The grounds that now play host to the Taiwan Literature Base were previously the home to the Qi Dong Poetry Salon. The site was registered as a historic building by the Department of Cultural Affairs Taipei City Government in 2004 and in 2006, it was designated by the Taipei City Government as a historic site and building, making it the first batch of Japanese-style dormitories to be preserved by the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, and ultimately transformed into Taiwan Literature Base in 2020.
The new Taiwan Literature Base, located on Qidong Street, officially opened to the public on January 19, 2021. Its 1150 square meters art space is expected to become a gathering place for creative energy and an important hub for driving Taiwan's cultural value and influence.
The building has been converted into seven buildings with different themes and functions, connecting various aspects of literature. The two buildings that originally housed the Qi Dong Poetry Salon have been renamed the Joy of Reading Hall and Qidong House—the former serving as a space for all-ages activities and reading picture books, while the latter is planned to host the permanent exhibition "The Birth of The Literature Base: A New Chapter of the Old Houses."
(Photo courtesy of Taiwan Literature Base)