Wenshan previously referred to the region south of the Taipei Basin (including Xindian and Pinglin).

In 1894 (late Qing era), the local gentry changed the name from "Fist Mountain" (拳山) to the more elegant "Fort Wenshan" (文山堡, from 文山秀氣).

After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945, the government divided the region into three areas, which are Jingmei, Muzha and Shenkeng on 1 March 1950.

Notable attractions in this district include the Zhinan Temple (指南宮), Taipei Zoo, Maokong, Jingmei Night Market, Xianji Rock (仙跡岩) and Fudekeng Environmental Restoration Park.

There are 10 transit stations located in Wenshan District: Xinhai, Wanfang Hospital, Wanfang Community, Muzha, and Taipei Zoo on the Brown Line, Wanlong and Jingmei on the Green Line, and Taipei Zoo South, Zhinan Temple Station, and Maokong on the Maokong Gondola.