- Chinese Name: 蔣公草山行館
- Year of Establishment: 1920
- Located At: Taipei City (Northern Taiwan)
- Did You Know That … ?
- Yangmingshan once went by the appellation of Caoshan, which stands for Grass Mountain. The late President Chiang Kai-shek renamed the region in 1950 in honor of the Ming Dynasty philosopher Wang Yang-ming (王陽明), one of the four ancient masters of Confucianism.
- English Address: No. 89 Hudi Road, Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
- Opening Hours: 9.30am through 5pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Dining Hours: 11am through 7pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Contact Number: +886-2-2862-2404
- Website: www.grassmountainchateau.com.tw(Available in English)
The Grass Mountain Chateau, the first official presidential residence on Taiwan, is situated in the misty Yangmingshan National Park just north of Taipei City. The historic monument has stood steadfast for close to a century, with its strategic location offering a magnificent panorama view of the Keelung River, the Danshui River, the Guandu Plain, and the Guanyin Mountain.
Despite a run-in with an unidentified arsonist, the chateau was reborn after being engulfed in a midnight fire in 2007. Following two years of restoration work, the historic building and its surrounding complex have reopened as an exhibition center, a restaurant, and an artist mecca that will offer a residency program in the near future.
A royal guest house
During the Japanese colonial rule of Taiwan from 1895 to 1945, Grass Mountain was developed into a recreational area because of its well-known hot springs and spectacular mountain views.
The chateau was built in 1920 by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation in preparation for a visit by then-Japanese Crown Prince Hirohito. Historical records show that Hirohito stayed only briefly at the Grass Mountain Royal Guest House during his visit to Taiwan in 1923. It later functioned as a spa villa for social elites until the end of the Japanese colonial period.
When the Republic of China government relocated to Taiwan in December 1949, President Chiang Kai-shek selected the chateau as his first temporary residence in Taiwan. Here, he entertained many foreign dignitaries and made several major government decisions.
The secluded guest house was an interesting piece of architecture displaying a unique mix of Japanese and Western styles. Altogether, Chiang's chateau had a floor space of about 547 square meters on a plot of land measuring over 1,800 square meters.
In May 1950, Chiang and his wife Soong Mei-ling moved to a new residence in Taipei's Shilin District at the foot of Grass Mountain. The chateau then served as the First Couple's summer villa and became known as the 'Summer Retreat Residence' or the 'Back Mountain Residence.'
Fire & rebirth
The Taipei city government took over the administration of the chateau after the president passed away in 1975. It was not until April 2003, however, that the historic building was opened to the public to showcase the First Couple's everyday lifestyle.
On March 14, 2005, the city government registered the house as a monument because of its historic significance and officially named it the 'Grass Mountain Chateau.' But it was seriously damaged in a large fire that broke out at 00:22 AM on April 7, 2007.
The midnight fire almost burned down the entire Japanese-era wooden structure — including the main exhibition hall and its displays, as well as showrooms and the coffee shop. Only the red-brick walls and a bust of the late president Chiang remained intact after the blaze.
The total damage was estimated at roughly NT$36 million (US$1.09 million), although experts were puzzled by the intact bust, for the 1999 sculpture artwork was made from fiberglass, an extremely flammable material.
In an effort to restore the beloved chateau to its past glory, a group of Japanese-style architecture specialists helped to repair the building through traditional construction methods using cypress wood imported from Japan.
Now, all the exhibits inside the chateau - including clothes, pictures and documents belonging to Chiang and his wife - are replicas that the specialists had made based on borrowed originals and file photos.
The late president was also known for his fondness for Braised Lion Head, otherwise known as Hangzhou-style braised meatballs, while his wife loved the apple fruit and related tea and desserts. Hence the chateau's dining area offers Chiang's favorite Hangzhou cuisine, as well as fruits and vegetables grown in the mountains of Yangmingshan National Park.
For those who seek to gain a glimpse — or a taste — of the authentic everyday life of the Chiang family, or simply to enjoy the nearby cherry blossoms, hot springs, and hiking trails, the Grass Mountain Chateau has something to offer to everyone.