Taiwan Literature Base

The Taiwan Literature Base is situated within the Qidong Street Japanese-style dormitory complex, one of Taiwan's few historical architectural clusters with the most complete preservation. It was also among the first Japanese dormitory complexes designated for area-based preservation under the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act. The complex includes one municipal monument and nine historical buildings, not only embodying rich local stories and connections to citizen experiences but also highlighting the contemporary significance of revitalizing and reusing Taipei's last remaining historical Japanese dormitory cluster. In the grid-like order of downtown Taipei, Qidong Street meanders like a gentle smile, curving between Jinan Road and Zhongxiao East Road. Behind this smile lies a long history—over two centuries ago, during the Qing Dynasty, this area was an ancient trail leading to Songshan and then to Keelung, known as "Sanbanqiao Street." At that time, the area was dominated by endless rice paddies and ponds. Amidst the irrigation canals, rice paddies, and ponds, the then-unnamed Qidong Street emerged, winding its way to bear the heavy responsibility of transporting essential goods such as rice and coal. During the Japanese colonial period, between 1920 and 1940, the Governor-General's Office successively constructed Japanese civil servant dormitories here, which are now known as the Qidong Street Japanese-style dormitory complex. Concurrently, the surrounding area gradually attracted various companies, factories, and other institutions, leading to increasingly prosperous commercial activities and the establishment of the "Chengdong Society" in this district. This organization frequently held community lectures, drama appreciation, performance appreciation, and film screenings, creating a boom in cultural and artistic experiences of that era. After World War II, the government continued to use this area as housing for central government officials. Major General Wang Shuming, then Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, also resided at No. 27, Section 2, Jinan Road. He later rose to ranks such as "Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force" and "Chief of the General Staff of the Ministry of National Defense." Until his relocation from the residence in 1992, this old Japanese-style house was known as the "General's Residence." After 2000, due to its central location amidst rapid urban development, the Japanese dormitories on Qidong Street once faced the threat of demolition. Fortunately, local residents of Xingfu Village, driven by their identification with the architectural cluster, old trees, and environment, formed the "Qidong Cultural and Historical Studio" in 2002. Through the efforts of residents and expert scholars, they successfully advocated for the preservation of nine adjacent terraced Japanese-style dormitories, which are now considered "an important and invaluable historical and cultural asset for the citizens of Taipei." With urban development, the construction and occupancy of new houses, schools, and factories, "Sanbanqiao Street" slowly vanished from maps, leaving only the smiling arc between Jinan Road and Zhongxiao East Road to remind us of its former existence. In 2011, the Ministry of Culture commissioned the Taipei City Government's Department of Cultural Affairs to renovate the Qidong Street Japanese-style dormitories (No. 25 and 27, Section 2, Jinan Road) and named this historical building "Qidong Poetry Salon." In July 2014, the National Museum of Taiwan Literature began its operation and management, planning exhibitions and literary promotion activities. With the completion of the restoration of five historical buildings in Qidong Street Lane 53, the "Taiwan Literature Base," dedicated to innovation and cultural heritage, officially opened in 2021 along this winding, smiling lane! (Source: Taiwan Literature Base official website)