Taipei Guest House

Taipei Guest House, completed in 1901, was once the center of Taiwan's politics. Originally designed as the residence of the Governor-General of Taiwan, it was a mansion fit for a king. From the fourth Governor Kodama Gentarō up until the late Governor Rikichi Andō, a total of sixteen Governors lived here. Then, after World War II, it was briefly used as a Taiwan provincial governor's residence, before the official residence was renamed the Taipei Guest House in 1950. To mark the occasion, a famous state banquet was held in honor of foreign guests. From then on, what had originally been used as the Governor- General’s house began to be used as a VIP reception space for members of the royal family and their guests. The most important guest to have been entertained here is Emperor Showa, the 12th Emperor of Japan.

The main building of Taipei Guest House faces south. Dominated by brick and stone, it is a large two-storey building that also makes use of reinforced concrete. In 1913, after a large renovation, a Mansard Roof was added to the building, as was Baroque décor, giving it an ornate style that is pleasing to the eye. In 2006, the Taipei Guest House was opened to the general public to visit. But be aware that you can only visit this impressive building on the first Saturday of each month.