NATIONAL REVOLUTIONARY MARTYRS’ SHRINE, TAIPEI, TAIWAN

Built in 1969, the main building, based on the architecture of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing’s Forbidden City houses about 390,000 spirit tablets. The spirit tablets to honor the dead who fought for Taiwan, Republic of China, mainly during the Xinhai Revolution, Northern Expedition, Second Sino-Japanese War, Chinese Civil War, and the First and Second Taiwan Strait Crises.

But it is the honor guards who go through the changing of the guard ceremony that’s worth seeing. Their precise and intricate procession every hour is the result of rigorous training and discipline. Once reaching the guard post the soldiers from the four branches of the military stand frozen until the next change of honor guards.

Tourist tempted to try to move the statuesque guards but be warmed, plain clothed secret agents are around to warn those who get too close.

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Changing of honor guards captured with Canon EOS 50D+24-70 f/2.8