Grand Hotel, Taipei

Grand Hotel, Taipei

The Grand Hotel, situated in the Zhongshan District, is a renowned landmark with a rich history. It was established back in May 1952, and the construction of its main building was completed on October 10, 1973. This iconic establishment is owned by the Duen-Mou Foundation of Taiwan, a non-profit organization, and has had the honor of hosting numerous foreign dignitaries visiting Taipei over the years.

The main building of the hotel is a remarkable example of Chinese classical architecture, standing impressively at a height of 87 meters (285 feet). It held the distinction of being the tallest building in Taiwan from 1973 to 1981.

After Chiang Kai-shek's 1949 retreat to Taiwan, a lack of five-star hotels in Taipei posed challenges for accommodating foreign ambassadors. To solve this, Chiang and his wife, Madame Chiang (Soong Mei-ling), decided to build a luxurious hotel on the old Taiwan Hotel grounds atop Yuanshan Mountain. This site once housed the Taiwan Grand Shrine during Japanese colonial rule. Chiang chose a Chinese palace-style design to showcase Chinese culture and luxury to the West, with architect Yang Cho-Cheng in charge of the plans. were entrusted to Yang Cho-Cheng, an architect based in Taipei.

The hotel's roof, adorned with vermilion columns, serves as a prominent symbol of Chinese architecture and culture. Inside, the hotel boasts an impressive collection of objets d'art, wall panels, paintings, carvings, and noteworthy dining establishments. Throughout the various structures within the hotel, one can frequently find intricate dragon motifs, earning the establishment the moniker "The Dragon Palace." Additionally, lion and plum flower motifs also feature prominently within the hotel's decor. Each of the eight guest levels represents a different Chinese dynasty, as evident in the murals and overall decor.

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Grand Hotel on Map

Sight Name: Grand Hotel
Sight Location: Taipei, Taiwan (See walking tours in Taipei)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Taipei, Taiwan

Create Your Own Walk in Taipei

Create Your Own Walk in Taipei

Creating your own self-guided walk in Taipei is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Taipei Introduction Walking Tour

Taipei Introduction Walking Tour

Taipei is the political, economic, educational and cultural center of Taiwan, with a population of 2.5 million. The region of Taipei had been mainly inhabited by the Ketagalan tribe prior to the large influx of mainland Chinese immigrants in the 17th century.

Under the Qing Dynasty of China, Taipei was made the capital of Taiwan in 1887 when the island was incorporated into a Chinese province....  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Taipei Shopping Tour

Taipei Shopping Tour

Among the many things Taipei is famous for, shopping is undoubtedly one of the main. The fashion-conscious and business-oriented Taiwanese capital is rightfully regarded to be a shopper’s paradise in East Asia, comparable to the likes of Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. The variety of markets, boutique stores, shopping districts and, of course, first-class malls here is truly...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Zhongshan District Walking Tour

Zhongshan District Walking Tour

Covering a swathe of central Taipei, Zhongshan is the city's most fascinating district. It takes the name from Sun Yat-sen, aka Sun Zhongshan, who was a Chinese statesman and went down in history as the provisional first president of the Republic of China in 1912. Caught in the crosshatch of the area's main streets and secret alleyways is a wonderful mish-mash of attractions: museums and...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.0 Km or 3.1 Miles
Taipei 101 and Xiangshan Walking Tour

Taipei 101 and Xiangshan Walking Tour

The newest area of urban Taipei, the Xinyi district has technically existed only since 1990. Young as it is though, the neighborhood has earned a reputation of being one of the city's premier travel destinations.

Indeed, in Xinyi you’re never too far from experiencing something truly cool or iconic, be it the impressive Taipei 101 with its landmark observation deck or the breathtaking...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles

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