Major Events in the History of Zhongshan Hall
Year Events 1889 The Qing Dynasty Taiwan Provincial Administration Hall is built at the current location of Zhongshan Hall. 1931 An official announcement is made that the Taiwan Provincial Administration Hall will be demolished and that the grounds will be the future site of the Taipei City Public Auditorium. 1932 A ceremony is held to celebrate the construction of the Taipei City Public Auditorium. 1935 An exposition is held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Japanese colonial occupation of Taiwan, and Taipei City Public Auditorium is selected as the main venue for the Taiwan Exposition. 1936 The Taipei City Public Auditorium officially opens to the public.
Liao Chiu-gui, widow of sculptor Huang Tu-shui, bestows her late husband’s bas-relief Water Buffalo to the Taipei City Public Auditorium.1937 Water Buffalo is placed on display at the Taipei City Public Auditorium. 1938 A year after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the newspaper Taiwan Nichi Nichi Shimpo (Taiwan Daily News) begins plans for a “China Emergency War Exhibition” at the Taipei City Public Auditorium. 1939 The Equatorial Mount Room (a predecessor of the Taipei Observatory) is completed on the fourth floor at the south end of the Taipei City Public Auditorium, presented as a gift from Taiwan Nichi Nichi Shimpo to the Taipei City government in celebration of the newspaper’s 40th anniversary. 1945 Taiwan is returned to Chinese governance, and the Taipei City Public Auditorium is chosen as the venue for the surrender ceremony by Japanese forces. The island of Taiwan, as well as the outlying islands of Penghu, Jinmen and Matsu, are returned to the Republic of China. Representatives from various walks of life meet at the Taipei City Public Auditorium to celebrate the retrocession of Taiwan, with the statesman Lin Xiantang presiding. The official name of the Taipei City Public Auditorium is changed to Zhongshan Hall. 1946 The Taiwan Cultural Association holds a conference at Zhongshan Hall announcing its formation.
A ceremony is held at Zhongshan Hall to commemorate the establishment of the Taipei City Council. Mayor of Taipei Yu Mi-hsien hosts the ceremony.
The first Fine Arts Exhibition of Taiwan Province is held at Zhongshan Hall.
Taipei City’s first group wedding takes place, with eight couples getting married at Zhongshan Hall.1947 The February 28 Incident erupts. The February 28 Incident Settlement Committee holds meetings at Zhongshan Hall to deal with the incident.
The R.O.C. Postal Service Headquarters releases stamps commemorating the retrocession of Taiwan. Zhongshan Hall is used as the main subject matter for the second set of images on the stamps. They have par values of 5000 and 10,000 Old Taiwan Dollars.
The modern dancer Tsai Jui-yueh presents her dance works at Zhongshan Hall for the first time.
The composer Yang Sanlang holds his first vocal performance at Zhongshan Hall.
The national trade exposition commences at Guangfu Auditorium in Zhongshan Hall.1949 The Nationalist government moves to Taiwan and uses Zhongshan Hall as headquarters for the National Assembly and the Legislative Yuan meeting hall, making Zhongshan Hall an important location for government activities.
A ceremony is held to mark the occasion of a bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen being placed at the northeast corner of Zhongshan Hall Plaza.1950 The winning numbers for the first round of the “Patriotic Lottery” are publicly drawn at Zhongshan Hall. 1951 A solemn celebration is held at Zhongshan hall to see off the new first-term soldiers enlisted in the army. People from various circles in Taipei City attend the ceremony. 1952 The China Youth Corps is established at Zhongshan Hall, with Chiang Ching-kuo serving as its director.
The second election of the National Assembly is held, and Chiang Kai-shek is elected to continue serving as president.
The inaugural ceremony for the second term of the President of the Republic of China is held at Zhongshan Hall.
The Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty is signed at Zhongshan Hall.1957 Sponsored by the China Art Association, the first comic book exposition is held at Zhongshan Hall.
The Fifth Moon Group, a well-reputed association of modern painters, holds an exhibition at Zhongshan Hall.1959 Li Mei-shu holds his first solo exhibition of oil paintings at Zhongshan Hall. 1960 The inaugural ceremony for the third term of the President of the Republic of China is held at Zhongshan Hall. 1966 The inaugural ceremony for the fourth term of the President of the Republic of China is held at Zhongshan Hall. 1968 A celebration is held to commemorate the first nine years since compulsory education for all citizens was implemented in the R.O.C. All the junior high schools in Taipei City unite for a ceremony commencing the school year, which is held at Zhongshan Hall. 1969 The Vienna Boys’ Choir performs at Zhongshan Hall. 1970 The Youth Hot Music Concert is held at Zhongshan Hall. 1971 The Taipei Symphony Orchestra performs at Zhongshan Hall, with Deng Changguo conducting.
The inaugural ceremony for the fifth term of the President of the Republic of China is held at Zhongshan Hall.1972 Lin Hwai-min leads the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre in their first public performance at Zhongshan Hall.
The Rong-Shing Children's Choir performs at Zhongshan Hall, at the behest of Kiwanis International.1975 Singer/songwriter Yang Hsien holds a "Modern Chinese Folk Song Concert" at Zhongshan Hall, sparking the Taiwanese folk song movement. 1977 Ma Sitsung holds a violin recital at Zhongshan Hall.
The Young Singers of the Wooden Cross (Paris) perform at Zhongshan Hall.1982 The Russian novelist and Nobel Prize laureate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn gives a speech in Zhongzheng Auditorium, Zhongshan Hall. 1988 The folk music ensemble Minfeng Yuefu performs at Zhongshan Hall. 1989 The World Congress of Poets holds a conference at Zhongshan Hall. Ten nations are represented. 1991 A decision is made to renovate the 55-year-old Zhongshan Hall. Permission to demolish the building is not granted, and the mayor of Taipei, Huang Ta-chou, personally surveys the site. 1992 The Ministry of the Interior designates Zhongshan Hall as a Class Two historical site. 1993 The National Beijing Opera Theatre of China comes to Taiwan for the first time and performs in Zhongzheng Auditorium, Zhongshan Hall.
The African Children's Choir, nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir, holds its final performance in Taiwan at Zhongshan Hall.1995 The 50th anniversary of the Retrocession of Taiwan is celebrated at the Zhongshan Hall Plaza, with an emphasis on a local Taiwanese perspective. 1998 Zhongshan Hall renovations begin. 1999 Zhongshan Hall is transferred from the Department of Civil Affairs to the Department of Cultural Affairs. 2001 The Taipei Chinese Orchestra director serves as acting director of Zhongshan Hall.
Zhongshan Hall reopens and becomes the permanent location of the Taipei Chinese Orchestra; a series of commemorative events titled Zhongshan Hall: Opening the Doors of History are held.
Zhongzheng Auditorium, Guangfu Auditorium and the Zhongshan Hall Plaza are open for rental.2009 In December, Li-Chu Li, a special committee member of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government, is appointed Director of Zhongshan Hall. 2010 2010 October Memory of the Anniversary of Republic of China Victory 65th in the war of Resistance against Japan and Retrocession of Taiwan Exhibition. 2011 May 6th, 2011 Exhibition of “Puzzle the Taipei Zhongshan Hall!” and Century Memory of “Ginza” Taipei. 2012 Oct. 6th, 2013 Li Chien-Lang’s Building Manuscripts Collection - Amazing Journey of Ancient Architecture Detective. 2013 April 20th, 2013 Fell into the Kingdom of Fairy Tales - World Classic Fairy Tales Stamp Exhibition.
Oct. 18th, 2013 Exhibition of Print of Ancient Taipei with the Paris Foundation of Art.2014 Oct. 10th, 2014 The Exhibition of ChungHua Railway Mall. 2015 Jan. 1st, 2015 In the Shade of Love-the Solo Exhibition of Wallace Chung.
Sep. 18th to Nov. 22nd, 2015 Tribute to the Masters - Exhibition of Taiwan's Eleven Senior Sculptors; for memory of the greatest Scupltor-Huang Tu-Shui’s 120 Year old Birth.2016 Jan. 7th, 2016 The Opening of “Flower Taiwan” Exhibition, cooperate with the Periodical of International Pressed Flower Art Society of Taiwan.
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