Grass Mountain Chateau
Encyclopedia
The Grass Mountain Chateau (蔣公草山行館) is a former residence of late President of the Republic of China
, Chiang Kai-shek
(蔣介石). It is located in Taipei City, Taiwan
, Republic of China
in the Yangmingshan
National Park. The residence was constructed in 1920 by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation. Emperor Hirohito
of Japan
personally visited the residence and stayed there for 1 hour and 50 minutes, according to historical records.
When the Republic of China
government moved from Nanking in mainland China
to Taipei
in Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek initially stayed at the Chateau as his first residence in Taiwan. It became known as the first ROC Presidential Residence in Taiwan.
At around 12:22 AM on Saturday, April 7, 2007 a large fire engulfed the main halls of the Chateau. The Grass Mountain Chateau was almost entirely damaged. The flames were so large that the Yangmingshan Fire Department had to call in other engines nearby Shilin and Shipai
. The fire was put under control at around 1:20 AM. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Nevertheless, there has been wide speculation that the fire was the act of arsonists against President Chiang in wake of the ruling Taiwan independence leading Democratic Progressive Party
an anti-Chiang and anti-Chinese campaign. Three days later the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs announced that it would be restored to its original design at a cost of $US900,000 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/04/20/2003357427. A free concert is reported to be scheduled this summer in New York City to help raise funds for the restoration. Ed Eizember, the events organizer, has been touring North America to raise awareness of the event.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
(蔣介石). It is located in Taipei City, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
in the Yangmingshan
Yangmingshan
One of the eight national parks in Taiwan, the Yangmingshan National Park is located between Taipei City and New Taipei City, Taiwan. The districts that house parts of the park grounds include Taipei's Beitou and Shilin Districts; and New Taipei's Wanli, Jinshan, and Sanzhi Districts. During the...
National Park. The residence was constructed in 1920 by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation. Emperor Hirohito
Hirohito
, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
personally visited the residence and stayed there for 1 hour and 50 minutes, according to historical records.
When the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
government moved from Nanking in mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
to Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
in Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek initially stayed at the Chateau as his first residence in Taiwan. It became known as the first ROC Presidential Residence in Taiwan.
At around 12:22 AM on Saturday, April 7, 2007 a large fire engulfed the main halls of the Chateau. The Grass Mountain Chateau was almost entirely damaged. The flames were so large that the Yangmingshan Fire Department had to call in other engines nearby Shilin and Shipai
Shipai, Beitou
Shipai or Shihpai is a region in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan, it includes seven villages : Shipai , Wenlin , Ronghua , Zhenhua , Yumin , Fuxing , and Jianmin .-History:...
. The fire was put under control at around 1:20 AM. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Nevertheless, there has been wide speculation that the fire was the act of arsonists against President Chiang in wake of the ruling Taiwan independence leading Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
an anti-Chiang and anti-Chinese campaign. Three days later the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs announced that it would be restored to its original design at a cost of $US900,000 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/04/20/2003357427. A free concert is reported to be scheduled this summer in New York City to help raise funds for the restoration. Ed Eizember, the events organizer, has been touring North America to raise awareness of the event.