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Visitors flock for glimpse of Chiang Ching-kuo's home

Visitors to late president Chiang Ching-kuo's last residence in Taipei look at a photo of Chiang being placed outside the residence yesterday, which marked the 20th anniversary of his death. It was the first time the public was allowed to enter the premises. PHOTO: LIU HSIN-DE, TAIPEI TIMES

Thousands of people visited the residence of late president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) yesterday morning, as it was opened to the public for the first time to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his passing.

Named the Chihai (七海) residence, it was built near the Naval headquarters in Dazhi (大直) in the 1950s.

The residence was used by the Navy to house foreign guests before Chiang moved in at the beginning of his term as minister of national defense in 1969, Taipei City's Cultural Affairs Department said.

The residence was left empty after Chiang's wife, Faina Chiang (蔣方良), passed away in 2004. The Taipei City Government designated the nearly half-century-old Chihai residence as a historical site in 2006.

Attending the opening of the residence, Chiang Fang Chih-yi (蔣方智怡), the daughter-in-law of the late president, said the interior of the residence had not changed since she joined the Chiang family in 1973, while lauding Chiang Ching-kuo's contributions to the country.

"The people remember him because he devoted his whole life to benefiting the country and the people. I hope our next president will do the same," she said yesterday in front of the residence.

The department has kept the interior of the residence exactly as it was, including the bedding and the furniture used by Chiang Ching-kuo and his wife.

Arriving at the residence at 6am, 80-year-old Hu Wen-ku (胡文庫) and his wife expressed their excitement about the visit.

"President Chiang lived a simple life, and we feel so excited to be able to see his residence," Hu said.

"He pushed many good policies and construction projects during his term. We have great respect for him," he said.

Because of the limited space in the residence, the department only allowed 400 visitors to enter during the opening hours between 9am and 12pm, while other people toured around the yard outside the residence.

Cultural Affairs Department Commissioner Lee Yong-ping (李永萍) said the department was negotiating with the Ministry of National Defense, which owns the property, to change the property rights of the residence, seeking to turn it into a museum.

Chiang Ching-kuo became president in 1978 and was re-elected in 1984 by the National Assembly for a second term. He died on Jan. 13, 1988, at the age of 78.
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