Shilin Official Residence combines a historic residence with gardens and grounds in northern Taipei. The site is associated with Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling, while its earlier use as a botanical garden adds another layer to its landscape history.
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The gardens tell a story that begins before the residence most visitors associate with the site. During the Japanese colonial period, the grounds served as an experimental botanical garden; after 1949 they became the residence of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling.
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- The estate was an experimental botanical garden during the Japanese colonial period.
- Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling moved into the residence in 1950.
- The grounds opened to the public in 1996.
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