We leave the port behind us on our coach for a one hour drive to Taipei to reach the first stop on our tour, the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine. It was built in 1969 as a homage to the 330,000 men fallen during the revolution during the Sino-Japanese and Chinese Civil Wars before the Republic of China was established. The imposing architecture is reminiscent of the entrance of the Beijing Imperial Palace. We stop to take a few photos of the exterior among the many tourists waiting impatiently to see the Changing of the Guard.
Our coach then takes us to another important monument, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial erected in memory of the former president of the Chinese Republic, Chiang Kai-shek, of whom there is a bronze statue inside. Now the symbol of the city of Taipei, the imposing white marble building has a bright blue roof and is surrounded by gardens and lakes in the typical Chinese style. It is home to the National Theatre and a Concert Hall where many international artists have performed.
After a brief visit to the monument, our coach drives us to the majestic Grand Hotel where we stop for lunch. The majestic 13-floor building, which is reminiscent of the architecture of Beijing’s Forbidden City, is a true oasis of tranquillity within the chaotic city and stands out among the lush vegetation of the Yuanshan mountains thanks to its red columns and golden roofs. We proceed along the corridors and see the rooms that usually host important figures from the global political scene to reach the restaurant where a rich buffet accompanied by soft drinks, tea and coffee awaits us.
We leave the luxurious atmosphere of the Grand Hotel and continue towards the last stop on our tour, i.e. Taipei 101, one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world towering above the city skyline at a height of 508 metres and boasting an architecture clearly inspired by tradition and Feng Shui principles. Despite being extremely modern, in fact, the tower resembles a bamboo cane and is made up of eight sections as eight is a lucky number in Chinese culture. We get in one of its 61 lifts that can cover almost 1000 metres a minute and, in just 40 seconds, we reach the 89th floor which offers a spectacular panoramic viewpoint where we can take breathtaking photos of the skyline and observe the spectacular Mass damper essential for the stability of the building.
After visiting Taipei 101, we board our coach and return to the port.