Grass Mountain Chateau Introduction
Zhen is a building constructed using natural architectural methods, a space where ancient and modern arts flourish beautifully, and an ecological garden in the back mountain that has undergone the test of time. It maintains an elegant presence, subtly reflecting the twists of history. "Caoshan" does not refer to a single mountain, but rather generally denotes the valley area surrounded by Datun Mountain, Qixing Mountain, and Shamao Mountain. The Caoshan Guesthouse was originally a guesthouse for the Taiwan Sugar Corporation and was inhabited by Chiang Kai-shek after the Nationalist government relocated to Taiwan in 1949. The guesthouse is serene and pleasant, situated at a strategic high point of Caoshan, where the Keelung River and Tamsui River intersect, offering stunning views of Guandu Plain, Shazhi Island, and Guanyin Mountain. In 1950, it was renamed "Yangmingshan" in honor of the Ming dynasty philosopher Wang Yangming. The property covers an area of 4,275 square meters. The main building is a typical Japanese-style architecture from the 1920s, with a building area of 584 square meters. In front of the main building stand two over-a-century-old Acacia and Sweet Gum trees, quietly narrating the passage of time. The internal space of the main building is planned to include a hallway, main hall, reception room, study, bedroom, master bedroom, living room, guest rooms, kitchen, courtyard, and terrace. Surrounding the main building are four small auxiliary structures originally used as residences for Chiang's bodyguards. When the cultural bureau of Taipei City Government renovated the site, these four small buildings were incorporated into the cultural and artistic exhibitions of the main building, repurposed as artists' studios, aiming for Caoshan Guesthouse to become an aesthetic space that integrates ecology, culture, and art, allowing close communication and dialogue with the public.
