The source of Yuanshan
The source of Yuanshan (the Grand Hotel)~~ Taiwan Hotel
Taiwan Hotel was the early stage of Grand Hotel, that is to say, Taiwan Hotel was the predecessor of Grand Hotel.
The reason for building Taiwan Hotel was: On the second year of Taiwan recovering, Dr. Wei Daoming was assigned to Taiwan as the first Provincial chairman, at that time, there was lack of tourism industry in Taiwan, and Dr. Wei Daoming believed that after the big wars, the world tourism industry will start booming for sure, therefore, he strongly advocated the development of Taiwan tourism industry.
In 1949, Dr. Wei Daoming mentioned to Mr. Li Youfu, general manager of Taiwan travel agency saying: To be in line with the tourism industry development, in Taipei city, a decent hotel should be built at a scenic place like Yuanshan. For the recommendations of Dr. Wei Daoming, Mr. Li Youfu really moved and wanted to take earlier development of Taiwan tourism industry, after looked over the terrain of Yuanshan, he was incumbent on taking that mission, however, because of lack of funds, the mission simply unachievable, fortunately, with a directive instruction from Dr. Wei Daoming, the Bank of Taiwan offered a loan of thirty millions NT dollars, thus Mr. Li Youfu endeavored to the construction of Taiwan Hotel.
The construction started in 1949 and completed in 1951, it took 2 years of time and about 20 million NT dollars to complete the construction of Taiwan Hotel, at that time, the Grand Hotel was a Chinese style building with only two floors, and only about fifty to sixty bedrooms.
Upon the construction of Taiwan Hotel completed, Mr. Li Youfu appointed his right-hand man and the present honorary Chairman of South East Travel Service, Mr. He Shigeng, as the first hotel manager, and it was until 1952, when the Yuanshan club established and the hotel name also change to Grand Hotel, the head manager was substituted.
For the achievement of present Grand Hotel, we need to give the credit to Dr. Wei Daoming, Mr. Li Youfu as well as Mr. He Shigeng.
