Chiang Kai-shek Memorial is one of Taiwan's most popular attractions. The great ruler died on April 5, 1975, and in October 1976, on the day of his ninetieth birthday, the construction of the memorial began, and on the fifth anniversary of his death - April 5, 1980 - the memorial was opened. The author of the memorial project is Yang-Cho Cheng, whose work was chosen among the forty-three architectural projects initially submitted to the competition.
The height of the memorial is 76 meters. The building itself is white, with an octagonal roof covered with blue tiles. White, blue and red symbolize the colors of the Taiwanese flag. The number eight in many Asian countries is associated with abundance and luck - which is probably why the roof is octagonal. To the right and left are two stairs of 89 steps each, which symbolizes the age of Chiang Kai-shek at the time of his death. In the hall are a bronze monument of the Taiwanese leader, a museum and a library. The entrance to the square where the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial is located is framed by a vaulted arch of 30 meters high and 80 meters wide. It is 470 meters from the main hall. Seeing the memorial hall from the central arch, visitors cannot immediately appreciate its grandeur. In addition to the main building, the memorial complex includes a square, as well as buildings like the twin brothers of the National Theater and the National Concert Hall.