Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall at Liberty Square
Ever since the civil war between Taiwan and Mainland China, there has been an ongoing rivalry between the two. Though things have been much more cordial than before, the evidence of the rivalry can be seen in the Taipei. Perhaps nothing can be more representative of this than Liberty Square. Even the name of the square itself is an affront to its larger rival. Liberty Square is a large public square where mass gatherings happen. Perhaps the most recent ones in memory are the democracy movements in the mid-80s which led to the first democratic elections in the island. In memory of this event, the square was named Liberty Square.
Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall 国立中正纪念堂
It is no Forbidden City that is for sure. However, there are still structures here which can impress you not unlike the ancient palaces in Beijing. Perhaps none is more imposing here than the centerpiece Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall which dominates the eastern end of the square. The rest of the square is dedicated to open space and some parks which make the square much more pleasant to walk in. Looking at the memorial hall it is probably deceiving how large it actually it. Somehow the shape of the hall gives you the appearance that it is smaller than it actually is. There is still far more open space here than greenery which makes it the perfect place to gather people.
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