Department of Cultural Affairs

“Grass Mountain” was an old name for the Yangmingshan area. During the era of Japanese colonial rule, it became a newly developed recreational district, due to its excellent hot springs and superlative mountain scenery. In April of 1923, Japan’s Crown Prince Hirohito toured Taiwan, and the colonial administration selected Grass Mountain as one of the points his entourage would visit. They built the Grass Mountain Royal Guest House as his personal lodgings. Located in a mountain valley, the building is secluded and quiet. Its architectural style is a unique mixture of Japanese and Western influences.
After World War II, Grass Mountain Royal Guest House became known as Yangmingshan First Guest House, and hosted confidential meetings of the Chinese Nationalist Party. Sun Ke, president of the Examination Yuan, later lived here, and the house eventually became a residence for the descendants of ROC founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen.