Taiwan secured two of the top 10 most-searched cultural landmarks on Google Maps by users around the world in 2022, beating out some well-known places in France and South Korea, Google Taiwan said Jan. 17.
According to the company, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei City respectively ranked sixth and seventh on the list, followed by France’s Louvre Pyramid and Palais Ideal and South Korea’s Gyeongbokgung Palace.
The top five most searched cultural spots were the Buckingham Palace and Big Ben in the U.K., the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil and the Royal Palace of Brussels in Belgium, in that order.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was established in 1980 after the passing of Taiwan’s President Chiang Kai-shek five years prior, CKSMH’s administration said. The grounds then became an important venue in the democratic development of Taiwan, it added.
Hundreds of arts and cultural exhibitions and performances are hosted at CKSMH every year, including displays of calligraphy, engravings, paintings, photography, sculptures and mixed-media art, the administration said, adding that the hall offers around a thousand education sessions and study activities annually for all age groups, while its 25-hectare park provides a place for visitors to exercise and get close to nature.
Initially set up in 1937 as a tobacco factory during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), Songshan Cultural and Creative Park was renovated and reopened to the public in 2011. The park aims to be the creative hub of Taipei, its administration said, adding that it also helps cultivate artistic talent.
Various kinds of events are held at SCCP every year, such as award ceremonies, exhibitions, fashion shows, press conferences and symposiums. It is also a popular location for film shootings, the administration added. (YCH-E)
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