The key points for an English tour of Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall 台北中正紀念堂英文導覽6重點

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was built to honor the first president of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shek, who passed away in 1975. The following year, construction of the memorial hall began under the direction of architect Yang Cho-cheng, who also designed the Grand Hotel in Taipei.

中正紀念堂是為了紀念中華民國第一任總統蔣介石，他於1975年逝世，次年行政院就破土開建中正紀念堂，設計師是設計圓山大飯店的楊卓成。

內容目錄

The predecessor of the Taipei’s Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.中正紀念堂的前身

The memorial hall was originally the site of the Army Headquarters, which was the largest military base within Taipei city at the time. It’s said that gold transported from the mainland was once stored in this location.

紀念堂原址是陸軍總部，當時是臺北市區內最大的軍區，據說從大陸運過來的黃金，就曾經存放在這個地方。

The memorial hall uses the colors blue and white, which are the primary colors on the national flag. The decorative elements on the dome at the top of the memorial hall represent the twelve rays of the sun in the blue sky. The bronze statue faces west towards the Presidential Office Building and mainland China, both of which carry significant symbolism. With the evolution of democracy and open-mindedness, the square in front of the memorial hall has become a gathering place for democratic movements.

紀念堂採用的藍白兩色，是國旗上面主要的顏色，紀念堂頂部天穹的裝飾是青天白日12道光芒，銅像朝西面對總統府和中國大陸，其中都有特殊的意義。隨著民主演進思想開放，紀念堂前的廣場已成了民主運動的集會場。

The theaters and music halls on both sides of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.中正紀念堂兩側的戲劇院音樂廳

On either side of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, you’ve got the National Concert Hall and the National Theater. The theater is where they put on plays, dance performances, and all sorts of shows, including Peking opera, dramas, and kids’ programs. The concert hall, on the other hand, is Taiwan’s top spot for music performances, hosting chamber music, symphonies, and big music events. The square in front of these two theaters also hosts various drama and music events from time to time, drawing in lots of visitors for some entertainment.

位於中正紀念堂左右兩側的國家音樂廳與國家戲劇院。戲劇院為戲劇、舞蹈等表演活動的場地，經常舉辦大型的表演活動，包括京劇、戲劇、兒童節目等；音樂廳是臺灣最具水準的音樂展演空間，經常舉辦室內樂，交響樂等大型的音樂活動。而兩廳院前廣場也會不定時舉辦戲劇、音樂活動，吸引眾多遊客前往欣賞。

The main structure of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.中正紀念堂主體

White walls, blue tiles, towering 70 meters high right in the middle of the memorial park – no matter how you look at it from any angle, it’s pretty darn impressive.

白牆藍瓦，70公尺高聳立在紀念公園的中央，不論從哪個角度看過去，都很宏偉。

The memorial hall, with a design inspired by the top of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and the body of the Egyptian pyramids, stands tall and majestic. Inside the main hall, there’s a bronze statue of President Chiang Kai-shek seated. It’s got 3 tiers of steps and is 14.5 meters high. The main wall is 24 meters tall, and from the bracket set to the tip of the roof, it reaches 31.5 meters in total, a grand height of 70 meters. The main gate is 16 meters high and weighs a whopping 75 tons, all made of bronze.

紀念堂，造型仿北京天壇之頂、埃及金字塔之體，高聳威嚴，正廳置放蔣中正總統坐姿銅像，3層臺階高14.5公尺，主體牆高24公尺，斗拱至寶頂尖高31.5公尺，合共70公尺。大門高16公尺，重75噸，為青銅鑄建。

The memorial hall’s design draws inspiration from the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The white ramp in front mimics the ancient palace’s royal path, while the surrounding slopes are reminiscent of the Egyptian pyramids, symbolizing the eternal existence of the soul.

紀念館主體則參考了南京的中山陵與北京的天壇，堂前的白色坡道是仿古代宮殿的御道，四邊的斜面更是取自埃及金字塔，象徵著靈魂的永恆存在。

Ancient imperial tombs emphasized axial symmetry and a central axis design, as well as the inclusion of a “spirit way” leading to the main hall. Looking at the entire Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall area, it all adheres to these principles. The patterns on the memorial hall’s structure itself follow the traditional “cloud motif” commonly used in temples and tombs. The overall orientation faces west, not only in opposition to the Presidential Office Building but also carrying the symbolism of westward advancement and counterattacking the mainland. Additionally, the front staircase of the building has 89 steps, representing Chiang Kai-shek’s lifespan of 89 years, among other meanings.

古代皇陵講究中軸線設計、左右對稱，更有著「神路」（通往饗殿的路）的設計，綜觀中正紀念堂全區，全都符合，中正紀念堂本體的紋路也是傳統廟宇、墳墓一定會用的「雲紋」。且整體方向朝西，不但與總統府相對，更有著向西邊、反攻大陸的含意，還有建築正面的階梯有89階，則代表蔣中正享壽89歲等等。

The numeric code for the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.中正紀念堂數字密碼

The numeric code of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall includes a dome with a national emblem with a diameter of 10 meters. On the outer staircase of the main structure, there’s another national emblem with the same 10-meter diameter, symbolizing Taiwan’s Double Ten National Day.

中正紀念堂數字密碼，穹頂的國徽直徑10公尺，主體外階梯遇到上的國徽也是直徑10公尺，代表中華民國的雙十國慶日。

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is filled with mathematical codes in its features like the wall lantern windows, corridor pathways, archways, and the main building. For instance, on the 1,200-meter-long perimeter wall, there are 18 different (a total of 246) beautifully designed Chinese-style lantern windows.

中正紀念堂的圍牆燈籠窗、迴廊走道、牌樓拱門、正堂建築等，充滿著數學密碼，例如全長一千二百公尺的圍牆牆面上，有十八種（共二百四十六個）中國式燈籠窗的美麗造型。

The designer of the memorial hall, Yang Cho-cheng, mentioned that he directly referenced several cases, including the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China (for the main structure), the Taj Mahal in India (for the open space in front), and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., United States (for the large bronze statue at the center of the hall). The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a whopping 80 meters wide, making it possibly the largest archway in the world today.

紀念堂的設計者，楊卓成也說直接參考了幾個案例，包括中國北京天壇（建築本體）、印度泰姬瑪哈（前方空地）、美國華盛頓的林肯紀念堂（大廳正中央的大銅像等）。中正紀念堂寬達80公尺，有可能是目前全世界最大的一座牌樓。

The positioning of the National Theater and Concert Hall also reflects the Chinese cultural principle of “left esteemed, right humble,” with the theater placed on the left side. The patterns on the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall itself are full of meaning. For instance, the use of the traditional “cloud motif,” which is commonly found in temples and tombs, symbolizes the most important prayer for rain and hope during the agricultural era. It also embodies the concept of communication between “heaven, earth, and people.” As for the concealed plum blossom inside, it’s a recent innovation.

國家戲劇院、音樂廳的位置也展現中國文化的「左尊右卑」，將劇院置於左邊；中正紀念堂本體的紋路也處處有意涵，例如傳統廟宇、墳墓一定會用上的「雲紋」表示農業時代最重要的祈雨盼望，也有「天地人」溝通的概念，至於內部藏的梅花則是新發明。

The first-floor permanent hall.1樓常設廳

Permanent Exhibition Halls: On the left side is the “President Chiang Kai-shek and the Republic of China” exhibition, while the right side has been transformed into the “Freedom’s Spirit vs. Dictatorship: The Journey of Free Speech in Taiwan,” curated by the National Museum of Human Rights.

常設展廳：左側為「蔣中正總統與中華民國」展；右側則改為由國家人權博物館策展的「自由的靈魂vs.獨裁者：臺灣言論自由之路」。

President Chiang Kai-shek’s Office Exhibition Hall: This section is part of the “President Chiang Kai-shek and the Republic of China” exhibition, and it is recreated to display his office setup during his time at the Presidential Office Building.

蔣中正總統辦公室展廳：為「蔣中正總統與中華民國」展覽部分，依其當時在總統府之辦公室還原陳列。

The Changing of the Guard on the 4th floor.4樓衛兵交接

Another highlight when visiting the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is witnessing the changing of the guard ceremony performed by the armed forces. At the top of every hour, there is a ceremonial handover by the Republic of China Army, Air Force, and Navy in rotation.

來到中正紀念堂另一個重頭戲，就是要來看三軍儀隊的交接儀式。在每個整點都會有儀隊的交接儀式，由中華民國陸軍、空軍、海軍輪流擔任。

Closing remarks.結語

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a must-visit attraction in Taipei. Whether for its historical significance or its role in the process of democratic progress, even though these aspects may be conflicting, it’s a worthwhile destination. History cannot be erased, but the key is how we can continue to progress.

中正紀念堂是一個來台北必訪的景點，無論是它的歷史意義，還是民主的進步過程中的角色，即使兩者是充滿了衝突，都是很值得一訪的景點，歷史是無法抹滅的，如何讓我們能持續進步才是重點。