Presidential Office Building (中華民國總統府) [Travel in Taiwan 170805: Powerhouse]

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc75RhaOTVMfYDWyu03uA5aPYqAl1i7a8JBDQ0_3KGMOFTTpq8Fa_8rDYce0t0Yv5Ktto_6sZYWYfGYWcqJ2jfnac1vVVfHpUyL-xAsK0II6_FLw0dkjtvIAY_yljHtRPjyREynNYHRQ/s640/DSC01.JPG"
width="640" />

 “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.

style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoB_3nXIh0bw_3KV9WKfQQnN_Xe6-K4Rh_AGPYys7eHTT3pvJty41wxlggyuOTAZAgMUCXqNSjJr7x10_zwl5yeBoU2rTFCjIxfyWGh_mmQ_-muUim_BwZmkLcsFyXFzFLzcuNZ7dxos/s640/IMGP9338.JPG"
width="640" />

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9tQmBY5ydRbz9GYimzAJi68Ksrzd1VOnrsnICiKgpXbasZz66UjId6YB6aZRdjdlOVzKYhziVPthsszjB416rjb7nhxtWJu2JlmR5udnf5sRVFI4FGVlYPQuJjU0IrJ2tKzGHbltCpk/s640/IMGP9339.JPG"
width="640" />

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVk_QACkWWz2VVSlSzeGoIFQNqvKv2cfsQCqNy3ZQxQV6cN4vBks4TRX4awBlWzARwWp4k09EIeUChl8tZEclUr97LTr4A5r7UxD0TZC38iwHLg3IKpZ3OvBg6LCQVNUcHb8K2nyX73k/s640/IMGP9535.JPG"
width="640" />

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUo7sd-dsBGU_W6dSvFefWy1LJTOAF0EvaS8o0r74OCrwk_nCCL-3H8j1lLZhp789cIO_zhttPinYGOSzSMnCajNylBmsXAbKJQ0bi8SVVaLmUEg1haJtSk7IF5EJWbKOjwXOGVKHaLh4/s640/DSC13.JPG"
width="640" />

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnO89l-i0DypyXg1gTO-atI9owg4FCfuftuDq4b4cYX9exj-AI-xaSL3idPbh9Fir6xhIbYS8E7QJavUvEbQ1qzU-xMmy7y92P6S_-0EUWWDX9_GBnoA5gmweTaQSc-_UE55ss9hMHeRk/s640/IMGP9283.JPG"
width="640" />

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. 

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWOMkUNbc8Zxh5foaU4ml38SXjQeqQ4ukYPBtvGIbyS8v6y7sZ_zdJemmh5FAps75B8dSNsLs1ZASsum3N6AKX5U_K3yiDXdiB0sK-S4spsRhQs4yAYIn5d-D2QwdZ6nWtcFYBXvxUz8/s1600/IMGP9532.JPG"
imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWOMkUNbc8Zxh5foaU4ml38SXjQeqQ4ukYPBtvGIbyS8v6y7sZ_zdJemmh5FAps75B8dSNsLs1ZASsum3N6AKX5U_K3yiDXdiB0sK-S4spsRhQs4yAYIn5d-D2QwdZ6nWtcFYBXvxUz8/s640/IMGP9532.JPG"
width="640" />

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfj-urC0Jq4rz3GujZZjdlBFVLelI3ykkFPtUm9-40E9nSDlGQlNFCZdXZdbyXymWkKJwtDDs9AareBeaijyyFcdw7zXmjHVADUu1f2XqKrOW6S57h9MiFGEyWaI78TYeM80p8wM9yvM/s640/DSC05.JPG"
width="480" />

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQweS2RVn02GVBiXjC0Ry3Jt1znHYD3pwld35-yd0864owmkM3PvDRImVmmoQXGBC9_NjzjNoPF13imwJTZP8TVkQnxEkkSsK0lnn9UwpTbaIaLjb53MVhf7QdYUH7EkGCGBCbNArc28/s640/IMGP9288.JPG"
width="640" />

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDj0sFbgPpblL9ET-W8y4ULYRC90oHg0nWUgIWYqf7JYHNhWBcxxKj-NGcVZamak4446vtL62oYw_not5Oe5kaBf2JuWP3ef8yaWwRb6uqvueqXbQGN_nQNUP0iEEhsbasymefOTvn1A/s640/IMGP9530.JPG"
width="640" />

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzIaraE5cA2TAGI5upYJ9r7AYPhdmd9YJWTZ80zch1PetmCBJXLmYJQrzsoUUFdZlfg31yUkVpWGd4K910lTuILLz6E7KwMR_KoNAsTFmPvMJdA4xjHRmP4J3IW5B_YwkW1ZCfHOeZ_U/s640/IMGP9525.JPG"
width="640" />

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.

style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhIIbZKRyGthig9H2uf5TwbVOQSW1Rz0MRUbTxiVIIKr7bXixjK7OTZTJIQOwVef_zXx5bz0pVinIh4rV1avs_i6NjHZje_MOTWjjzpWOzGxNlAVtqsgVzvu5y5XZYum_qi6RQnyg2xo/s640/IMGP9362.JPG"
width="640" />

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtRXzZPjYusUEeoR46yPK9j_zPWdKXhjCcGGE-y-5pYxkSIWligR5LIM6LlCMB2wM7VOP-zRvSrIvGQf15z8QVQqu8x9k8iw8rBGHDay9gTSp9a6EZBAKhe60mI8CtwRQRS2bQ4kSK00/s640/IMGP9360.JPG"
width="640" />

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. 

/>

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfdrPQPikLnDekPGyjaXqWYXTF2aDt8iO5U5bKZ4dHTSQM_PfxG4lVwXuP4jJZlhcHGXNsHoRzMpsTFIx8brpeRGoD5XPX9ZFL-Gp_yKCYAeWQ34LqeZirdy8mcnbMYtCj1asGgG3fhw/s640/IMGP9289.JPG"
width="640" />

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NY9jVuR1SIf_6wmDm6s54ru9socAsqE2zWRnqD_agg28zdkKeJtsPouvD2ueQJRyeKQC8zaLzM53SMRmtiwqtwCU0TL3tCF4IOuQtYXbjIZST4EIkqWKK923Pb76DPbPdETRAvv1znw/s640/IMGP9290.JPG"
width="640" />

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.

class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"> style="text-align: center;"> imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7QraJHmgzmtdE-ZB3DDfixsgb2LNVGHKij8MH5Y7ZCv5qMVmYHxJNXVf3jrIbtpkMV3y8EaU-hmAxlxrwalYKL-fFaLP1POC06S4ESGfJckBYBDuMWX0IijNA_STRj_EzUF5gLMbHFw/s640/IMGP9280.JPG"
width="640" />

style="text-align: center;">along Baoqing Road where visitors follow a queue to enter the premises of the Presidential Office Building

class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8dmkmpLLwSyzGJTDKKwaKMKwyFNMmvGeh_5XTSwz3VQlhyphenhyphenUHaKyOphL9npvMZzMfYXFU9NtN45Ran77-j559MKBT-pKUVP7j4nJmUYrqh33T9dRcqau7gi029lrmc7xqCXZPtjcHfBM/s640/IMGP9281.JPG"
width="640" />

cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right:
auto; text-align: center;">

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9jRKKRYs04Qfp6ch2skdbFdstbtsZ0sJnt8h1gvjOdD00axcEkgAZUQTQD3Hj11mZN3M8CjRoL3Jz9IGRGK4sg0pL0mlswNotLs5RN00zSdqM895F17zf4N8Vw6S5_78SULwB1uFVbA/s1600/IMGP9282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9jRKKRYs04Qfp6ch2skdbFdstbtsZ0sJnt8h1gvjOdD00axcEkgAZUQTQD3Hj11mZN3M8CjRoL3Jz9IGRGK4sg0pL0mlswNotLs5RN00zSdqM895F17zf4N8Vw6S5_78SULwB1uFVbA/s640/IMGP9282.JPG" width="640" />

style="text-align: center;">

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.