Presidential Office Building (中華民國總統府) [Powerhouse]

 “Is this a camera?”, the guard asked me about my digicam. It doesn't look like any typical point and shoot gadget. But in a heavily guarded place in Taiwan, everything must be check. From the things inside your bag, to the coins inside your pocket even up to the liquid inside your tumbler. Everything that you carry inside must be inspected. I was not inside the airport nor I was about to board an airplane. I was about to enter the Presidential Office Building. The most powerful building in Taiwan.

On its almost one hundred years of existence, this building has been the center of power in Taiwan. Originally called the Office of the Governor General, it is a product of Japanese renaissance architecture. Built in 1919, the whole structure is an iconic red and white building. Designed by Uheji Nagano, it was later remodeled by Matsunosuke Moriyama to fit the island's weather condition. Its large windows allow air to enter the corridors to cool the temperature inside. 

The eye-catching 60-meter central tower was not originally part of the design of Nagano and it was Moriyama who added this tall structure. Aside from the tower, the facing bricks of the building is something to look forward to. If you had been to Japan and had set your eyes at Tokyo Station, you would notice that the red bricks on the outer wall of the train station are the same as to those used in the Presidential Office Building. It was actually Shinagawa White Brick Company which supplied the facing bricks of these two historic Japanese buildings making them familiar in color.

A palace indeed! A box-shaped building in the form of the Chinese character for sun (日), the whole structure was overwhelming. Aside from being earthquake-resistant, it was also able to survive the Taipei Air Raid in 1945 of the Americans during World War II. During that time, Taiwan was still part of Japan and an attack at the Office of the Governor General was a way to weaken the Empire's forces during the war. 

I entered the building at the entrance porch. As I climbed at the staircase, I remembered the infamous incident years ago about a truck that ran along Ketagalan Road and rammed into the entrance of the building. It was a shocking news! With this visit, I realized the importance of the tight security check that everyone must undergo just to enter the Presidential Office Building.

along Baoqing Road where visitors follow a queue to enter the premises of the Presidential Office Building

Even during an open house which happens every first Sunday of the month, every visitor must submit themselves for frisking and bag inspection. At these special days, the public is given a chance to enter the Presidential Office Building from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm without the need for reservation from. The building is also open on regular days but from 8 am to 12 noon only and visitors in a group of 15 people must reserve in advance to wander around.

Zhongshan Hall

The Zhongshan Hall. As tourists enter this lobby, a gift is presented to them as a token of appreciation for visiting Taipei’s historic building. Going inside was like entering a grand palace. At the time of my visit, the flags of Taiwan and Paraguay were displayed on the walls of the hall. The two countries were celebrating 60 years of friendship and various events were organized to celebrate the festivity.

Ching-Kuo Hall

Reception Room

The Ching-Kuo Hall. At the time of my visit, this room was filled with people listening to Paraguayans playing their guitar and singing. From the ceiling to the walls, the room was still grand like the lobby at the first floor. The red carpet and its arched windows. This hall is perfect for entertaining foreign dignitaries who visited Taiwan for a special meeting with this country’s very important person.

the octagonal corner of the building as seen from the windows of the second floor

museum about the architectural design of the Presidential Office Building

Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon

art gallery

post office

The visitors were led downstairs where a lush garden allowed everyone to breathe fresh air. Finding my way out, I entered the rooms on the ground floor. I discovered there a museum about the building’s architecture, an art gallery, the past presidents of Taiwan and the people that they had served. 

post-office souvenirs

at the official souvenir shop

magnet souvenir for NTD 180

model of the Presidential Office Building

I learned new things about my beloved Taiwan and I'm very hopeful that every visitor here will also have the same experience. If you are a Filipino, you might think that this is the Malacañang of Taiwan. For the South Koreans, it is like the Blue House. If only the walls of these building could talk, it would tell a lot of stories far beyond than what the displays will tell you. From the island's Japanese colonization, to the Chiang-kai Shek era, up to today's modern age of smartphones and selfies, this masterpiece of architecture stood the test of time. It will always stay with every new chapter of Taiwan’s history.

Always remember that in the heart of Taipei, there lies the seat of power. The Presidential Office Building! A symbol of governance, a true powerhouse.

THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI

Sakura Series - Taiwan

2024 Forecast

Taipei 101 first flowers

Tianyuan Palace backyard

Taipei Flower Test Center

Pingjing St. Lane 42

Broadwood Park

Sunshine Sports Park kawazu sakura

Wuling Farm (武陵農場)

SYS kawazu sakura

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

CKS Memorial Hall

Shibafen Yoshino Sakura

Hope River

Dongfang Temple

Tianyuan Palace

Neicou Stream Trail

Orange Garden Cafe

Yangming Park Visitor Information Center

Yangming Park Service Center Bus Stop

Huashan Road

Qianshan Park

Zhongshan Hall Entrance

Tenglong Sakura Farm

Flower Test Center Shōwa Sakura

Neihu Creek Trail

Shulin Land Office

Xióng Kōng Cherry Blossom Forest

Lung Yen Sakura Forest

Yangming Park cherry stream

Yangming Park fountain

CKS Memorial Hall Tairyō sakura

Wugu District Tianyi Road

CKS Memorial Hall yaesakura

Loving Farm

Yong Long Farm

Zhongbaling Sakura Road

Sun Link Sea

Tai'an Police Station

Cherry Hill Slope

Hsinchu Park

Taipei 101

Kāng Gào Kēng Creek

New Garden City

Broadwood Park

Tianyuan Palace backyard

Pingjing St. Lane 42

Alishan Ranger Station

Alishan House

Alishan Police Station

Alishan Forest Railway

Alishan Station

Alishan Entrance

Alishan Gou Hotel

Alishan Magnolia Garden

Wulai tour

Wun Chang Elementary School

Bishanyan

Sanzhi Sansei Trail

Sakura Series - Taiwan

Nei Cuo Stream

Orange Garden Cafe

Sansei Trail

Tenglong Sakura Farm

Yangming Park Cherry Stream

Yangming Park Fountain

Flower Test Center

Broadwood Park

New Garden City

Yinghua Park

Pingjing St. Lane 42

Yangmingshan Visitor Center

Taipei 101

Tianyuan Palace backyard

Sakura Series - Japan

Kamonyama Park

Near the Nippon Maru Memorial Park

Shinko Park

Minato-mirai 21 area

Tokyo Tech Suzukakedai Campus

Onda River

Tenryuji

Byodoin

Kiyomizudera

Himuro shrine and Yakushi-ji Temple

Hōryū-ji Temple

Nara Park attractions

Tokyo Tech Ookayama Campus

Sumida River

Tsuruma Park

Gion

Maple Series

Taipei Aowanda

Shimen Dam

Alishan

Aowanda

Shanlinxi

Taoyuan Valley Garden

Fushoushan Farm

Yehliu to Jiufen? Yehliu to Shifen? Cheaper than yellow taxis

The "Taipei kong mahal" (My beloved Taipei)

Always in my heart

MRT birdman

Valentine's Day

Tulips Festival

2018 Taipei Lantern Festival

City of Azaleas

Linji Huguo Temple

Nanjichang Night Market

Gudetama Chef restaurant

Dalongdong Bao'an Temple

Shilin hollyhocks

Ningxia Night Market

Ximending graffiti

Discovery Center of Taipei

Chunghwa Postal Museum

Double-Decker Bus

Shilin Cold Balls

Jingimoo

GomanMango

mud volcanic ice

Fire and Ice Dumpling

Opium Fen-Yuan

Ichiran Ramen

Liu Shandong Beef Noodles

hydrangea flowers

National Palace Museum

Other attractions in Taipei

Taipei on a budget

Japanese buildings

Dāoxiāomiàn beef noodles

Presidential Office Building

Yongkang St. and Elephant Mountain

CKS and SYS Hall

City tour

Beitou ramen

MRT Monopoly Game

Winter city tour

Zhicheng Park

Shilin Plum Blossom

Art museums

Shopping in Taipei

Summer desserts

Qingtiangang

Qixingshan hiking

2015 Calla lily

2016 Calla lily

Beitou tour

Beitou-Zhuzihu tour

NTU

Confucius Temple

2015 Dadaocheng Festival

Puppet Museum

Fantasy Ice World

2016 Bread Show

Strawberry picking

2015 Rose Garden

Modern Toilet

Shilin Night Market

NASA Exhibit

Raohe Night Market

Longshan Temple

2013 Taipei Zoo

Maokong Gondola

Lupin flowers

Taipei 101 day visit

Taipei 101 night visit

Tiger Mountain

Din Tai Fung

Taipei Story House

2014 Flower Show

Chrysanthemum Show

Miramar Ferris wheel

Miniatures Museum

Archery

1600 Pandas

Wulaoguo hot pot

Upside Down House

2016 101 Fireworks

New Taipei

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival

Elephant Rock SUP/kayaking

Meteor Garden school

Tamsui Pumpkin Tunnel

Shifen Waterfall

2017 Sand Sculpture

Dragon Caves

New Taipei tour

2016 Kite Festival

Pingxi Crags

Bitou Cape

2016 Sand Sculpture

2015 Christmasland

Juming - Jinshan

Houtong - Pingxi

Sandiaoling Waterfall

Jiufen foodtrip

Guanyinshan hike

Yehliu Ocean World

2014 Kite Festival

Pingxi Rail tour

Jinguashi tour

Vigor Kobo Pineapple

British Consulate

Yehliu Geopark

2014 Sand Sculpture

Paragliding

2014 Christmasland

2014 Pingxi Lantern

firefly watching

Yingge Ceramics Street

Jiufen tour