Taipei’s iconic Grand Hotel, located just behind RTI, is home to two secret underground passageways. After opening up the west wing to the public in 2019, the hotel management has now decided to open up the east wing as well.
The Grand Hotel in Taipei is the only hotel in the world that has secret underground tunnels. After opening up the west wing of the passageway to the public in 2019 and attracting more than 200,000 visitors, the hotel made an announcement on March 25 that it is opening its east wing as well.
The passageways were built as escape routes for foreign diplomats staying at the hotel in case of emergency. The tunnel on the east was specially designed to spiral downward rather than in a straight line to slow down an enemy chase, and to avoid escapees from being hit by bullets fired in a straight line. The tunnel walls were purposely paved unevenly to provide better sound absorption, so as not to give away the escapees’ actual positions.
Exiting the east tunnel leads to RTI, with a secret garden on the left side. Behind the garden is the former residence of Kung Ling-wei, the first manager of the hotel and the daughter of former First Lady Soong Mei-ling’s elder sister Soong Ai-ling. The house is now a little museum for visitors.
To celebrate the opening of the east wing and to promote the hotel’s history and culture, the Grand Hotel is offering banquet-like dinners and special tours.