A must-visit literary heritage for literary youths: a historic site with a twist, housed in a Japanese-era building

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Jun(e), compiled and reported

Located near Guting Station in Taipei, amidst the bustling city noise, you’ll suddenly come across a distinctly Japanese-style old building that feels like a hidden oasis. This is the Kiirun-an Literature Forest. In addition to the over-century-old historic structure, there is also a newly built annex nearby, together forming Taipei’s first literature-themed cultural and artistic space. By blending the Japanese-era building with the literary history of southern Taipei, it has become a top destination for literary youths.

The fate of the Kiirun-an historic site has been full of twists. Originally built as a restaurant renowned for its scenic views, in memory of a former home in Japan, it unexpectedly became a temporary shelter for war-wounded during the Pacific War. After the war ended in 1945, it served as temporary housing for Japanese residents, and after the retrocession, it was taken over by the Nationalist government as staff housing for provincial employees.