It feels like stepping into Totoro’s little house — Taichung’s forest-themed bookstore

By MOOK Scenic Spots Wu Pinxuan, compiled and reported
 
With the philosophy of “exchanging, not selling, every book,” the main purpose and mission of Lele Bookstore Art Space is to promote the flow of books, the circulation of knowledge, and to drive lifestyle changes and attitudes, allowing visitors to Lele to feel the warm, cozy atmosphere filled with the scent of books, coffee, and art.

What Lele is most famous for is the century-old “Grandpa Banyan” planted indoors, stretching through both the first and second floors. Grandpa Banyan comes from the Tree Bank. To ensure he can breathe nature all the time, a large skylight was installed above, letting sunlight pour into Lele, making you feel as if you’re in the world of Totoro.

The two-story building has a book-filled reading space on the first floor and an art space for hosting solo exhibitions on the second floor, making the idea of a platform for sharing design no longer a distant dream. The 10th and 25th of each month are Lele’s book donation days, while book exchange day is when you bring your books to the store on the 10th and pick up your swapped ones on the 25th.