Cao Shan Villa Introduction
Zhen is a building constructed using natural methods, serving as a beautiful venue for the coexistence of ancient and modern arts and culture, and a vibrant ecological garden in the back mountains. Through the passage of time and historical shifts, it maintains an elegantly understated demeanor. "Caoshan" does not refer to a single mountain, but rather to the valley area surrounded by Datun Mountain, Qixing Mountain, and Shamao Mountain. The Caoshan Villa was originally a guesthouse for the Taiwan Sugar Corporation. In 1949, after the Kuomintang relocated to Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek stayed there. The villa is tranquil and pleasant, located at a strategic point on Caoshan, where the Keelung River and Tamsui River converge, offering a panoramic view of Guandu Plain, Shezi Island, and Guanyin Mountain. In 1950, to commemorate the Ming Dynasty philosopher Wang Yangming, "Caoshan" was renamed "Yangmingshan." The Caoshan Villa covers an area of 4,275 square meters. The main villa is a typical Japanese-style building from the 1920s, with a floor area of 584 square meters. In front of the main villa stand two over-a-century-old Acacia trees and Sweet Gum trees, quietly narrating the passage of time. The interior of the main villa includes a corridor, hall, reception room, study, bedroom, master bedroom, living room, guest rooms, kitchen, courtyard, and terrace. Surrounding the main villa are four small auxiliary buildings, originally housing the guards of Chiang Kai-shek. During the renovation by the Taipei City Government's Cultural Affairs Bureau, these four small buildings were integrated with the cultural and artistic exhibitions of the main villa and repurposed as artist studios, aiming to make Caoshan Villa a beautiful venue that integrates ecology, culture, and art, fostering close dialogue and exchanges with the public.
