Taiwan: Taipei – Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial

Chiang Kai-Shek was the leader of China before and throughout WWII, but after the civil war broke out in late 1940s, he fled to Taiwan and established the Republic of China. Since then both mainland China and Taiwan claim to be the true China. As the founder of the country, he ruled mostly under martial law in what was known as “white terror”. At any rate, the memorial preserves his memory on a grand scale – it’s like a Lenin Mausoleum meats Jefferson Memorial and both on steroids. The massive octagonal structure sits on top in 89 stairs leading to the top where the monument to the leader is guarded by soldiers. The memorial is part of a larger complex which includes two identical structures of National Theater and National Concert Hall. There is also a spectacular gate leading to all this grandeur.