Explore the Hidden Treasures in Palais de Chine A unique Hotel Experience
A good journey is not complete without a good hotel. A good hotel not only enriches the journey, but also deepens the travel experience. The exquisitely designed hotel “Palais de Chine” is a window on to Taipei–filled with literature, art, and history. More than just a place for rest, a visit to Palais de Chine is also like a visit to a museum, broadening the traveler’s horizons with pleasant surprises during the stay.
Just as one must see the jadeite cabbage with insects, the meat-shaped stone, and the famous Song-dynasty painting “Along the River During the Ching-ming Festival” when visiting the National Palace Museum, there are also some must-see art collections in Palais de Chine, such as hand-painted coin figures, antique tapestries, and artworks inspired by Greek and Roman mythologies.
Twelve Coins Hold Clues to the Past
Coins are one of the objects which provide clues for tracing the evolution of human civilization, and of course, are also the foundations of economy. Standing at the reception hall on the 6th floor of Palais de Chine, visitors can see twelve different hand-painted coins. These twelve coins played important roles in human history at different points in time, connecting human civilization over thousands of years and taking guests on a journey through history.
In addition to the well-known Chinese coin Banliang of the Qin Dynasty, which signifies the conquests of states by Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China, and the beginning of the glorious history of the Han people for thousands of years, among these twelve coins, there is also the coin of the Lydian Kingdom in 1200 B.C. The Lydians originated from the Anatolian plateau in Western Anatolia whose country was the first human history to adopt money as their currency. The first person to have his half-length portrait cast on a coin was Gaius Julius Caesar (100 – 44B.C.), the brave and fierce founder of the Roman Empire. During his reign, he ruled the United Kingdom, France, and most regions of Europe and the Mediterranean, with his influence extending to other parts of Europe, Asia and Africa.
The most widely used currency in the world, the US Dollar, became the most powerful currency in the world owing to its gradual spread after World War II. Interestingly, at the beginning of the nation’s history, the legal tender used in the United States was not the US dollar but rather the Spanish peso. To eliminate the political influence of Spain and England, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton enacted the Coinage Act in 1792, solidifying the position of US dollar as the currency unit of the United States.
The word “dollar” originates from “Joachimestalers,” the coins made by Count Hieronymus Schlick of Bohemia. “Joachim” refers to the place where the coins were cast, while “tale” refers to valley. In German, “Joachimestalers” is abbreviated as “Taler” which eventually transformed to “dollar” in English.
Every Art Piece Tells A Story
The antique tapestries in the waiting lounge on the 6th floor also deserve attention. The tapestry depicts the Julius Caesar, putting a crown on the head of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. According to legend, they fell in love at first sight in Egypt in 48 B.C. Upon returning to Rome with the great triumph of his conquests, Caesar could not forget Cleopatra and thus invited her to come to Rome, and greeted her personally. Nobles and members of the royal family members came to Rome for a glimpse of the Queen’s beauty. The flying eagle aside, it represents the success and energy of Caesar at that time.
Every piece of furniture in Palais de Chine is a piece of art, and many works are inspired by Greek and Roman mythologies. For instance, the life-size statue of Horae in the golden flower crown, found in “Voltaire” conference room on the 5th floor and the business center on the 6th floor, was the Goddess of Four Seasons who helps Venus put on the red-violet drapery in the famous painting “The Birth of Venus” by Botticelli. The floor lamps in the lobby, with a height of over 2 meters and a fine-sculpted stone base, are in the shape of goat legs, a design element frequently used during the Renaissance. In Greek mythology, the romantic King of Gods, Zeus, fell in love with the daughter of the God of River, Antiope. When Antiope fell asleep under a tree, Zeus assumed the form of Pan with goat legs to approach her.
Palais de Chine creates an environment filled with knowledge and the elegance of art. Its unique sophistication guarantees a brand new hotel experience.
