| Zhongshan Hall | |
| Native Name: | 中山堂 |
| Former Names: | Taipei City Public Auditorium |
| Alternate Names: | Chungshan Hall |
| Location: | Zhongzheng, Taipei, Taiwan |
| Address: | No. 98, Yanping South Road Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10042 Taiwan |
| Current Tenants: | Taipei City Government |
| Start Date: | 23 November 1932 |
| Completion Date: | 26 November 1936 |
| Floor Count: | 4 |
| Floor Area: | 113,750 square feet |
| Architect: | Ide Kaoru |
| Website: | english.zsh.gov.taipei |
Zhongshan Hall is a historic building which originally functioned as the Taipei (Taihoku) City Public Auditorium (public hall). It is located at 98 Yanping South Road in the Ximending neighborhood of Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan. In 1992, it was recognized by the government as a historic site.
As a tribute to mark the ascension of the Emperor Showa in 1928, the Japanese government in Taiwan dismantled the Qing dynasty government office in Taipeh (Taipei) and began the plan to erect the . Construction began on 23 November 1932 and was completed on 26 November 1936. Ide Kaoru, the main architect serving as chief engineer in Taiwan under the Japanese government, used the full cost of 980,000 yen and 94,500 workers.
The four-story steel structure of the building was designed to be fire-resistant and to withstand severe earthquakes and typhoons. The original building was faced in light green tile to make it less visible to aerial bombers. The windows are adorned with classical designs in a Spanish Islamic style.[1] With 44179square feet for the ground floor, the total area of the City Public Auditorium was 113750square feet, making it the fourth largest city Public Auditorium in Japan at that time. It was smaller than only the City Public Halls of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.
After Taiwan's handover to the Republic of China in 1945 after World War II, the Chief of the Taiwan Provincial Administrative Office, Chen Yi represented the Allies and accepted a formal surrender from the Japanese. The surrendering Japanese commander was Ando Rikichi, Japanese Governor of Taiwan. The former Taihoku City Public Auditorium was renamed Chungshan (Zhongshan) Hall in honor of Sun Yat-sen and functioned as an official meeting place under the Chinese government. The hall was one of more than 125 public halls which pre-dated the KMT's takeover which were either demolished or renamed to Zhongshan Hall. In addition new halls built by the KMT on military bases and in state-owned enterprise factories were also named Zhongshan Hall.[2]
Zhongshan Hall has always been one of the formal reception areas for welcoming foreign guests and diplomats. Former guests have included US President Richard Nixon, South Korean President Syngman Rhee, President of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem, Philippine President Carlos P. Garcia, Iranian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and others. Zhongshan Hall has also hosted memorial ceremonies such as the signing of the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty and three formal inauguration ceremonies of the second, third, and fourth presidency and vice-presidency of the Republic of China.[3]
The hall has several auditoriums currently used for arts performances such as chamber and orchestral music, traditional Chinese music, voice/choir, opera, dance, ceremonies, and exhibits.
Exit No. 5 of the Taipei Metro's Ximen Station provides access to the hall. There is also an underground parking lot.