After the Republic of China lost the Chinese Civil War in 1949 and retreated to Taiwan, the property was requisitioned to the government and transformed into the residence of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling by architect Yang Cho-cheng.

[1] Construction was completed by the Continental Engineering Corporation[2] In the early days of the Republic of China on Taiwan, the residence was heavily militarized, fortified, and closed to the public.

In addition to the gardens, the official residence includes the former home of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling.

[4] Former President Chen Shui-bian revealed that the grounds contain the entrance to a hidden tunnel that connects to the Presidential Office Building in Zhongzheng District, Taipei.

[6] In 1971, then Governor of California, Ronald Reagan, stayed at the residence when he was in Taipei as the United States representative to the Double Ten Day Celebrations.