Taipei Guest House, Taipei

Taipei Guest House, Taipei

The Taipei Guest House is a historic structure located on Ketagalan Boulevard in the Zhongzheng District of Taipei. It is owned by the Government of the Republic of China and serves as a place for hosting state guests and hosting celebratory events. This architectural masterpiece was designed by Japanese architects Dōgo Fukuda and Ichiro Nomura and was constructed between 1899 and 1901. It was later renovated by Matsunosuke Moriyama in 1911.

During the Japanese colonial period, from its construction until 1920, the Taipei Guest House served as the residence of the Governor-General of Taiwan. It was strategically positioned approximately 100 meters away from the Office of the Governor-General of Taiwan, which is now known as the Presidential Building. It was a notable destination for imperial figures and political leaders. Even Emperor Showa (Crown Prince Hirohito) visited and stayed at this place when he visited Taiwan.

After Taiwan was transferred to the Republic of China, the Treaty of Taipei was signed here in 1952 by ROC Minister of Foreign Affairs George Yeh and Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Isao Kawada.

The building itself features a distinctive concave shape with a Mansard-style roof and tall Roman pillars, reminiscent of French Second Empire palace architecture. Inside, the building boasts a stunning crystal chandelier adorned with baroque gold leaves, flowers, and gold foil. Outside, there is a modern Japanese garden.

The Taipei Guest House is considered a significant representation of architectural heritage from the Japanese colonial era in Taiwan and is often referred to as the most elegant Baroque-style residence in the region.

Since June 4, 2006, the Taipei Guest House has been open to the public on the first Sunday of every even-numbered month.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Taipei. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Taipei Guest House on Map

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

Walking Tours in Taipei, Taiwan

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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