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Architectural Splendor The Taipei Guest House, which has gone through a century of history, has always been the core of politics in Taiwan. Its predecessor was the "Governor's Residence" during the Japanese colonial period; after the restoration of Taiwan, it served as the residence of the provincial governor. In 1950, it was renamed the Taipei Guest House, becoming an important national venue for state banquets, hosting foreign guests, party and government meetings, and cultural activities. In 1998, it was designated as a national historic site by the Ministry of the Interior. The Taipei Guest House was originally built in 1899, designed by Japanese architects Miyao Rin and Nomura Ichirō. The renovation in 1911 was designed by Morioka Shōnosuke, giving it its current appearance. In 2002, it was closed for the most extensive renovation since the restoration of Taiwan, and it was completed in May 2006. As Taiwan's democratization progressed, the Taipei Guest House was opened to the general public for the first time on July 4, 2006. The concept of relaxing restrictions allowed the people of Taiwan to glimpse the mysterious appearance of the Taipei Guest House over the past century. The site of the Taipei Guest House is long in the east-west direction, shaped as a rectangle. The main building faces south, with a two-story structure made of brick and stone, reinforced concrete. Influenced by Western historical architectural styles introduced after the Meiji Restoration in Japan, the Taipei Guest House features a Mansard roof, a Greek gable, Roman columns, and elaborate Baroque-style decorations. Wide balconies are set on all four sides, similar to the official buildings in the colonial cities of Southeast Asia. There is a pavilion on the southeast corner of the third floor, where processions and street views can be enjoyed during festivals. Historical Evolution During the Japanese colonial period, the Taipei Guest House, in addition to serving as the governor's residence, also functioned as a venue for administrative offices and welcoming guests. The first significant event after its completion was the reception of Princess Fusako, wife of Prince Narihisa of the Kita-shirakawa Imperial Family, who visited Taiwan in October 1901. Since then, it has continuously hosted members of the imperial family, including Prince Sadanori of the Kii Imperial Family, Prince Hironori of the Kumazawa Imperial Family, Prince Yasuhito of the Shigisan Imperial Family, Prince Norihito of the Takamatsu Imperial Family, and Prince Lee Gyeong of the Changde Imperial Family. The most significant of these was the reception of the Crown Prince Hirohito (later Emperor Showa) during his visit to Taiwan in 1923. During the stay of Crown Prince Hirohito at the Governor's Residence, the main activity space was on the second floor of the residence. The ceremonial visits by officials and aristocrats were also held in the large reception room on the second floor. On the first day of the Crown Prince's visit, the governor arranged for him to ascend the spiral staircase on the third floor and receive the cheers of the crowd on the pavilion. After the restoration of Taiwan, the Taipei Guest House was no longer the governor's residence, but it remained a main venue for government meetings and banquets for foreign guests. Many distinguished guests have been received by successive presidents in the first floor of the Taipei Guest House. Among them, the most representative include Japanese Prime Minister Kishi Hayato in 1957, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1981, former US President Clinton in 2005, and the President of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, Chen Yunlin, in 2008. In addition, many important international treaties and agreements have been signed in the banquet hall of the Taipei Guest House. The most significant of these is the "Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty" signed on February 28, 1952, by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yeh Kung-chao and Japanese plenipotentiary Kadowaki Reizō, which is of great significance to Taiwan's sovereignty. The more notable ones are the "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights" and the "International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights," signed by President Ma Ying-jeou on May 14, 2009, symbolizing an important step forward in our country's integration into the international human rights system and expansion of international human rights cooperation. Looking back on the years the Taipei Guest House has gone through, we can easily see that the value of the Taipei Guest House is not only due to its century-long history. It is a building that skillfully combines Eastern and Western cultures, and it has witnessed the changes and glory of Taiwan over the past century. From any perspective, every brick and tile, every plant and tree here is worth our collective care and preservation.