When the Republic of China general Chiang Kai-Shek retreated to Taiwan in 1949 and began plotting an eventual takeover of China, he wanted a place where he could impress his guests and host foreign dignitaries. So his wife Soong Mei-ling commissioned the Grand Hotel—a stunning 12-story building and one of the finest classical Chinese buildings in the world. Established in 1952, the hotel became a Taiwanese landmark with its gilded tiles and red vermilion columns. Standing at 87 meters (285 feet), it was the tallest building in Taiwan for a…
