The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is guarded by two soldiers that stand motionless on each side of the Chiang Kai-shek Statue. The guard changing at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial takes place every hour starting at 9:00 A.M. until 5:00 PM.

The basics of the ceremony is no different than other changing of the guard ceremonies. The on duty guards stand on duty until the replacement guards arrive and then they exchange places and the new guards take their position on the guard box and the original guards march off to rest.

The ceremony starts when the lead guard and the two new sentry guards march in and take their position in front of the statue of Chiang Kai-shek.

The on duty guards perform a rifle routine prior to leaving their position and then they join the new guards in front of the statue.

The on duty guards and replacement guards then face each other and they do a synchronized routine.

The replacement guards then take their position at the guard station and another rifle routine is performed before they stand motionless until they are replaced in one hour.

The lead guard then marches off with the replaced guards and the ceremony is complete.

The Dust on My Shoes

I am not sure why I enjoy watching the changing of the guard ceremony but I always go to see the ceremony every time I get a chance to watch one.

  • Maybe it is because I like to watch a military ceremony.
  • Maybe it is because I like to watch the guards do extremely precision routines.
  • Maybe it is because I like to see the honor and respect that the guards exhibit.
  • Maybe it is because in this crazy world there is a few minutes of stability.

or

  • Maybe it is because I just think it is interesting to watch.

Whatever the reason, I am not the only one that enjoys watching them because everywhere I go there is always a crowd standing in silence through the entire ceremony.

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