The Chishan Elementary School was founded a decade before the establishment of the Republic of China. It was a public school during the Japanese Colonial Period, and has a history of over a century. In 2000, the school was designated a historic site prior to the merger of Kaohsiung County with the Greater Kaohsiung City.

The school has an elegant overall design and an air of cultural nostalgia. Its Greenwood Road, Glass Footbridge, Library, outdoor stage, and amphitheater were designed and built to harmonize with nature as a way to make learning enjoyable for students.