It was formerly called "Green Water Lake" (Chinese: 碧水湖澤; pinyin: Bìshuǐ Húzé) until Chiang Kai-shek renamed it as "Cihu" in 1962 because the scenery reminded him of his benevolent mother and his home town, Fenghua.

Interest in the Burial Place was actually revived during these two years as it became embroiled in the then ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s campaign to remove public vestiges of the man many see as a brutal dictator.

[4] Prior to the late 1990s, visitors would line up hours for the chance to pay their respects to Chiang Kai-shek (either by bowing three times or saluting before the sarcophagus).

There was public debate if another national funeral should be held again for the burial in Wuchih Mountain Military Cemetery, with fervent supporters of Taiwan independence against granting honors to someone whom they view as a dictator.

But the mysterious grounds behind the mausoleum remained under the control of the Ministry of National Defense, making it impossible for the public to appreciate the beauty of the location or Chiang's security precautions.

The trail into the lush woodlands of the restricted area is punctuated with blockhouses, stone-walled sentry posts and bomb shelters, reflecting the tensions between Chiang's government and its Chinese communist rival and his concern for his own safety.

[4] It has recently been revealed that the site was involved in the top secret plan to retake mainland China called Project National Glory (國光計劃).

In April 1964, Chiang ordered the construction of air-raid shelters and five military offices at Cihu, which served as a secret command center for Project National Glory.