#Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

[lisadaza]

TAIWAN 🇹🇼 (November 2024)

Taiwan Vlogs (November 2024): Part 1 Part 2

11.21.24-11.24.24

[i-think-pictures]

[eduseyes]

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

2023.07.03

[syaolaurant]

YO THIS IS THE COOLEST THING I DID TODAY!!!!!

I went to Chiang Kai Shek memorial hall in Taipei today and saw THIS!!!!! I was like yooooooo!!! I didn't know there is a Fantastic Beasts exhibition in Taipei before!!! This is so unexpected I jumped and smiled like an 8 years old hahaaa 🤣🤣🤣🤣

The exhibition is called "Monsters and the Fantasy World of Nature", display original props and from the HP and FB movies. And from that highlights the connection between the fantastic beasts featured in rhe movies and real-life natural creatures.

1. Newt Scamander's outfit and Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them book.

3. Unicorn core wands belong to Ron, Draco and Lupin.

4. The Erumpent (It's funny I need to press the "bottle cape shape" button to trigger his action just like the movie haha)

5. The Mermaid from Prefect Bathroom.

6. Mooncalves 🥹 They look too cute irl.

7. Newt's suitcase with Tina's photo inside. I remember I was so happy seeing this scene in the 2nd movie they're my OTP 😭😭 Seeing this today made me so happy 😊

8. The happy 8 years old 🤣🤣

[calpicowater]

Week 26.8/52: June 24th - June 30th 2024 | National Palace Museum 🥬

national palace museum (so much pretty things in there!)

taiwanese hot pot for lunch

chiang kai shek memorial hall

ximen night market for dindin

daily sausage for lily

[heyyyypril]

Rain in Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

[momotravelyt]

Taiwan Vlog: What to do and eat in Taipei ✈️ | Traditional Food, Old Street, Taipei 101

Yes, finally I finished this vlog! This will be an introvert's solo 5 day trip to Taiwan. We will go interesting places and enjoy lots of amazing food.

Taiwan, an absolute jewel in Asia, is my one of my top destinations to visit, because of its beautiful landscapes, warm-hearted people, and delicious food. I really enjoyed tasting street food like taro rice balls, soy milk, marinated eggs, braised pork rice matcha cake, browsing the souvenir shops, sitting in the coffee shops watching people coming and going. Taiwan has so much more interesting places to explore that I have never visited. I really enjoyed this trip.

Where to go in Taipei: Elephant Mountain 象山登山步道 Jiufen Old Street 九份老街 Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall 中正紀念堂 Yong Le Market 永樂市場 Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市 Shi-men Ting 西門町 Taipei 101 台北101

What to eat in Taipei: A-Mei Teahouse 阿妹茶樓 Matcha One Moon Moon Food 雙月食品社 A Fighter Cafe 逆風樓咖啡館 Fuhang Soy Milk 阜杭豆漿 西螺祖伝麻糬大王

Where to stay in Taipei: Grand Hyatt Taipei Taipei Marriott Hotel Sheraton Grand Hotel Taipei

#taiwan #taipei #sololeveling #solotrip #台灣 #台北 #travel #travel #taipei101 #taipeifood

Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by Rytas - Don't Look Down - https://thmatc.co/?l=76C6018F

[ejamesquijano]

A FARAWAY CITY Hello, Taipei

I would like to believe that life is only worth it if you collect memories that you would carry with you as you leave this world someday. A future nostalgia as you age, and a supercut that will play during your very last breath. Sometimes I think about dying with a smile knowing that I have done it all — but that is still a constant goal right now. And I am really convinced that this memory is one I would remember for always.

I have spent four amazing days in Taiwan with Wence, the boy who’s been pulling my heartstrings for almost a decade now. And oh heavens, it was my first time to travel out of the country and I wouldn’t do it any other way. It was a beautiful core memory to carry with me although at times I still feel like it was only just a dream. It was also an awakening, that life is bigger than you could ever imagine and I am just a dot in this incredible planet.

The Supercut: Hotel overnight. Airport stories. Red-eye flight. Taiwan touchdown. Subway train rides. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Bopiliao Historical Block. 7 Eleven snacks. Ximending walks. Red House x DVD stalls. Met Jai Hang. Blue hour mornings. Coaster Bus rides. York as our tour guide. Met our kabayan, Athena. Yehliu Geopark. Shuinandong Smelter x Golden Blue Sea. Golden Waterfalls. The mystic Jiufen Old Street. Shifen Station. Sundown bus ride and realizing I was happy. Shillin Market. Photobooth moments with Wence. Bought charms and crystals. Warm hotel nights with Wence. U-Bike moments. Din Tai Fung x Taipei 101. Fell in love with Da’an District’s Jinhua and Qingtian Streets. Train to Tamsui. Biking x Sunset Watching at Tamsui. Spa night. Biking x midnight snacks at the hotel. Fong Da Coffee. Longshan Temple. Spent the afternoon biking around CKS Park. Luggage shenanigans. Streetside Noodles for dinner. Train ride back to airport. Another red-eye flight, but every little thing was so worth it.

For someone like me who thought his heart was hardened by life’s mishaps and shits, these moments remind me that there are still a lot of things to look forward to, a lot of experiences to warm your core, and that cliché statement is nothing but true: Happiness really starts from within. I have come to realize that I never want to lose that sense of wonder, to discover more and understand life better.

At this moment, I still think about how life isn’t really perfect after all, that I still might duel with sadness in the future. But let me just capture this feeling for a little while. It may be simple for others but let me just dive into this memory a little longer. For one day I’ll get older and I’ll reminisce those days when I felt genuinely happy.

*** 35mm Expired Fuji Superia 200 March, 2023

[riley-travels]

Independent Excursion 1- Black Hat Jazz, Presidential Office Concert, and Music Politics in Taiwan

Sabrina and I wanted to hit a jazz cafe and bar called Black Hat while we were in Taipei, and the performance was so amazing that I chose to focus on the music culture for my independent excursion. The band was so good and they ended up having a jam session with other musicians at the , improvising the songs fantastically. As we had chosen to right about this, we also thought it would be a good idea to go see the Presidential Office Concert that was being held outside of the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. It was free to get in so we got there early and got amazing seats. The concert was absolutely breathtaking and had an amazing energy. There were so many genres of music represented, with indigenous music and languages being highlighted in the beginning. There were some songs where most of the audience knew the words, as well as a few where only the adults knew the words, which reminded me of going to music festivals with my dad.

Academic:

The study, “The Politics of Implementing Local Cultures in Music Education in Taiwan”, by Wai-Chung Ho on the politics of implementing local cultures in music education in Taiwan provides a comprehensive analysis of how Taiwan's political and cultural dynamics influence its music education system. The research highlights the efforts to incorporate local Taiwanese cultures, particularly indigenous and aboriginal music, into the school curriculum as part of the broader cultural and educational reform movements reflecting on the broader implications for cultural identity and national unity in Taiwan.

One of the critical cultural aspects discussed in the study is the inclusion of indigenous Taiwanese music in the school curriculum. Indigenous Taiwanese music encompasses the traditional musical practices of Taiwan's aboriginal communities, who represent about 1.7% of the population. These groups have distinct musical styles that are integral to their cultural identities, including unique instruments, vocal techniques, and performance practices. The promotion and preservation of this music through education are seen as crucial for maintaining Taiwan's diverse cultural heritage and fostering a sense of belonging among all of the students instead of just some. The Taiwanese Ministry of Education (MoE) has made significant efforts to incorporate indigenous music into the school curriculum. These efforts include revising teaching materials, organizing cultural events, and promoting local artists. The school music curriculum now includes a range of indigenous musical styles, such as the call-and-response songs of the Puyuma tribe, which have become popular in both traditional and contemporary contexts. Additionally, the MoE has encouraged the use of indigenous languages in teaching, aiming to preserve these languages alongside their musical traditions.

Despite these efforts, several challenges remain. The study highlights the limited support for teacher education in indigenous cultures, resulting in many teachers feeling unprepared to teach this material effectively. Additionally, the curriculum reforms are often criticized for being superficial, lacking depth in teaching materials that would allow students to fully appreciate and enjoy indigenous cultures. Many, both students and teachers, may also just not be interested in the indigenous music, leading to half hearted attempts regardless of the curriculum. There is also a tension between the localizing tendencies of these reforms and the globalizing influences that dominate contemporary education, making it difficult to balance local and global musical traditions in the curriculum. However, reflecting on the indigenous music of Taiwan, provides an opportunity to explore broader questions of cultural identity and preservation. In Taiwan, promoting indigenous music is part of a broader effort to assert a unique national identity distinct from China. This process involves both celebrating local cultures and navigating the complex historical and political relationships between Taiwan and mainland China.

In my own culture, the promotion and preservation of local music and cultural traditions also play a significant role in shaping national identity. For example, in the United States, there is a similar wealth of musical traditions, including Native American music, African American spirituals, and folk music from various immigrant communities. These musical traditions are integral to the American cultural landscape and are often incorporated into educational curricula to promote cultural understanding and appreciation. However, also similarly there remains push back against learning anything that was not created by the dominant group of ‘modern America’, in this case white (often christian) europeans. Taking elective music classes during my whole schooling up through highschool, I cannot recall a single time that indigenous music was taught or even spoken. Though, thankfully, we did consistently learn pieces created by African American artists. Between the Taiwanese and American contexts there is an emphasis on preserving and promoting diverse cultural traditions through education. In both cases, there is a recognition that music is a powerful tool for fostering a sense of cultural identity and community. However, the specific challenges faced in Taiwan, such as the tension between local and global influences and the political implications of promoting indigenous cultures, differ from those in the United States. In the U.S., the challenges often revolve around issues of representation, inclusion, and the heavy commercialization of cultural traditions by others for a profit.

I chose to focus on the cultural aspect of indigenous music in Taiwan because it resonates with my interest in the intersection of cultural identity and education. Indigenous music in Taiwan represents such a rich and diverse heritage that is crucial for understanding the island's history and identity. Moreover, the efforts to preserve and promote this music through education reflect broader global trends in cultural preservation and identity politics.

The 2024 Presidential Office Concert in Taiwan serves as a notable example of the country’s commitment to celebrating its cultural diversity. This event featured performances from various cultural groups, including indigenous musicians and in indigenous languages, and aims to showcase the richness of Taiwan's cultural heritage. The concert provides a platform for indigenous artists to present their music to a wider audience, highlighting the importance of cultural preservation and the role of music in national identity and global showcasing.

[to-taiwan-from-fanny]

07/15/2024

July 15 - Chiang Kai-Shek memorial, Grand Hotel, and Shilin Night Market

Day 4 started with a bang; i.e., the sound of Faith dropping something next to my bed and awaking me from my slumber. It was for the best though, as if I had woken up any later, I would've been late for our first meeting in an actual classroom. We quickly went downstairs and did our readings before heading out to do the actual touring part.

TMI, but today was probably the most I've ever sweated in my life. Having lived in Miami for all 19 years of my life, I had confidently told Faith before our study abroad trip that I could take whatever torturous conditions Taiwan threw at us, a statement which she instantly scoffed at. It might've all been in lighthearted fun but I'm definitely eating my words: it's way too hot - every day feels like I'm being progressively lowered into a giant melting pot.

I loved all that we saw today though! Had to pat myself on the back for doing the readings beforehand because it really contextualized the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. We went to a few more things after, ending at the Shilin Night Market which I had gone to with Faith before the program started. Totally exhausted, I convinced her to leave with me and we ended up back at our hotel by 7pm, a nice early time to sleep. Too bad I stayed up watching the newest season of Love Island instead. I didn't do my laundry today, so I completely avoided whatever hell everyone else went through today - it reminded me to count my blessings.

no backstories behind my photos today, just pretty views

Academic Reflection

As I mentioned earlier, the readings we had done on Chiang Kai-Shek just an hour or so before visiting the memorial made me enjoy our tour that much more!

It's so interesting learning about the amount of work that goes into creating a personality cult: the level of intricacies that go into keeping one afloat. Layers upon layers of hypocrisy: condemning the actions and figures of other leaders (ex. Chairman Mao) whilst employing the very same strategies they use to spread his influence across the nation. From what Peter was telling us, Taiwan under his rule felt very much like a dictatorship. From the generational passing of power, to the one-party system, to the infinite presidential time, I was getting deja vu to North Korea hearing him list everything out.

It's hard to imagine Taiwan go from that to being one of the most democratic and progressive nations in the world (ranked number 8 according to Peter!) just an odd century later. I'd later learn that, much like most things past the 1800's, it was due to pressure from America that the government changed its ways. It's a wonder how big stick diplomacy continues to work time after time again.

[i-think-pictures]

[brookebeebe-blog]

July 16th - National Palace Museum and Chiang Kai Shek Shilin Residence

Today, I woke up early and couldn’t go back to sleep. Of course, I still had clothes to dry because the dryer did not dry my clothes last night. I went back to the laundry room and put my clothes in for another two hours to see if that would finally do the trick (it did not, they are still wet). Anyway, I decided it was time to reconnect with nature after the tragedies I kept experiencing in the laundry department. I went to a bakery close to the hotel, got a croissant, sat at a park and contemplated life. We had an activity pretty early this morning, so I went back to the room and got ready for the day. We started with the National Palace Museum. The artifacts were all super beautiful. It was crazy to see how much some of them would sell for. One tiny teacup would go for $38 million US dollars. Next, we got some all you can eat BBQ, which was very exciting. Lastly, we visited the Chiang Kai-Shek Residence and honestly, I expected more. From seeing extremely extravagant memorial hall the day before, his house was actually quaint compared to it. It was still large and ornately decorated, but I was expecting hundreds of rooms and golden doors. We came back to the hotel after this and I am working on the dinner situation.

Academic Reflection

The reading today is based on the National Palace Museum. The construction is a bit controversial because of the narrative that can be spun by selecting specific artifacts and exhibits to paint a picture of history that they want to portray. Furthermore, the collection of antiques and arts traditionally represents sovereignty, which is something a bit controversial. When the museum was built, it had to represent a modern republican status, but still maintain its Chinese lineage. The main issue is the fight for sovereignty between Taiwan and China. It will most likely remain a complicated issue for years to come. The museum was extremely beautiful and it was impossible to tell this convoluted backstory surrounded it. Some of the most interesting things I learned were that jade and gold almost always go together and while gold represents wealth, jade represents class. Another rather sad fact was that artists would be commissioned to create these insanely complex pieces and their lives and families lives would be threatened if they were not completed within a specific amount of time. Lastly, women were expected to die with their husbands and would often commit suicide to go into the grave with them.

[elijahhendley]

７月15號 Day 4: A Day of Walking

Today was another slow start for me. I woke up around 8:30am and had breakfast in the hotel. The breakfast at the hotel is very strange. It is not the most normal American breakfast, but it is not a very traditional Taiwanes breakfast. They have noodles and rice options as well as sausage, bacon, and eggs. My favorite item on the menu is the pineapple. It is so good!

After my breakfast, I went back to my room to go back to sleep. After sleeping for a bit and talking on the phone to my people back home, I started to get hungry. So, naturally, I start my wondering activities. I walk a path I am fairly familiar with, looking for someplace to eat. I am in a hurry because we have a classroom meeting at 1pm and I left the hotel at 12:33pm. Definitely did not give myself enough time. Oops. But I walk past this place that looked pretty good, but the menu was all in chinese so I did not walk in at first. But after 8 more minutes of walking, I circle back because I need to find food quickly. I talk to the shop owners and ask them what is the best thing on the menu because I could not read it well lol. It was a good chance to practice my chinese but I eventually use google trranslate to translate the menu. They were super nice and recommended the scallion pancake and I also ordered a burger on top of that. It was all very good. But by the time I got my food it was 1:06pm. I was LATE! I speed walk back to the hotel in 4 minutes and find the room we were meeting in. That was when I noticed there were also like 5 others missing. I felt a little relief that I was not the only one late.

After classroom time, we went out to the Chiang Kai-shek memorial hall which was very cool. The court yard, the arches, the statue, and the buildings were all so big. I also loved the traditional style used to make the buildings as well. While there, we were able to see the changing of guards and the museum as well. They did the changing of gaurds out side, and it was scorching hot. I was sweating so much and I know the gaurds had to be hot as well.

After the chiang kai-shek memorial hall we were able to see the Taiwan "White house" which the president does not acually live at. Then we went to the grand hotel, which indeed was very grand. It was awesome to see all of the history of the place and how many important leaders in the past have stayed in this hotel. Also, how many important meetings happened in this hotel as well. Such as the negotiation for the US to break diplomatic relations with the Republic of China(Taiwan, R.O.C). After the Grand Hotel, we went to the night market where we ended our night eating so much great food.

ACADEMIC REFLECTION

Reading about Chiang Kai-Shek and how he came to political power was very interesting. Many people liked him during his time and were very radical when it came to keeping him in power. But, at the same time, a lot of people did not like him. As peter told us today, your view of who Chiang Kai-Shek was, whether he was a good or a bad person, depended on your own family history and how Chiang Kai-Shek treated your family in the past. People like him because he lead the rupeblic of china to victory over the japanese. He also was a martyr, survivning warlords, coups d'etat, japanese invasion, and communist rebellion(taiwan review). In the 1940s, even president Franklin rosevelt sent over billions of dollars to support Chiang Kai-shek. But others do not like him because under his rule, the White terror happened. The White Terror was a period of time when 10s of thousnads of Taiwanese people were killed, and hundreds of thousands of people were arrested and treated like animals. And it was all done to anyone who seemed to oppose the KMT(Chinese National Party)(Jamison).

Memorial Hall-freedom square where many protest happen.

Grand Hotel

Taiwan's "White House"

Chiang Kai-Shek statue and a replica of him in his office

Shilin night market - Bao and Winter Melon Tea :)

Until Next time, 再見！

[irismfrost]

July 15 - Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, the Grand Hotel, and Shilin Night Market

The memorial hall looks like the Taiwanese version of the Lincoln Memorial. Chiang Kai-Shek was a leader of the opposition in the Chinese Civil War before WW2. He then fought for China in the second Sino-Japanese War. After Japan was defeated at the end of WW2, he continued his fight against the Communist Party in China. Defeated in the Civil War, he fled to Taiwan. That is why Taiwan is officially named the Republic of China (ROC). He made Taiwan into a “little China”. Despite the memorial dedicated to him, the Taiwanese people have mixed feelings about him. On one hand, he represented freedom from Communist China and on the other, he took over what already existed in Taiwan. At the memorial, there are 3 words above his statue that represent what he stood for: ethics, democracy, and science. However, as much as he promised democracy, he changed the constitution to leave him in power until he died. His son succeeded him and built the memorial in his name. Eventually, the US influenced the country into a democracy with a similar system used in the US. The memorial is divided into these two different perspectives. One side shows all of his positive achievements and the other shows all of his less-than-stunning side. He is also not buried at the memorial, and is actually not laid to rest at all. He wished to be buried at his home in China after Taiwan reconnected to China. That hasn’t happened (yet?), so he hasn’t been buried. That is another example of why not all Taiwanese like him, because he never saw Taiwan as his home.

We also visited the capitol building, it is basically the Taiwanese version of the White House, except the President doesn’t live there. Not much to report there. 

Next, we visited the Grand Hotel. This is the largest building in traditional Chinese architecture, where the most important people were welcomed into the country. It was created by madam Chiang Kai-Shek, Soong Mei-ling, who actually lived until 105 years old and passed in 2003. From movie stars to presidents, many important events took place here (and still do). It is located at one of the highest points in Taipei with a killer view. A few people in our group were able to buy some luck charms from a lady in the hotel for really cheap. She really liked us and our team had some fire negotiation skills. We got over 15 charms for about 10 USD. 

Our last stop was the Shilin Night Market. Compared to the Raohe Night Market, it was more organized, had wider streets, and the products seemed a little higher quality. It was also much larger, the largest in Taipei actually. However, there is so much fried food at these night markets, I can barely eat. I had what was basically a mozzarella stick with extra dough around the outside and it was good for the first few bites and then I just felt sick. I also got these grilled mushrooms which looked good and actually weren’t bad, but by that point, the mozzarella stick was not sitting right so I barely ate the mushrooms. 

I have been walking so much recently, and I’ve opted to take the stairs instead of the escalators at the metro station when available because why not, so my lower body is killing me. I definitely need sleep so badly. 

Reflection

Chiang Kai-Shek was a very powerful guy. It takes a strong character to lead a revolution, lose, convince followers to permanently leave their homes, and portray yourself as a savior in the country you are taking over. But he did it. He brought a new culture to Taiwan and is the reason that there is such a strong Chinese influence here. When he first came to Taiwan, China was moving away from traditional styles, so he made Taiwan into what he thought China should be, “little China”. At the memorial, there are two large, traditional Chinese buildings on either side of the square. They house a music hall and a theater. The square is called Freedom Square and modeled after Tiananmen Square in China. Based on the limited knowledge I have, I think he wasted his time making Taiwan into his ideal replica of China. I think that maybe he was never able to accept his loss in the Civil War and he dealt with that by trying to prove to China that he could lead a more successful version. And he had a strong enough character to make an entire country help him with that - a little scary, but also a little impressive. 

I am surprised by the food here. I wasn’t really sure exactly what to expect, but I figured that there would be some nice vegetarian options for me, as about 14% of the population is vegetarian, and I thought the food would be healthier than in the US. I was wrong. Today, I had my first real meal since I’ve been here (aside from hotpot earlier this week, but I didn’t feel like that style of eating was made for a vegetarian). It was good ramen. The soup base was a summer special of pumpkin. It has some great noodles, tofu, egg, mushrooms, and some other veggies. There was so much of it that I wasn’t able to finish it, and when I asked for a to-go box, they boxed it for me. I’ve noticed that customer service is a high priority here. Everyone just seems to care about other people so much. Yesterday, a random man gave me his cold, unopened water because I was struggling with the water dispenser (they all have hot and cold settings). 

It’s strange to think about the contrast between a culture that’s so caring and a founding “president” who created a world for himself. Maybe they are influenced by each other.

[austin-in-taiwan]

July 15 - Taipei - Chiang Kai-Shek memorial, Shilin night market

Today was another very eventful day with tons of Taiwanese history and food! However, we did have a free morning today. How did I spend it? Since the time difference is +12 hours compared to home in Florida, I woke up at 8 AM to watch the Argentina v Colombia Copa America final. If you know anything about this final, you would also see that it not only went into overtime (+30 more minutes of gameplay) but also was delayed an hour and a half because of fans without tickets storming the stadium to try to get in. So, unfortunately, I spent my entire morning trying to watch this game. However, I filled the rest of my day with great food, and the itinerary was exciting, so that made up for it.

Jacob, Jack, Andy, and I went to a nearby beef noodle shop that was recommended by an Uber driver the night before. It was really good (picture below)! After that, we had an hour-long classroom session, during which I did some reading about the Chiang Kai-Shek personality cult!

Then, we traveled to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. It was one of the most amazing memorials I've been to. We were even able to catch the changing of the guards, which is very similar to one in Virginia at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Chiang Kai-Shek's statue was comparable to the Lincoln Memorial in terms of size and his position (sitting down). Downstairs, there was also a very cool exhibit about his life, and it included both a section praising him and one talking about his negatives!

After that, we traveled to the Grand Hotel! The view was absolutely stunning. A wall was filled with pictures of famous people who had visited and events that had occurred there. President Eisenhower, Reagan, Nixon, and Clinton had all visited the hotel before.

Finally, we ended our day at the Shilin night market. I tried numerous foods, including bao buns, peanut roll ice cream, a Korean cheese hotdog, pork skewers, and green tea. All in all, it was a great dinner, and I really enjoyed the Shilin market!

Academic Reflection

Throughout the guided tours and the reading I completed, I learned much about Taiwan's history, especially Chiang Kai-shek. I knew very little about Chiang Kai-Shek before today. All I knew was that he was a leader of Taiwan! So, after doing some independent research, I learned about his involvement in the Republic of China, WWII with China, the Chinese Civil War, his relocation to Taiwan, and his legacy as a leader here. Furthermore, from the article in my textbook for this program, I learned some fascinating information about how Chiang Kai-Shek developed a personality cult. Despite the absence of specific agencies or direct orders from him instigating this, several independent organizations played a role in its emergence. Competitions among artists were held to create statues and paint portraits of him, roads were named in his honor, and his photos were displayed in schools and military institutions, which also took part in celebrations dedicated to him. These collective efforts and many more fostered this "personality cult" for Chiang Kai-Shek among the Taiwanese.

Throughout the tour, I also learned a lot about the history of Chiang Kai-Shek and Taiwan from our tour guide, Peter, and the museum. First, I learned how Taiwan has transformed into a democracy after Chiang Kai-Shek and his son's rule (they both ruled until they died). It was super interesting to see how Taiwan is rated a much better democracy than the US (the US didn't even break the top 20 democracies in the world). Furthermore, I learned how the view on Chiang Kai-Shek is very split. Many people still praise him (probably party as a result of the personality cult), but also there are now many people who condemn him for his authoritarian style of rule, cultural suppression, and especially the 228 incident ( a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 1947) which lead to thousands of Taiwanese civilians deaths.

[jacob-in-taiwan]

July 15 - Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Grand Hotel, and Shilin Night Market 

This morning we had off, so it started rather slowly. I woke up a bit early to watch a soccer game, but it got delayed so I decided to grab breakfast to wait it out. After I was done eating the game was about to start, so I went back to the room to go watch it. It took about two and a half hours, which ended up being nice and convenient because by the time that it was over some other people were looking to grab lunch. We went to a beef noodle store that was only a ten minute walk away from the hotel, and as with pretty much all food in Taiwan it was amazing. We had to hurry back from lunch, as we were late to the dedicated study time. Despite this I was still able to get some of the reading done. After the study time was up was when the day really started. At 2:15 we met Peter in the lobby so he could take us to today's activities. 

The first stop was the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. It was mentioned a couple times by a few different people, but this hall was very similar to the Lincoln memorial, although this was bigger and arguably more impressive. We got to explore underneath the memorial as well, where there was a museum that painted Chiang Kai Shek in both a positive and negative light.

 After we were done visiting this location, we got on the train to our next stop, the Grand Hotel. The hotel had a slight personal connection for me, because the first morning when I flew in to Taiwan I walked to the river and could see it from there. I didn’t know what it was at the time, but I remember being really impressed and hoped that we would see it. I'm happy to say I wasn’t let down, as the interior was just as impressive as the exterior. As a bonus we got to meet a very sweet elderly lady. 

To end the night, Peter took us to Shilin Night Market where we got to go off on our own and spend the night as we pleased. Shilin had a slightly different feel and style to the other night markets I’ve visited so far, but it was still amazing in its own unique way.

For me, I really enjoyed visiting the Chiang Kai Shek memorial hall. Despite being a history major, I’m really unfamiliar with a lot of Asian history. I’m choosing to blame the American school system for that. However, a big reason why I was so excited for this trip was to learn about how Taiwan got to be the country it is today. As I’ve learned now, Chiang Kai Shek played a big role in the development of Taiwan. Today, Chiang Kai Shek is a controversial figure among Taiwanese people. Some look at him very favorably, and others very much don’t like him. This was represented brilliantly in the museum that sat underneath the memorial. As one of the people here who can read Chinese, it would have been very difficult for me to figure out that the museum was divided in two halves dedicated to each perspective. Thankfully, Peter informed us of that fact before we went down. Analyzing documents, pictures, artifacts, and other miscellaneous items you would find in a museum is a significant part of studying history. Even outside of my studies I really enjoy being in museums, and I loved the collection that the memorial had. Being able to look at what they had to offer helped me better understand Chiang Kai Shek, the role he played, and how he is viewed today.