Chongqing South Road Bookstore Street Introduction
●Introduction: Chongqing South Road, originally named Fuchien Street and Wenwu Street, is a historic bookstore street in Taiwan. At its peak, there were over a hundred bookstores and publishers, and many literary figures, intellectuals, and students enjoyed spending entire afternoons browsing here. For them, the bookstore street was akin to their Xinyi District, a shopping paradise, and it can be said that this street has nurtured many of Taiwan's elites. However, due to various factors impacting its popularity, the bookstore street has gradually declined, with the most well-known major publishers remaining resilient. Nevertheless, Chongqing South Road still boasts the highest density of bookstores in Taipei. ●Features and Recommendations: During the Japanese occupation, the "Taiwan Book Company" was established on Chongqing South Road, dedicated to printing textbooks of that time. After the restoration, it was renamed "Taiwan Bookstore," preserving the historical literary atmosphere of the street. Today, numerous bookstores line the street, offering a wide variety of books across different fields and purposes. Unfortunately, due to market changes, a decrease in the reading population, and the impact of online bookstores, the number of physical stores has significantly diminished. Still, despite these challenges, the bookstore street maintains an important status, with many publishers and bookstores continuing to operate here, serving readers. Upon entering, one can immediately sense the rich aroma of books. Picking up a book, reading slowly, and savoring your favorite parts, the hours can quickly fly by. This feeling resonates with many who stroll along Chongqing South Road's bookstore street, known for its long history. Older generations recall that at its peak, over a hundred bookstores and publishers were present! There are many long-established bookstores, such as San Min Bookstore, which has a collection of nearly 150,000 titles and pioneered the "library-style" bookstore concept in the nation, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a vast world of knowledge. Other notable bookstores like Rulin Bookstore, World Bookstore, and Tianlong Bookstore add to the variety, with about 20-30 stores, each with its unique characteristics.
