Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, Taipei

What a great memorial hall park secluded in the middle of an ever busy city. The center piece of the hall is flanked by two traditional Chinese building structures. Entering into the park, I was met with a wide open space. After an hour or so covering most of the park ground, I thought this is just what the residents of a overcrowded city need during any day in the week to enjoy a short walk in a winding path through a carefully arranged garden dotted with trees and flower beds; or to reserve admission to art exhibition or performing in one of the two traditional Chinese building structures; or to stroll along the not-too-long corridor along the side of the garden. It's not like the other parks that are always filled with people, pets, bicycles, sounds from children playing and loud noises from motorcycles zooming by. Seemingly the walls around the park were not there to barricade, but to create a peaceful land for people to come enjoy. Although the size and surroundings cannot be compared to those of the Lincoln Memorial or Constitution Gardens in the US, but I found the same feeling of solace, tranquility or whatever you could describe the calm state of your mind pacing myself in this park. I wish the park authority could replace some of those cold cement slab in the square into some warm green lawn.

Such a grand and awe inspiring memorial. It has a meditative ambience which can be very calming. By sheer luck, I stumbled on the guard changing ceremony which was really cool. The views from the memorial are also quite pretty. The surrounding area is worth exploring as the other buildings are beautifully designed as well, including the gates.