{"id":8743,"date":"2026-02-18T17:00:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T09:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yuartheworld.com\/?p=8743"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:52:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T07:52:06","slug":"grandhotel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yuartheworld.com\/en\/grandhotel\/","title":{"rendered":"The Grand Hotel Kaohsiung | Ten Must-See Highlights and a Hidden Secret Room"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this year, some friends came to visit Kaohsiung and stayed at the Grand Hotel. Thanks to them, I learned that the hotel offers guided tours. That was how I finally had the chance to step inside this renowned cultural landmark and lift a corner of the veil of mystery surrounding the Kaohsiung Grand Hotel.<\/p>\n

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\u25e6 Kaohsiung Travel Guide<\/span><\/h6>\n

01\uff5cTransportation in Kaohsiung<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude84 Taiwan High Speed Rail<\/a>
\n\ud83d\ude84 Kaohsiung Metro (MRT) Unlimited Travel Pass<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udef5 Kaohsiung Scooter Rental - Zuoying High Speed Rail Station Pickup<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udef5 Kaohsiung Scooter Rental\uff5c<\/strong>Kaohsiung Railway Station Pickup<\/a><\/p>\n

02\uff5cPopular Attractions in Kaohsiung<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfab Kaohsiung Fun Pass<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab E-DA Theme Park Ticket<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Suzuka Circuit Park Ticket in Kaohsiung<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Shoushan Zoo Tickets<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway Ticket in Kaohsiung<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab British Consulate in Kaohsiung: Tickets and Discount Packages<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab National Science And Technology Museum Ticket in Kaohsiung<\/a><\/p>\n

03\uff5cThings To Do in Kaohsiung<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea2 Kaohsiung Love River Love Boat Ticket & Cruise Guide<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udea3\ud83c\udffb Water skiing experience at Lotus Lake Water Skiing Theme Park<\/a>
\n\u2668\ufe0f Zheng Qing Song Korean Sauna in Kaohsiung<\/a><\/p>\n

\u25e6 The History of The Grand Hotel Kaohsiung<\/span><\/h6>\n

In the past, the Grand Hotel was regarded as Taiwan\u2019s national showcase and an important venue that witnessed the country\u2019s political and economic development. The Kaohsiung Grand Hotel was entrusted with the same role. Its history can be traced back to 1957, when the hotel was first established along the Love River. At the time, it was one of the few luxury hotels in Taiwan, tasked with hosting international heads of state and prominent figures from politics and business. Notable guests included film star Alain Delon, Generalissimo Chang Hsueh-liang, and several leaders of Taiwan\u2019s diplomatic allies.<\/p>\n

In 1971, the hotel relocated to its current site by Chengcing Lake and reemerged in a grand Chinese palace\u2013style architectural design, becoming a major landmark of Kaohsiung. More than just a hotel, it has borne witness to changing times and preserved countless fragments of history.<\/p>\n

\u25e6 Tour Overview<\/span><\/h6>\n

The Grand Hotel Kaohsiung offers two guided tours daily, at 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The fee is NT$250 per adult and NT$150 per child. After the tour, each adult participant receives a complimentary bottle of cold-brewed tea.<\/p>\n

\u25e6 Tour Route<\/span><\/h6>\n

The tour itinerary is as follows: Imperial Path \u2192 Ornately carved main lobby \u2192 Yushan Sand Painting \u2192 \u201cCurrency Wall\u201d \u2192 Footprints of Grand Hotel History on the second floor \u2192 Dragon and Phoenix Hall observation deck on the fifth floor \u2192 The vanished secret room \u2192 Tudi Gong (Earth God) shrine \u2192 Garden swimming pool \u2192 Grand Hotel Cultural and Creative Area (returning to the first-floor lobby)
\nThe entire tour lasts approximately one and a half hours.<\/p>\n

\u25e6 Tour Highlights<\/span><\/h6>\n
01\uff5cImperial Path<\/h6>\n

After breakfast and completing check-in at the front desk, the manager led our group outside and began the introduction from the hotel\u2019s exterior. The path leading from the reflecting pool to the main lobby is known as the \u201cImperial Path.\u201d Its most striking feature is the golden dragon adorning the staircase. In ancient times, dragons with five claws were reserved exclusively for emperors, while four-clawed dragons were considered lesser. The five-clawed golden dragon here therefore symbolizes the supreme status of the hotel\u2019s honored guests. An amusing detail is that the dragon in front of the lobby has never been \u201cgiven its eyes\u201d\u2014a traditional finishing touch in dragon paintings. The reason, we were told, is that they feared it might fly away, a story that drew knowing smiles from everyone in the group.<\/p>\n

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02\uff5cOrnately Carved Main Lobby<\/h6>\n

Walking along the Imperial Path into the lobby, we were greeted by an array of auspicious ruyi motifs, as the manager pointed out key details along the way.\nThe patterns on the cashier counter are formed by interlinked copper coins, symbolizing abundant wealth. Looking up at the ceiling, the design is composed of four dragon heads, conveying wishes for harmony and smooth success in all directions.<\/p>\n

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Beyond ruyi patterns, the Grand Hotel also makes extensive use of the chiwen motif. A chiwen is a mythical creature with a dragon\u2019s head and a fish\u2019s body, believed to spit water to ward off fire, and thus associated with protection and the repelling of evil spirits. Numerous chiwen carvings can be seen in the Wanrui Hall, imbuing the entire space with auspicious symbolism.<\/p>\n

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03\uff5cYushan Sand Painting<\/h6>\n

The most eye-catching feature in the entire lobby is undoubtedly the Yushan Sand Painting on the staircase. This monumental artwork was created under the guidance of instructors from the Taipei Prison Sand Art Program, together with inmates, and took more than three months to complete. Long committed to public welfare, the Grand Hotel chose to support and encourage positive transformation through this project. The hope is that one day, all the inmates who participated in the creation will return with their families and friends, witnessing firsthand their own journey of change and renewal. This spirit echoes the imagery of Yushan in winter: as the ice and snow begin to melt, spring is just around the corner.<\/p>\n

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04\uff5cCurrency Wall<\/h6>\n

During the late Western Han dynasty, \u201chuobu\u201d (currency cloth) was one of the forms of circulating currency, and its association with wealth has endured through the ages.\nIn the past, the Grand Hotel used huobu-shaped tokens as room key tags, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. However, their elegant design often led guests to \u201caccidentally\u201d take them home, a story that made us burst out laughing.<\/p>\n

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With renovations and modernization, these huobu key tags were officially retired. Today, the hotel has cleverly repurposed them into the distinctive \u201cCurrency Cloth Wall,\u201d preserving their historical meaning while creating a popular photo spot.<\/p>\n

05\uff5cFootprints of Grand Hotel History<\/h6>\n

Along the corridor leading from the Currency Wall to the hidden bistro, a series of historical photographs of the Kaohsiung Grand Hotel are on display, making the walk feel like a journey through a time tunnel. Here, one can see images of film star Alain Delon, who visited Kaohsiung in 1981 for the Golden Horse Awards, as well as Li Kuo-ting, a former Minister of Finance. Who was Li Kuo-ting? He was the visionary figure who recognized Morris Chang\u2019s potential and played a crucial role in persuading him to return to Taiwan. Without Li\u2019s foresight and decisive action, there would be no TSMC today\u2014the \u201csacred mountain\u201d that Taiwan proudly relies on.<\/p>\n

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06\uff5cDragon and Phoenix Hall Observation Deck<\/h6>\n

Next, we made our way to the Dragon and Phoenix Hall on the fifth floor. The view here is truly spectacular\u2014Chengcing Lake and the Nine-Bend Bridge spread out before us in full view. The scenery alone made the entire tour feel well worth the price.<\/p>\n

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07\uff5cThe Vanished Secret Room<\/h6>\n

At the end of the second-floor corridor lies the Hidden Bistro, a dining and bar space converted from the former Presidential Suite once reserved for former President Chiang Kai-shek and Madame Chiang. In addition to its unobstructed lake views of Chengcing Lake, the interior design embraces a low-key yet luxurious aesthetic. Without a prior reservation, it is nearly impossible to secure a seat.<\/p>\n

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However, the true highlight today was not the bistro itself, but the \u201csecret room\u201d\u2014a space almost impossible to find without a guide. As mentioned earlier, this area was once the private suite of the President and his wife, and it naturally included special spaces designed for emergencies. This secret room was previously used as Madame Chiang\u2019s dressing room. Although it is no longer in use, the original vanity and some of the furnishings have been preserved, offering a tangible glimpse into the past.<\/p>\n

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08\uff5cGrand Hotel Earth God Shrine<\/h6>\n

Although the Yuanshan Fude Shrine was only completed in 2022, the Earth God enshrined here can be traced back as early as 1914, during the third year of the Taish\u014d era. Since the completion of the Grand Hotel, worship of the Earth God has continued here from 1991 onward, meaning this guardian has protected the land for more than three decades. During the Lunar New Year, the Grand Hotel holds blessing ceremonies at the shrine. If you visit during the festive season, it is well worth stopping by to pay your respects.<\/p>\n

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09\uff5cGarden Swimming Pool<\/h6>\n

The garden swimming pool at the Grand Hotel Kaohsiung is genuinely beautiful. My relatives took advantage of the sunshine to swim a few laps and felt both relaxed and refreshed afterward. If I didn\u2019t already live in Kaohsiung, I might very well choose to stay at the Grand Hotel just for this pool alone.<\/p>\n

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10\uff5cGrand Hotel Cultural and Creative Area<\/h6>\n

Finally, we returned to the Grand Hotel Cultural and Creative Area, located in the first-floor lobby. The space showcases a variety of nostalgic items infused with Taiwanese character, including the iconic \u201c\u660e\u661f\u82b1\u9732\u6c34\u201d cologne that once sat on nearly every grandmother\u2019s vanity. Back in the lobby, the manager led us to the adjacent caf\u00e9 to collect the complimentary cold-brewed tea prepared for each adult guest. As we sipped our tea, we chatted about the tour and agreed that next time, we would definitely return to spend a proper evening at the Hidden Bistro.<\/p>\n

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\u25e6 How to Make a Reservation<\/span><\/h6>\n

Tour Times: 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
\nTour Fees: NT$250 per adult; NT$150 per child
\nReservation Hotline: +886-7-370-6007 ext. 503<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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