One of my more favorite places to visit when I’m bored and in Taipei is Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. Especially in Spring when the cherry blossoms bloom.
I’ll help you determine whether this place is worth visiting.
Table of Contents
Important Information for Travelers
| Is It Worth Visiting? | Yes |
| Average Time Spent | 2 – 3 hours |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Dress Code | None |
| Hours | Memorial Hall: 9 AM – 6 PM (every day) |
| Memorial Park: 5 AM – 12 AM (every day) | |
| Best Time to Visit | When it’s sunny (but not too hot) |
| Address | 100, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District |
| Website | cksmh.gov.tw/en |
| City Located | Taipei City |
| Free Wi-Fi | iTaiwan or Taipei Free or CKSMH Free WiFi |
| Chinese Name | CKS: 中正紀念堂 |
| Liberty Square: 自由廣場 | |
| Luggage Storage | Chiang Kai Shek Mem. Hall MRT Station, Lalalocker, your hotel |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
Tips for Travelers
Here are some tips to know before visiting:
- Wear sunscreen: Taiwan has a high UV index, which increases the chance of harm from sun exposure.
- Arrive when the park opens to avoid midday sun or crowds.
- Spring is the best time to visit and see the cherry blossoms. It doesn’t matter when you visit, otherwise.
- There are no convenience stores in the Memorial Hall. Get cheaper snacks before heading there.
- If it’s too hot or suddenly raining, go inside the National Theater or Concert Hall and look around.
It’s a straightforward destination, and there’s not much to it. The main thing to consider when visiting is the weather. Since Taiwan often feels like a sauna or is pouring rain, check the weather before visiting and prepare accordingly.
You don’t need to only stay outside, but that’s where most of the good stuff is. Unless you love historical stuff, then you’ll prefer the inside areas.
How to Get There
1. MRT: The easiest way to get to Liberty Square is to take the Taipei subway Green or Red lines to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station. Leave the station through Exit 5, and you’ll find yourself outside the National Theater — within the Memorial Hall Square.
All of the signs are in English. And you should have no problems navigating.
You could also take the Orange line to Dongmen Station, leave through Exit 3, then walk 8 minutes to the Memorial Hall.
2. By Car: You could rent a car and drive here. Then park in the parking garage.
3. YouBike: You could rent a YouBike. It’s Taiwan’s inexpensive bicycle rental system.
Here’s a map of nearby YouBike stations:
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4. Bus: First off, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial hall is one of the stops for the Taipei Sightseeing Bus (the Red Route).
reserve a ticket onlineOtherwise, take the following buses to these stations:
| Station | Bus Numbers |
|---|---|
| Xinyi Rd./Hangzhou Rd. intersection | 0 East, 20, 22, 38, 88, 88 Shuttle, 204, 670, 1503, Xinyi Main Line |
| Jinou Girls High School | 38, 237, 237 (around NCCU), 249, 253, 297, 2021. |
| MRT Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station | 248, 644, 648, 849, 849 Quchi Community. |
| MRT Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station (Roosevelt) | 18, 208, 208 Shuttle, 251, 252, 660, 9089, Heping Main Line, Roosevelt Main Line. |
| MRT Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station (Bureau of Labor Insurance) | 18, 251, 252, 644, 648, 660, 849, 849 Quchi Community, 2021, Roosevelt Main Line. |
| MRT Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station (Zhongshan South Road) | 18, 227, 648, 849, 849 Quchi Community. |
| Jingfumen | 208, 208 Shuttle, Heping Main Line |
I recommend downloading the Bus+ app to simplify tracking buses.
5. Uber / taxi: The price for taking a taxi will vary by where you order it from.
- I honestly recommend downloading one of these apps to book a taxi:
- Find Taxi (English): Book a taxi ahead of time and know the driver’s ratings (like Uber…)
- 55688 (English): Same as Find Taxi, but with a reward point system.
What to Do Inside & Around CKS
First off, here’s a map of Chiang Kai-Shek memorial hall and the surrounding park:
Outside
Here’s what I recommend doing in Liberty Square:
- View the cherry blossoms: CKS has a mixture of Japanese-style & Taiwanese-style cherry blossoms.
- Their flowering period begins around the first half of February.
- See them at 3 places: Cherry Blossom Trail, Japanese Cherry Garden, and Taiwan Cherry Garden.
- Exhibitions: Sometimes, you’ll find exhibitions outside.
- Exercise: Burn off some calories while seeing everything in the park.
- Guanghua and Yunhan ponds: See and feed koi fish.
- See other cool trees:
- Plum blossom: beside the Gate of Great Loyalty (turn right when entering).
- Osmanthus area: Around the Qinmin Exercise Area.
- Banyan trees: By the Gate of Great Piety (turn left when entering).
- Take pictures: Plenty of photo-taking opportunities.
In Democracy Square, you could watch the honor guards raise and lower the Taiwan flag.
They’ll do so at these times:
| Summer Times (4/1 – 9/30) | Winter Times (10/1 – 3/31) | |
|---|---|---|
| Raising | 6:00 AM | 6:10 PM |
| Lowering | 6:30 AM | 5:10 PM |
There used to be an honor guard swapping ceremony inside the main building around the CKS statue. The government removed the ceremony in 2024 to further distance themselves from Chiang Kai-Shek due to his past.
This piece from the attraction’s website provides more insights on Taiwan’s “de-authoritarianism.”
Inside
Inside the primary building, there’s a giant statue of Chiang Kai-Shek. Look at that and the scenery surrounding it. You’ll find various exhibition rooms and a museum at the base of the Memorial Hall. These all showcase Chiang Kai-Shek’s life.
There are also these buildings:
- National Theater: Hosts ballet productions and other performances.
- National Concert Hall: A music venue that hosts concerts, choirs, jazz, and classical music.
Both halls look similar and are free to enter. Except if you want to see a performance. Then you’ll need to pay for a ticket. Otherwise, there are gift shops, restaurants, and exhibition areas in both buildings.
I don’t recommend any particular restaurant. I prefer the food outside of CKS. But if you’re hungry, look around.
You’ll see plenty of gift shops and likely wonder if there are particular souvenirs. Not really. I’d recommend small items (e.g., postcards or magnets) of the memorial hall. But save space in your bags for bigger and better items.
There’s also a library containing a collection of books related to Chiang Kai-Shek. But you’ll need to make a reservation (in person) by filling out this form (PDF). This is great if you’re a history buff in Taipei for several days. But not ideal for someone just wanting to spend a couple hours at CKS.
Recommended Tours
If you’re looking for a tour that’ll take you through most of Taiwan’s popular tourist attractions, I recommend this one from KLOOK. They’ll guide you through:
- Si Si Nan Village: An old military village.
- Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall: Do I need to explain?
- Presidential Office Building: Place where the president stays.
- Taipei 101: One of the tallest buildings in the world.
- Dadaocheng: A wharf by Dihua Old Street.
- Yongkang St. Daan District: Has amazing mango shaved ice.
- Ximending: Popular shopping district.
I’d prefer exploring these places myself. But having a tour guide can make this more structured and teach you a lot about each area.
What to Do Afterward
Here’s what’s close:
| Attraction | What to Do | Average Time Spent Here |
|---|---|---|
| 228 Peace Park | See the structures | 1 hr |
| Shandao Temple | View the temple | 20 min |
| Taipei Botanical Garden | See the plants | 30 min – 2 hrs |
| Daan Park | Walk around | 1 – 2 hrs |
| Dongmen Market | Buy food | 1 hr |
| Rongjin Park | A former Japanese prison | 1 hr |
What would I do if I didn’t have long in Taipei?
If it was supposed to be a nice day, here’s how it would go:
- Get breakfast
- CKS
- Head east toward Rongjin Gorgeous Time (AKA Rongjin Park), look around, and buy Simple Kaffa coffee and bagels.
- Head north a bit for lunch at Dongmen Market
- Head further east to Daan Park and walk off the calories.
- If I had more time, head to Jianguo Holiday Flower and Jade markets.
- Get dinner — I’d make the trip to Shida Night Market.
You could also head west and visit the 228 Peace Memorial Park, the Presidential Office Building, then finish your day in Ximending. I would have included that in the list above, but Daan seems more fascinating to me than Ximen.
Say it’s too hot or raining outside. I’d spend time at CKS, take the Red Line to Taipei Main Station, and explore. Then I’d take the underground paths to the shopping centers around Zhongshan MRT station. Once the weather improves (if it does), I’d head to Dihua Street and Dadaocheng and Ningxia Night Market.
What is Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (Also, Why It’s Important)
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taiwan is a monument built in memory of the former leader of the Kuomintang (KMT), Chiang Kai-shek. It showcases Taiwan’s history and culture, which is why this area is important.
And controversial.
The square’s official name is Liberty Square due to Chiang Kai-shek’s history. Most folks will still call it Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) Memorial Hall.
Why’s he controversial?
Chiang Kai-shek’s rule was marked by the White Terror period. During this time, thousands of Taiwanese were imprisoned, tortured, or executed for perceived dissent against the government.
Then there’s the 228 Incident in 1947. A day in which government forces violently suppressed protests.
