Yuan Shan Hotel Introduction
The Grand Hotel, established in 1952, features a 14-story palace-like building majestically located at the foothills of Yuanshan, overlooking the Keelung River to the front, backed by Yangming Mountain, and facing Songshan in the east and Tamsui in the west. The hotel's grand exterior, with its red pillars and golden tiles, reflects the artistic beauty of Chinese culture and stands as one of the iconic landmarks of Taipei, renowned worldwide. It is the best choice for both international tourists and business meetings. The beauty of Yuanshan lies in its magnificent Chinese-style architecture and splendid classical elegance, while its mystery derives from its legendary historical significance and tales of hidden paths. The tranquility of Yuanshan comes from its distance from the hustle and bustle, complemented by the elegant scenery nearby. Originally, the century-old bronze dragon—Gold Dragon—was placed in front of the Taiwan Shrine. When the hotel expanded, the original design was preserved and beautifully showcased in the Gold Dragon Restaurant. During a renovation in 1987, it was plated with 24K gold. Notably, this coiling dragon has only three claws, differing from the traditional four-clawed or five-clawed dragons in Chinese culture. The central ceiling of the Grand Hotel's lobby features a plum blossom-shaped caisson, with five golden dragons circling a pearl at its center, symbolizing "blessings arriving at the door." Surrounding the caisson are 23 golden dragons and 16 phoenixes; the homophonic association of "3" implying "ascend" signifies rising step by step, while "16" alongside the large plum blossom conveys the idea of continuous prosperity. The plum blossom caisson symbolizes the auspicious combination of dragons and phoenixes, holding deep meaning. The flying eaves and dougong of the roof depict ancient Chinese civilization. A row of squat beasts rests atop the protruding flying eaves, with a "crown" (a type of ceramic beastly ornament) placed between the ridge and eaves. Below the roof, the majestic yet refined dougong structure stands out as one of the most remarkable aspects of Chinese architecture. The large floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the main entrance of the Grand Hotel are elegant and stately. A closer look at the patterns etched on the doors reveals six hidden ancient characters stating "Long Live the Republic of China," reflecting the historical context during the reconstruction of the Grand Hotel and showcasing the designer's ingenuity. At the entrance of the Stone Cutter's Pavilion lies a large stone monument inscribed with the cursive brush characters penned by Mr. Yu You-ren. The four prominent characters "Jiantan Shengji", meaning "The Beautiful Scenery of Jiantan," have been verified through various sources to express that the entire Yuanshan area is indeed a sacred place. This is one reason for Yuanshan's enduring popularity and high status over the past century.
