First Hotel Introduction
The First Guesthouse is an architectural structure from the Japanese colonial period, featuring a mixed Japanese and Western style. The original guesthouse was built by the Japanese government in 1912 to commemorate the 223 officials who perished in the sinking of the Matsushima warship in 1908 off the coast of Penghu. It served mainly as a lodging for Japanese royalty and high officials. Later, in 1940, due to the construction of the first fishing port in Magong, the guesthouse was relocated to a higher ground north of Guanyinting, offering a more expansive view. After World War II, the Nationalist government took over the guesthouse, and upon President Chiang Kai-shek's stay, the Japanese-style decor was transformed into a Western-style living space, and a wartime underground command post was constructed. During the 823 Bombardment of Kinmen, it became the center for planning military operations. After President Chiang Kai-shek moved back to Taipei, it was renamed the "First Guesthouse." In 2011, the First Guesthouse, designated as a county-level historic site, officially opened to the public after completing structural renovation. Today, one can see the entrance's roof features a "Tang Bo" style structure, with the entrance floor and walls made of Penghu's unique shell sand. The interior presents the living situation of "Chiang's Residence," surrounded by a tranquil and elegant garden, making this mixed-style building particularly refined.
Exhibits
Exhibition of Old Photos
