Nangang Station was originally built during Japanese rule of Taiwan in 1899 to support local industries and the growing population.

Since then, the station has been upgraded three times to support tremendous growth: in 1905, in 1966 (due to the KMT moving the ROC government to Taiwan), and in 1986–1987 (to accommodate increased passenger traffic and new cargo traffic).

It served as the eastern terminal until Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Bannan Line platform opened in 2011.

The design of the Taipei Metro portion of the station centers around a "Nostalgia and Technology" theme with aqua green selected to signify an image of a fish pond.

Paintings by artist Jimmy Liao are displayed around the station including on the platform walls.