Legislative Yuan North and South Complexes Open to Public for Heritage Day

The Legislative Yuan officially announced today that, in conjunction with the National Heritage Day events on September 19, it will simultaneously open its Taipei and Taichung campuses to the general public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on that day. This annual cultural event aims to bridge the gap between the highest legislative body and ordinary citizens, transforming the solemn parliamentary halls into a historical and architectural asset shared by all. To encourage more people to experience the charm of the democratic institution firsthand, the Legislative Yuan has specially planned a stamp-collection challenge at the Taipei campus. The first 600 visitors who complete the designated stamp-collection tasks during their tour will be able to immediately redeem a limited-edition, exquisitely crafted souvenir prepared by the Legislative Yuan, combining educational value with fun.

Located on Zhongshan South Road in Taipei City, the Taipei campus of the Legislative Yuan possesses exceptionally high historical value and epochal significance. During the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan, this building served as the school grounds for the Taihoku Prefecture Second Girls' High School. Following World War II and various changes, it eventually became the seat of the Republic of China's highest representative body of the people. The mottled red-brick walls, elegant arcades, and the interior of the legislative chamber—marked by the passage of time—have all witnessed Taiwan's critical historical progression from authoritarianism to democracy. Through the comprehensive opening on Heritage Day, the normally heavily guarded parliamentary gates will allow citizens to stroll through historical corridors and witness firsthand the trajectory of Taiwan's democratic and constitutional development, which holds profound significance for deepening civic education and promoting the preservation of historical monuments.

In addition to the historic Taipei campus, the Legislative Yuan's parliamentary facility in Taichung will also open its doors on the same day to welcome residents from central Taiwan. The Taichung campus likewise features well-equipped facilities and special democratic significance, usually utilized for hosting local public hearings, legislators' local constituency services, or various cross-party coordination meetings. By connecting the northern and southern campuses simultaneously, the Legislative Yuan not only demonstrates its sincerity in caring for residents in central and southern Taiwan, but also hopes to use the opportunity of National Heritage Day to allow local residents to experience the operational atmosphere of the parliamentary institution nearby without having to make a long journey north, thereby further fostering a close connection between local and central representative bodies.

To make visitors' tours more fulfilling and educational, the Legislative Yuan plans to arrange detailed tour routes and professional guides during the open hours that day. Visitors will not only be able to enter the main assembly hall—normally only visible on television news broadcasts—but also gain in-depth insight into the actual operational spaces where members of parliament exercise their legislative power and budget-review authority. Through vivid historical exhibition boards with text and imagery, as well as specialized guided tours, the public will be able to catch a glimpse of the full evolution of Taiwan's parliament: from the era of the "eternal parliament" of the past, through numerous constitutional reforms and total parliamentary re-elections, into today's modern, pluralistic parliamentary hall characterized by fierce partisan competition.

In recent years, parliaments around the world have actively promoted the concept of an "open parliament," hoping to repair the sense of alienation between the public and representative politics by increasing information transparency and physical accessibility. The Legislative Yuan's large-scale opening of both its northern and southern campuses in coordination with National Heritage Day is a vital implementation of the open parliament policy. Through visitor-friendly interactive measures such as stamp-collection gift exchanges, it not only effectively increases the public's willingness to go out on holidays and participate in public cultural activities, but also substantially revitalizes precious political and cultural assets, allowing the spirit of democracy to truly take root in the daily lives of the citizens.

(Source of facts: Central News Agency)