastern and Western cultures. It has witnessed the changes and development of Taiwan over the past century. From any perspective, every brick, every tile, and every piece of greenery here deserves our collective care and preservation.
