Day 1, Sept 5 (Taoyuan, Taiwan)



Cihu Mausoleum



We arrived at Taoyuan International Airport.  There were six graduate students from Information Management faculty of National Chung Cheng University to welcome us.  During this 5-day Taiwan trip, they would help out for all the arrangements and made sure we were warmly hospitalized. 


On the first day of my trip "Business with Asia", we visited Cihu Mausoleum.  This place resembled late president Chiang Kai-Shek's hometown Fenghua, Zhejiang, and often reminded him of his mother, Mrs Wang, he changed its name from Beiwei to Cihu, meaning "Mercy Lake" in Chinese.  The place was converted into Chiang's graveyard after he died.  

Then, we went to Chiang Kai-Shek's son, Chiang Giang-Kwok's graveyard.  We saw the orderly shift-switching ritual of the honor guards.  They stood straight holding the heavy guns without showing any tiredness under almost 40 Celsius of hot weather.  I could see they were sweating all over their faces and bodies but they still performed their duties of guarding the graveyard.



Our next sightseeing point was Shimen Reservoir.  Due to the demand for farm irrigation, the Shimen Reservoir was built.  This reservoir had become the most important water supply channel in northern Taiwan.  There was also a big statue of Chiang Kai-Shek placed on the top of the mountain facing to the dame as if he was mastering the future of Taiwanese.   

Shimen Reservoir

Then, we headed to Chia Yi.  It took about 4 hours to get there.  The first day of our trip made everyone so tired due to the long flight and jet lag.  All of us made use of these 4 hours to have a nap.  We all slept like a baby until we arrived at the National Chung Cheng University.  The first 2 days we stayed in the dormitory.  As it was still summer holidays, there were not many students staying in the dormitory, so we had 18 people occupied the whole building.