Department of Cultural Affairs

Majestic, vibrant, luxurious: whether viewed from afar on Sun Yat-sen Freeway or up close from Jiantan Shan, the Grand Hotel Taipei leaves a lasting impression. 

The hotel’s location was suggested by Mei-ling Sung (Madame Chiang) and was used to host foreign dignitaries and esteemed guests of Taiwan’s First Family. It was initially run through the Dunmu Club (now the Yuan Shan Club). 

At a time when Taiwan had strict bans on dancing and singing, the Grand Hotel Taipei was one of the few places where nightly festivities were allowed. To ensure the safety of President Chiang and high-profile guests in the wartime climate, two secret tunnels were constructed to enable emergency evacuation, one running east and the other west. The tunnels are now open for tourists to explore.

Ling-wei Kung, Madame Chiang’s niece and the actual administrator of the hotel, stood out in the conservative society of the time as she favored men’s suits, enjoyed cigars, and remained unmarried throughout her life. Born into a powerful family, she was one of the few women to present a nontraditional gender expression in the public eye.

No. 1, Zhongshan N. Rd. Sec. 4, Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City