Since the Japanese colonial period, Taichung has been the hub of literary activities in Taiwan. It was a stronghold for many literary organizations, including the pioneering Li Society and Taiwan Literature Society (traditional literature), Taiwan Literature and Arts League and its publications (modern literature), and the Taiwanese Cultural Association led by Hsien-tang Lin. In downtown Taichung, the Central Bookstore was both a base for literatures and artists and a place where new cultures were disseminated. After World War II, nativist literary organizations, such as the Silver Bell Society and Li Poetry Society, also set roots and thrived in Taichung. These facts fully demonstrate the glorious tradition and important role of Taichung as the center for the development of literature in Taiwan, thus giving it the reputation as a cultural city.
The Taichung Literature Museum used to be police quarters, which were built in 1932 during the Japanese colonial period. In an effort to preserve buildings with historical significance, present the spirit and context of the past, keep track of the development of literature in the greater Taichung area, and highlight the achievements of local litterateurs, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taichung City Government designated the quarters as historical buildings in 2009, and initiated a project in April 2010 to renovate and repurpose the quarters as the Taichung Literature Museum. The premises of the museum were open to the public as a literature park when the exterior renovation was completed in April 2015. As soon as the interior furnishing was done, the Museum opened for operation on August 26, 2016.
The Taichung Literature Museum consists of six buildings, which are used for permanent exhibitions, themed exhibitions, children's literature, workshops and lectures, themed dining area, and administration. Each building is mainly used for exhibitions, research and studying, and the promotion of Taichung literature. With diverse and lively exhibitions and interactive devices, the Museum aims to serve the purposes of literature educational and cultural recreation. The architectural beauty and historic atmosphere have made the Museum a new attraction for cultural tours.