Taiwan breaks ground on Ching-kuo Chihai park

2014-09-01

A ground-breaking ceremony for the Ching-kuo Chihai Cultural Park took place Aug. 28 in Taipei City to commemorate late president Chiang Ching-kuo and preserve a priceless piece of the nation’s history.

“This facility is an ideal way to remember the contributions of Chiang,” President Ma Ying-jeou said at the event. “It will also boost the younger generation’s understanding of the nation’s glory under his leadership.”

The 3.98-hectare park includes Chihai Residence, Ching-kuo Library, a visitor center, Chihai Lake and walking trails. Items related to Chiang’s life, as well as a digital database showcasing historical information about the president, will be incorporated into the facility.

The ceremony also coincided with completion of Chihai Residence renovations. Built near the Dazhi naval headquarters in the 1950s, the two-story building was originally used for housing foreign guests including commanders of the U.S. 7th Fleet before Chiang moved in while serving as vice premier in 1969. He passed away after living at the residence for 19 years in 1988 at the age of 78.

Following the death of first lady Faina Chiang in 2004, the residence was left empty and designated a historic site by Taipei City Government in 2006.

“We are extremely pleased to see the residence restored to its former state,” a TCG official said. “Once construction is completed in 2019, we believe the park will prove popular with visitors from home and abroad.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=221163&CtNode=413)