First Hotel Introduction
The First Guesthouse is a structure from the Japanese colonial period, featuring a mixed Japanese-Western architectural style. The original guesthouse was built by the Japanese government in 1912 to commemorate the 223 officers and soldiers who lost their lives in the Matsushima during an explosion in the waters near Penghu in 1908, housing the Matsushima Memorial Hall alongside. It primarily served as a guesthouse for the Japanese imperial family and high-ranking officials. Later, in 1940, due to the construction of the Magong First Fishing Port, the guesthouse was relocated to a high ground on the north side of Guan Yin Pavilion, offering a broader view. After World War II, the government of the Republic of China took over the guesthouse, and upon President Chiang Kai-shek's stay, it was transformed from a Japanese-style decor to a Western-style living space, along with the establishment of an underground wartime command center. During the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, it became the center for planning military operations. After President Chiang moved back to Taipei, it was renamed "First Guesthouse." In 2011, the First Guesthouse, designated as a county-level historic site, was officially opened to the public following the completion of its main renovation project. Today, visitors can see the entrance's eaves constructed in a "Tang-Bo style," with the entrance floor and walls made of the unique shell sand from Penghu. The interior represents the living conditions of the "Chiang Residence," complemented by a serene and elegant garden, making this mixed Japanese-Western architectural building particularly refined.
exhibit
Old photo exhibition
