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Marshal Zen Garden

  • Publish Date:2016-05-29
Marshal Zen Garden

Did You Know That…?


  • The earliest reincarnation of the Marshal Zen Garden was a high-class hotel resort that offered the best selection of drinks and female company, and was frequented by members of the elite social class, such as government officials and business tycoons. It was then converted for exclusive military use when World War II broke out.


  • After Japan's defeat in World War II and the relocation of the Republic of China government to Taiwan, General Chiang Kai-shek confined Marshal Zhang and his second wife Zhao Yi-di here in the 1960s, as punishment for Zhang's role in kidnapping Chiang in the Xi'an Incident of 1936.


  • The Marshal Zen Garden is now maintained by a corporation and used as a restaurant, but it still maintains its original appearance and offers an elegant and peaceful setting for dining.


Read more about the Marshal Zen Garden here or scroll down for pictures.


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The Marshal Zen Garden connects today’s visitors with the story of Japan's occupation of Taiwan decades ago and sheds light on the relationship between General Chiang and Marshal Zhang. It also serves as an informal tribute to Zhang for his role in history, particularly regarding the Xi’an Incident that led to the Nationalist victory against imperial Japan.


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Zhang was released from his confinement after Chiang passed away, and he eventually left for Hawaii, where he was buried at the age of 100 in 2001.


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The historic building and the tree-lined garden have a timeless quality. The Marshal Zen Garden is situated on a hill, providing visitors with a view of the Thermal Valley (地熱谷) and even Guanyin Mountain (觀音山) on sunny days, while the interior features simple wooden furniture that fits in with the wooden pillars and floor. Visitors can admire the view outside through large glass windows and enjoy their meals at the same time.



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The dishes offered in the restaurant were developed with a nod to Zhang's daily diet. Since Zhang grew up in a rich warlord family in northeast China, the restaurant chefs came up with dishes based on their studies of his diet in his younger years to offer their customers various seasonal dishes. Many Chinese medicinal herbs and ingredients are used to reflect Zhang's longevity.


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Visitors will be able to tour the original living room and a memorial statue of the Young Marshal. A brick house next to the main building that once served as a shack for guards monitoring Zhang has since been transformed into a tea house. There is also a shallow hot spring pool for soaking feet, as well as private hot spring rooms, as the marshal is said to have soaked in hot springs regularly to maintain good health.