Zhongshan Hall, Taipei Introduction
The Zhongshan Hall, formerly known as the Taipei Public Hall, was built in 1936 and designed by the Chief of the Engineering Department of the Governor-General's Office, Kaoru Ide, during the Japanese colonial period. Its overall design is grand and elegant, making it a rare large public building in Taiwan at that time. In 1945, after the victory in the war and Taiwan's restoration, it was renamed "Zhongshan Hall." In 1949, when the government relocated to Taiwan, Zhongshan Hall served as the venue for the National Assembly and the Legislative Yuan. In 1969, it was returned to the Taipei City Government, under the Ministry of Interior. In 1992, it was designated as a national second-level historic site by the Ministry of the Interior; in 1995, it was reclassified under the Taipei City Government as a municipal historic site due to amendments to the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act. In 1999, Zhongshan Hall was transferred to the Cultural Affairs Bureau and has since become one of the major venues for performing arts in the city, hosting events such as the Taipei Traditional Arts Festival, Children's Arts Festival, and Taipei Film Festival annually. In 2011, the interior of Zhongshan Hall was renovated, adding exhibition rooms, Taipei Academy, and cultural salons, and was fully opened for visits, making it a multifunctional venue for education, cultural activities, and leisure in Taipei. In 2019, it was upgraded to a national historic site by the Ministry of Culture.
