Eslite Dunnan Store
Although the main goal is independent bookstores, Eslite Bookstore is a must-visit pilgrimage site. If Taipei 101 is the 'geographical landmark' of Taipei, then Eslite Bookstore is the 'cultural landmark' of Taipei. Not only in Taipei, but Eslite Bookstores spread across Taiwan have become a renowned cultural brand of the island. If I could only visit one Eslite, I would choose the Dunnan Store on Dunhua South Road without hesitation, not only because it is the first Eslite store in Taipei, but also because it is the filming location of the movie 'Au Revoir Taipei'—a love story between a bookstore clerk and a customer, showcasing the most literary side of Taipei.
The well-known literary magazine Flavorwire once selected the 20 most beautiful bookstores in the world. Among them, four are bookstores in Asia, and the one from Taiwan that made the list is VVG Something. Similar to how Eslite has many chain stores, 'VVG' has also successfully operated many branches in Taiwan. The difference is that the VVG series started as a restaurant, and the bookstore was initially just a 'warehouse' opposite the restaurant. Because the founder of VVG, Ms. Wang Liqin, loves traveling and reading, books, magazines, and souvenirs from all over the world piled up in the 'warehouse' and finally transformed into this small and beautiful bookstore in 2009.
Yue Le Bookstore
Although Good Sample was selected as one of the 20 most beautiful bookstores in the world, what surprised me was this Yue Le (yue) Bookstore. The bookstore is located in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and was originally a set built specifically for the filming of the idol drama 'The Bookstore in the Alley'. After filming ended, it was fortunately preserved and has now become a composite bookstore. Songshan Cultural and Creative Park was originally a tobacco factory, and the building where Yue Le Bookstore is located was once the nursery for the tobacco factory employees.
Blue Bird Bookstore
Do you remember the story of the fairy tale 'The Blue Bird'? A brother and sister set out on a journey to find the blue bird that could bring happiness, only to discover that the blue bird was actually by their side all along. The blue bird, symbolizing happiness, eventually gained its freedom and soared into the sky.
It has long been heard that there are many secondhand bookstores in Taiwan, among which Jasmine Secondhand Bookstore is known as the 'Eslite of the secondhand book world.' Its owner is from Kinmen, and his early work experience at 7-Eleven provided him with inspiration for running a secondhand bookstore. Unlike the traditional impression of secondhand bookstores, where books are piled up like mountains and pulling out one book might topple the whole stack, the books here are neatly arranged. The store environment is bright, clean, and very refreshing. If you didn't know, you wouldn't be able to tell it's a secondhand bookstore.
Zhuxuan Second-hand Bookstore
Zhuxuan Second-hand Bookstore was not originally on our list; it was a serendipitous encounter during our bookstore tour. If Jasmine Second-hand Bookstore differs from traditional second-hand bookstores, then Zhuxuan Second-hand Bookstore is a perfect example of a typical second-hand bookstore.
Mang Ge Shi Yi Second-hand Bookstore
If you have watched the movie 'Monga', you must be impressed by the oldest district of this city. In the old street of Monga, full of local flavor, there is a very stylish second-hand bookstore with a very special name, 'Mang Ge Shi Yi'. 'Mang Ge' refers to the earliest Chinese characters that appeared in the Wanhua District, where the old street of Monga is located, and 'Shi Yi' represents the collection of abandoned treasures.
If you follow Taiwan's independent music scene, you must know the live house Witch House, a must-visit for literary youth. And right above Witch House is Nüshu Bookstore, the first feminist specialty bookstore in the Chinese-speaking world, established in 1994. This store, run by a group of women, displays and sells books related to women: books written by women, books written for women, and books about women.
Near the Shida Night Market, there is a bookstore that can be said to be a favorite among book lovers in Taipei. Shuizhun Bookstore has been open for decades, and its biggest selling point is 'the cheapest bookstore in Taiwan.' Unlike the bright and beautifully atmospheric bookstores mentioned earlier, Shuizhun Bookstore not only doesn't look beautiful at first glance, but it even resembles a warehouse filled with books and cardboard boxes. The aisles can only accommodate two people passing shoulder to shoulder, but the books sold are very comprehensive. Basically, any book you can find at Eslite, you can find here, and the prices are much cheaper than at Eslite.
If Good Sample seems like accidentally entering Alice's Wonderland, then Chipmunk Picture Book House is like a fairy tale cabin in the middle of the city. This small shop, which specializes in children's books, opened in the spring of 2010. With its green fence, large floor-to-ceiling windows, vintage sign, and a thick, lush tree in the yard, it really feels like something out of a childhood fairy tale book.
The director of 'The Bookstore's Poetic Images', Hou Chi-jan, once said: 'It was only after filming that I realized running a bookstore is a tough and unromantic business, but I am grateful that these bookstores preserve cultural diversity in Taiwan, which is otherwise filled with chain stores.' When it comes to cultural diversity, GinGin's Bookstore, established in 1999, is a great example. It is the first LGBT bookstore in Taiwan and the Chinese-speaking world, and also the first LGBT-themed complex store in the Chinese-speaking world.
