People often don’t realize that Kaohsiung has a lot to offer to tourists. There are many amazing historical and natural sites to see, as well as amazing food, shopping, and an interesting culture. Many of the places down south aren’t represented as well in English as other sites in Taipei, which is why we want to help everyone realize what a great place it is. I lived in Kaohsiung for three years and it was like living in paradise every day (I wish I still lived there).

Below I will list out some of the best places in Kaohsiung that I have visited. I will be sure to update this blog as I visit more places (and take more photos) later. 

How to get around in Kaohsiung?
As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. However, you can also a great deal of Kaohsiung by taking the MRT, light rail, train, inter city bus, local bus, taxi, or bicycle (U-bike rental). 

When to go?
Kaohsiung is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season lasts from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is dryer. 

Map:

Fo Guang Shan (aka Buddah Light Mountain, Buddah's Light Mountain, or Buddha Memorial Center) is a Buddhist sect based in Dashu District of Kaohsiung. The headquarters in Dashu feature the largest Buddhist monastery in the country along with a 8 pagodas, a large pyramid, huge sitting buddha statue, and Buddha museum. The massive complex can fill a tourists itinerary for more than a day, and is TripAdvisor's top ten tourist landmarks in Taiwan.

Background:
The Fo Guang Shan religion was established by Hsing Yun in 1967, begning with the development of the monastery in Dashu. The religion is focused on Humanistic Buddhism, with an emphasis on technology.
Fo Guang Shan has since grown to be one of the largest charitable organizations in Taiwan. Currently it has established medical programs, several colleges, one university, and has presence in 173 countries.
The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum started construction in 2008 and was completed in 2011. 
One of the most precious artifacts in the museum is the tooth of Sakyamuni Buddha. The grounds feature eight pagodas, hundreds of statues, 4 different museums, an auditorium, Jade and Golden Buddha Statues, and 48 underground palaces (time capsules).

How to get there:
From Kaohsiung, take provincial highway 29 north to Dashu, and it will be right in front of the National Highway 3 bridge. You can also travel there via public buses.
 
Price:
Free

Hours:
9 AM to 8 PM

Map:
Please see below:

The Kaohsiung 85 Sky Tower is the tallest and most recognizable building in southern Taiwan. The tower is shaped like the character "高" (as in 高雄 aka Kaoh siung or gao xiong), to represent the city of Kaohsiung and show Chinese symbolism through architecture. The observatory level open to visitors provides excellent views of the city. The tower can also been seen most anywhere in Kaohsiung, making it truly the symbol of the city.

Background:
The 85 was began construction in 1994 and was completed in 1997. It stood as the tallest building in Taiwan at 347 meters (1,140 feet) until 2004 when the Taipei 101 was built. It was also previously known as the T & C Tower and the Tunex Sky Tower. The tower was designed by C.Y. Lee who also designed the Taipei 101. It also featured the world's highest atrium. The tower gets its name because it is 85 stories tall (actually it's only 83, but they rounded up to make it sound better). For more information you can check out the Wikipedia article on the tower here.
In 2020 the main hotel 85 Sky Tower Hotel 君鴻國際酒店 closed its doors, partly due to the effects of the Coronavirus. The 75th story observatory was also closed. Later, the real estate was bought by the HPW comglomerate (海霸王) and the hotel and observatory are currently undergoing rennovations. 

How to Get There:
By MRT: Take the Kaohsiung MRT red line to Sanduo Shopping District Station. The tower is right in your face to the west as you come out of exit 4.
By light rail: Take the light rail to Kaohsiung Exhibition Center Station. The tower will be right in your face to the East.
By car/scooter: Take Sanduo 4th Road all the way west, you can't miss it. There is underground parking with the entrance on the south side.

74-75 Floor Observatory Price: 150 NT per person (currently closed for renovations)

74-75 Floor Observatory Hours: 9:00 AM - 12:00 midnight (currently closed for renovations)

Hotels in the 85:
85 Sky Tower Hotel 君鴻國際酒店: 3000-5000 NT per night, floors 37-85 (currently closed to be taken over by a new hotel group soon)
Mingli Hotel 明麗飯店: 1500-3000 NT per night, floors 7-11
Airbnb type rooms: 900-2000 NT per night

Map: Please see below:

Maolin District of Kaohsiung City is an amazing outdoor paradise and my favorite place in Taiwan. In this mountainous district of Kaohsiung, you can find waterfalls, streams, hot springs, butterflies, aboriginal culture, and great views, all by the roadside! Popular activities include swimming, hot spring bathing, river tracing, camping, and hiking. 

Please note I have also finished blogs about Maolin Village, Wanshan Village, Duona Suspension Bridge, and Duona Village (click the links to see each individual blog).

Background:
During the Japanese occupation, some of the original inhabitants of Maolin Village live in the mountains behind Wanshan Village. However later these aboriginals were forcibly moved to the current village. Many of the inhabitants were originally located elsewhere, but had to relocate their home or village due to typhoons or unsafe terrain. There are a few abandoned villages above the current village that you can still hike to. 
The villages have about 2000 total inhabitants, mostly aboriginals from the Rukai (魯凱族) Wulu Bunun (布農) and Paiwan (排灣) tribes, as well as some Han Chinese people. The district also has Maolin Middle school, the only middle school, and three elementary schools.
Wanshan has the smallest population of any village in Taiwan according to the government website here, with a population of just 450 people. 95% of the people are aborigines from the Rukai Tribe (魯凱族), and the rest are either from the Wulu Bunun Tribe (布農) or Han Chinese. 
Originally the people of Wanshan village lived at the base of Mali Mountain (麻里山), but were moved by the government in 1956 to their current location. 
Many of the inhabitants of Maolin were originally located elsewhere, but had to relocate their home or village due to typhoons or unsafe terrain. There are a few abandoned villages around Maolin that you can still hike to. 
Typhoon Morakot brought record floods to Taiwan because it slowly moved over the island delivering torrential rain. Nearly 700 people were killed during the disaster (to see what Maolin looked like right after the flooding, check out this blog here). 
Basically all the bridges in Maolin were destroyed during Typhoon Morakot in 2009 except Duona Suspension bridge which is built so high that it would never be affected by floodwater.
Most all the bridges currently in Maolin were reconstructed after the 2009 floods.  
Duona is the most remote village in Maolin District of Kaohsiung City, and is said to harbor the most complete version of the Rukai Aborigine culture.
The Rukai People first began to move into the area now known as Duona about 300 years ago (1700s), making it one of the oldest aborigine villages in Taiwan.
Most of the people live in traditional stone houses made from nearby plentiful shale rock, which are characteristic of the Rukai Tribe. The stone houses are warm in the winter and stay cool during the summer. 
Near the village is a small plain which is said to be the home of Taiwan's indigenous species of black rice. The village was almost completely cut off from the outside world until the Japanese built the Duona Suspension Bridge, which helped to link it to the rest of Taiwan as well as better control the native population. 
The actual Distrcit boundaries extend to Pingtung County and Taitung County, and include largely untouched and "virgin" forests and mountain wilderness areas such as Shuang-guei Lake, providing precious wildlife habitat for many of Taiwan's indigenous animals and plants.

Price: Free

Hours: 24/7

When to go:
I recommend going in the summer time when the waterfalls have plenty of water and warm temperatures make it a great time to go swimming. In winter it will be cold and the waterfalls can dry up.
On the other hand if you want to go just for hiking, winter would be a better time to go.
If there is a Typhoon, the inhabitants of Maolin will be evacuated, and you should not try to go in for your own safety.
If you are coming to see butterflies, the butterfly migration is in the fall and ends roughly in November. 

How to get there:
By Car: Maolin can be reached via provincial highway 27 from Pingtung or Liugui. Once you come to Dajin Bridge, go straight up the mountain. 
By Bus: You can take a bus there but I don't recommend it. It's a 3 hour bus ride from Pingtung Bus Station. If you can rent a car or scooter it is about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Kaohsiung. 

Map: 
​Please see a map below marked with all the destinations we will visit in this blog:

The Xingda Seafood Market (aka Xingda Tourist Fish Market, Hsinta Harbor Fish Market or Qieding Fish Market) is a large seafood market in Qieding District of Kaohsiung. You can find just about any kind of fresh seafood here, including sashimi, whole fish, shellfish, squid, etc., along with other traditional Taiwanese snacks. Also, the market is known for high quality knives. It is definitely worth a trip if you are in the area.

Background:
Xingda Seafood is often called Qieding Fish Market because it is located in Qieding District of Kaohsiung, which is not very large and only covers a small area near the harbor. This area has been a delta for rivers and since the Qing Dynasty has served as the border between Tainan and Kaohsiung, which has changed with the Erren River. 
Xingda Harbor was built in 1997 and consists of four parts: a yacht tourism and business area, ocean business development zone, Fuli harbor living zone, and themed relaxation zone. There is also a fish market here. In the future, there are plans to expand capacity for the harbor.

Hours:
11 AM to 6 PM (opens one hour earlier and closes one hour later on weekends)

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: Take provincial highway 17 north from Kaohsiung or South from Tainan and stop at Xingda Harbor. There is free parking on the side of the road. 
By bus: From Tainan Train Station, you can take Tainan bus 1 south to Xingda Harbor Station. The whole trip will take about an hour and a half.

Map:
​Please see below:

Qijin Island (aka Cijin Island or Chijin Island) has one of the most accessible sandy beaches to any urban area in Taiwan. Besides the nearly 10 Km stretch of sandy shores, the island also has an old street with tasty snacks, a seafood market, a lighthouse, an ancient fort, a star tunnel, a shell museum, and much more. It is one of the most popular destinations in Kaohsiung and definitely worth a trip.

Background:
Qijin Island was first settled by a Chinese fisherman named Hsu Ah-hua (徐阿華) in the 1600's, discovered after he took shelter there during a typhoon. He brought many families with him from Fujian to settle there. They created the first Mazu temple there, Chi Jin Mazu Temple in 1673.
The lighthouse dates from 1883 and was built in the English style.
The fort on the hill to the north of the Island was completed in 1875 during the Qing dynasty.
After WWII, Qijin was made a district of Kaohsiung City. In 1979, Taiping Island and Dongsha Island were added under the district's administration. 
Qijin Island used to be a sandbar peninsula, but was separated from mainland Taiwan at its southern tip to make a second entrance into Kaohsiung Harbor in 1967.
There were plans for a cross harbor gondola but they were scrapped due to the height needed to cover the harbor.

How to get there:
By Passenger Ferry: Ferry's leave from Gushan near Xiziwan MRT station about every 10 minutes 24/7 (every half hour at after midnight).
Or there is also another passenger ferry in Qianzhen that connects with Zhong Zhou Ferry Terminal. 
By Car/Scooter: Take the underwater tunnel on the south side of the island. Scooters can cross, but not bicycles. 

Price:
Passenger ferry crossing: 40 NT
Bicycle ferry crossing: 50 NT
Motorcycle ferry crossing: 80 NT
Showers: Free!

Hours: 24/7

​Map: Please see below for the places we will cover in this blog:

Jingyuan (aka Jing-Yuan Leisure Farm or Air Coffee) is a unique Taiwanese style holiday destination. It claims to have the only open air restaurant in Taiwan that literally borders an airstrip, so you can sip coffee and watch large commercial airplanes take off and land right next to you. Also there is a zoo with hippos, lions, llamas, and other animals. In addition there is a large playground, mini train, campground, and multiple restaurants on the grounds. 

Background:
Jingyuan originally opened about 20 years ago as a coffee shop next to Kaohsiung International Airport in Xiaogang. Later, more attractions were added to the grounds such as a child's playground, petting zoo, campground, and additional restaurants. 
It is not usually a stop for travelers to the airport; it sits on the opposite side of the airstrip from the airport terminal. It is more of a destination for local Taiwanese people.
On weekends the place is usually packed with people, mostly families with small children. 

Hours:
9:30 AM to 11:00 PM

Price:
250 NT per adult
​150 NT per child

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From central Kaohsiung, take provincial highway 17 south to Caoya MRT station, then turn left on Zhongan Road. You will then need to turn right onto Mingsheng Road Alley 120, and keep going until you reach the parking lot. 
By MRT/bus: Take the MRT to Caoya Station, then take bus 69A 10 minutes to Mingsheng Station. The farm is just a short 2 minute walk away.

Map:
​Please see below.

The former British Consulate at Takou in Kaohsiung is over 150 years old, spanning a long and complex history in Taiwan. Originally built by the British, it was taken by Japan, then used as a weather observatory by the ROC, and in 2003 it was converted into a museum. Now it is a popular tourist destination, with great views of Kaohsiung Harbor and Xiziwan.

Background:
The British built the consular residence in 1865. The building materials were shipped over from Xiamen, China. Robert Swinhoe was appointed as the first Consul General in Taiwan.
The building was forcibly taken by the Japanese in 1909.
After the ROC took Taiwan in 1945, they converted the building into a weather station. 
In 1986, the building was declared a historic monument, and in 2003 it was converted into a museum.
Now the government maintains the fort as a tourist attraction. 
In 2005, the building received over 400,000 visitors and received a Yuan-Yeh Award. 

Hours:
10 AM to 7 PM

Price:
Admission: 99 NT per person (can be used against merchandise in the gift shop over 300 NT). 
Cruise Adventure Journey of Robert Swinhoe: 299 NT (a boat cruise around Kaohsiung Harbor and Xiziwan)
​
How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. The fort is past the old street on highway 2. Parking can be hard to find, but there should be plentiful parking at Tamsui Elementary School and other places further away.
By MRT: Take the red line MRT north to Tamsui station and walk 1 KM north or take a bus to the fort. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Monkey Mountain (officially Shoushan, aka Chaishan 柴山 and other names) in Gushan District of Kaohsiung City, is one of the most easily accessible trails in Kaohsiung with perhaps also the best views of the city. You are sure to see wild monkeys here.  It should be on the top of your list of places to visit in Kaohsiung.

Background:
Monkey Mountain get's its name because of the large population of Formosan Macauqes that live in the Shoushan Nature preserve on the mountain. In  Chinese the name literally means "Long Life Hill," named agter the Japanese crown prince Hirohito. Other names include Wanshoushan 萬壽山 Takaoshan 打狗山 Dagushan 打鼓山 or Kaohsiung Mountain 高雄山.
Shoushan formed millions of years ago from coral reefs that were pushed up thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Philippine plates. 
Monkey Mountain lies at 365 meters above sea level, and is about 5 km long and 2.5 km wide.
The mountain is home to some of the earliest archaeological remains in Kaohsiung, dating back 5000 years. The area also served as a military installation during the Qing Dynasty, Japanese Era, and for the KMT.
There is free tea along the trail for hikers.
Also there are quite a few caves on the mountain to explore. 
Currently Monkey Mountain and is one of the most popular trail networks in Koahsiung or all of Southern Taiwan. With quick access to the MRT and TRA, hundreds of people hike these trails daily.

Hours:
24/7 

Price:
Free

Length:
Chaishan Trail 柴山步道: 2-3 hours, 5 KM
Total of about 200 meters in elevation gain

Difficulty:
Easy, although there are many steep steps along the way. 

How to get there:
By TRA: Take the TRA to Museum of Fine Arts Station, then walk about 200 meters west toward to the mountain. Use Google Maps, there is a trailhead near Qianguang Temple 千光宮. 
By Scooter/Car: There are multiple ways to get up to Shoushan, and there are multiple parking lots around. You can also start from the trailhead near Qianguang Temple 千光宮. ​
​
Map:
Please see below:

The Shoushan Zoo (aka Kaohsiung City Shoushan Zoo) is the second largest zoo in Taiwan, and at the same time has an extremely affordable price of only 40 NT per adult. If you have time you should definitely stop by and visit this zoo, if not for anything else but to see popular animals including Formosan black bear,, African elephants, Bengal tigers, Siberian tigers, mini horses, African lions, and orangutans. 

Background:
The Shoushan Zoo was originally established in 1978 near the Xiziwan, and was known as the Xiziwan Zoo. Due to the construction of Chungshan University in Xiziwan, the Zoo was relocated to Shoushan and opened again in 1986.  In 2009, the zoo underwent a major renovation which expanded the park and made it more child friendly. Also two Siberian Tigers were added. 
 
The current zoo includes a Taiwan indigenous animal exhibit, children's petting zoo, American Asian animal exhibits, American animal exhibit, African animal exhibits, primate exhibit, and bird exhibit. Popular animals here include African elephants, Formosan black bear, Bengal tigers, Siberian tigers, mini horses, African lions, and orangutans. 

Hours:
9 AM to 5 PM, tickets are not sold after 4:00 PM. 
Closed Mondays.

Price:
40 NT per person
Train: 50 NT per person

How to get there:
By MRT/Bus: From MRT Formosa Boulevard Station, take bus 52 to the Shoushan Zoo. The trip takes about 30 minutes. 
By Car/Scooter: Drive to Xiziwan and take Xinglong Road up the mountain to the zoo. The parking lot is about 500 meters from the zoo entrance. Parking is 30 NT per day for cars.

Map:
Please see below:

The Taiwan Sugar Museum (aka Qiaotou Sugar Factory/Refinery) is a historical sugar refining Factory in Qiaotou District of Kaohsiung City. It was the first sugar factory in Taiwan and lasted nearly a hundred years. Now it has been converted into a museum and cultural center, and is one of the most popular attractions in the area.  

Background:
The first Han Chinese settlers to Qiaotou came during the late Ming Dynasty, along with Koxinga. The original name of Qiaotou District was was Xiaodianzai (小店仔), a name given because in the olden days there was a few shops near a the Yungui Bridge (允龜橋). Later during the Qing Dynasty, the row of shops became a long street known as Xiaodianzai Street (小店仔街). The Yunchong Bridge crossed a small ditch near the old street, and after a while people referred to the street as Qiaotou Street (literally the street at the head of the bridge). The ditch was later filled in with earth and the bridge was torn down, but it stood near the current stinky tofu stand.  
In 1901, during the Japanese era, the first sugar factory in Taiwan was built in Qiaotou. At it's height, it was producing 18,000 tons of sugar per year. After the fall of sugar production in the late 1900s due to the reduction of available land and the growing cost of producing sugar in Taiwan, the factory began to slow production. In 1999, the sugar factory stopped producing sugar, and in 2006 it was converted into a museum.
Due to its convenient transportation from both the MRT and TRA, the Qiaotou Sugar Museum has become a popular attraction, and is especially crowded on weekends. 
​
Hours:
9 AM to 4:30 PM

Price:
Free entrance, different areas inside may require additional entrance fees. 
Ten Drum Creative Park 十鼓文創園區: 350 NT

When to go:
Anytime, it never gets really crowded here.

How to get there:
By Scooter/Car: From central Kaohsiung, take provincial highway 1 north (scooters) or national freeway 1 (cars) until you reach Qiatou. There is paid parking in front of the sugar factory.
By MRT/TRA: Take the MRT or TRA to Qiaotou Train Station stop. The old street is just one block south of the train station.
​
Map:
​Please see below:

Qiaotou Old Street (aka Xiaodianzai Street 小店仔街) is a historical street in Qiaotou District of Kaohsiung City. Originally a major industrial hub for sugar cane, now it is a quiet agricultural town in rural Kaohsiung in the shadow of the nearby Qiaotou Sugar Factory. It is not a super touristy old street, but has some well preserved historical buildings nearby.

Background:
The first Han Chinese settlers to Qiaotou came during the late Ming Dynasty, along with Koxinga. The original name of Qiaotou District was was Xiaodianzai (小店仔), a name given because in the olden days there was a few shops near a the Yungui Bridge (允龜橋). Later during the Qing Dynasty, the row of shops became a long street known as Xiaodianzai Street (小店仔街). The Yunchong Bridge crossed a small ditch near the old street, and after a while people referred to the street as Qiaotou Street (literally the street at the head of the bridge). The ditch was later filled in with earth and the bridge was torn down, but it stood near the current stinky tofu stand.  
In 1901, during the Japanese era, the first sugar factory in Taiwan was built in Qiaotou. In 1999, the sugar factory stopped producing sugar, and in 2006 it was converted into a museum.
Currently the old street is not so popular as a tourist old street, but is more of a vegetable market for locals. Also, you can tell that the buildings here have mostly all been renovated to look modern, which has taken away from the old town feel.
Still there are many people who visit here, mostly as a side stop along the way to or from the Qiaotou Sugar Factory.

Delicacies:
Qiaotou is still mostly a rural area, with the main agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables. On the old street some popular local delicacies are spring rolls. rice cakes, stinky tofu, and pork buns.
​
Hours:
All day, hours differ between shops. 

Price:
Free

When to go:
Anytime, it never gets really crowded here.

How to get there:
By Scooter/Car: From central Kaohsiung, take provincial highway 1 north (scooters) or national freeway 1 (cars) until you reach Qiatou. The old street is just one block south of the train station.
By MRT/TRA: Take the MRT or TRA to Qiaotou Train Station stop. The old street is just one block south of the train station.
​
Map:
​Please see below:

Liuhe Night Market (aka Liuhe Tourist Night Market) is the oldest and perhaps most popular night market in Kaohsiung. It is located right next to the Formosa Boulevard MRT station, making it a convenient place for tourists to visit. Here you can find every kind of traditional Taiwan night market food you could ask for, especially fried chicken, squid, shrimp, and crab, as well as dried pork. Also Liuhe is very pedestrian friendly and you do not have to fight crowds here.

Background:
Liuhe Night Market has about 200 set stalls, and stretches along both ends (and center) of Liuhe Road. It dates back to 1940, where there was an empty lot in front of the Gaoyi Hospital on Liuhe Road. At that time it was known as Dagangpu Night Market. In 1987, the area was made into the earliest pedestrian night market area in southern Taiwan by the Kaohsiung City government. In 2010, according to an online poll, the night market was voted the most eco-friendly, pedestrian friendly, and best overall night market in Taiwan. 
From 2010 to 2016, the night market serviced many Mainland tourists, so many of the old stalls moved out and were replaced in more tourist oriented stalls with higher prices. However after Mainland tourists were barred from coming to Taiwan in 2016, the night market began to cater more to locals and prices have gone down. 
The night market is one of the largest in Kaohsiung, and certainly could be the winner of most pedestrian friendly night market in Taiwan. 

Hours:
5 PM to 2 AM every day.

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 17 north to Formosa Boulevard MRT station. There is paid car parking nearby and free scooter parking near the night market. 
By MRT: Take the Kaohsiung Red or Orange Line MRT to Formosa Boulevard MRT station. The night market is about a three minute walk from the station. 

Map:
Please see below:

Ruifeng Night Market (aka Rueifong Night Market) is currently the largest and most crowded night market in Kaohsiung, and in my view the best. It is located right next to the Kaohsiung Arena MRT station, making it a convenient place for tourists to visit. Here you can find every kind of traditional Taiwan night market food you could ask for, such as fried squid, fried octopus balls, papaya milk, milk tea, and chicken and beef steak, as well as games, clothes, and other shopping. 

Background:
Ruifeng Night Market has about 1000 stalls, and includes over 21 rows of stalls. Parking is available next door at the Kaohsiung Arena in Zuoying District of Kaohsiung. 
The name Ruifeng comes from Ruifeng Street in Gushan District of Kaohsiung, where the night market was originally located. After about 10 years there, due to lack of convenient transportation the night market was relocated to its current location near the MRT, where it has remained for about 20 years. 
The night market is near many high schools and universities, so the crowds here are mostly younger. 
The night market is one of the largest in Kaohsiung, and certainly could be the winner of most crowded night market in Sothern Taiwan. 

Hours:
About 8 PM to 2 AM
Closed Mondays and Wednesdays. 

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 17 north to Kaohsiung Arena MRT station and turn left. There is paid car parking nearby and free scooter parking near the night market. 
By MRT: Take the Kaohsiung Red Line MRT to Kaosiung Arena station. The night market is about a three minute walk from the station. 

Map:
Please see below:

The Gaoping Old Iron Bridge (aka Lower Tamsui River Iron Bridge 下淡水溪鐵橋) is a disused railway bridge across the Gaoping River, formerly connecting Kaohsiung to Pingtung. The bridge was retired in 1987 in favor of a new electrified bridge, and the center section of the bridge was washed away during Typhoon Haitang in 2005. At the time of construction, it was the longest bridge in Asia and the first overland pathway created between Kaohsiung and Pintung. Originally planned to be torn down, it was saved by concerned residents on both sides of the river and now stands as a monument to the past. 

Background:
The Gaoping Old Iron bridge began construction in 1910 and was completed in 1913. A rail link was needed to ship sugar cane and related products from Pingtung to Kaohsiung Harbor. 
During the Japanese era, the Gaoping River was known as the lower Tamsui River, hence the name of the bridge was the Lower Tamsui River Iron Bridge. 
Due to the river's wide banks and strong current, it was a great engineering feat of its time. Along the way many floods halted and destroyed construction. Two months after construction was complete, the railway from Kaohsiung to Pingtung was officially opened. 
The bridge was 1,526 meters long, 7 meters wide, with trusses 15 meters high. At the time of construction, it was the longest bridge in Asia and the first overland pathway created between Kaohsiung and Pintung.
The current trusses on the bridge were built in 1964, to replace the corroding old trusses from the Japanese era.
The bridge was retired in 1987 in favor of a new electrified bridge with two tracks as part of the electrification of Taiwan's railway. The bridge was officially retired in 1992. Originally planned to be torn down, it was saved by concerned residents on both sides of the river and was named a national historic monument in 1997.
The center section of the bridge was washed away during Typhoon Haitang in 2005, washing out the No. 9, 10, and 11 pillars. No. 12 and 14 pillars were also wiped out in a Typhoon in 2006, and another fell in 2008.
In 2018 the wooden cross beams were replaced, which had begun to rot.
Currently there are parks on both sides of the river commemorating the bridge, with more people visiting the Kaohsiung side due to its proximity to down town Dashu.

Price:
Free

Hours:
24/7

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 29 north to Dashu. Stop when the road goes underneath the railroad. There is plenty of parking nearby. You can also cross the provincial highway 1 bridge to Pingtung and drive to the park on the other side of the bridge. 
By Train: Take the TRA to Jiuqutang Station. The park is about a five minute walk away. You can also take the TRA to Liukuaicuo Station and walk back west to the park on the east side, but it is about a 3 KM walk. 
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Map: Please see below:

Weiwuying, also known as the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, is a performance arts center in Fengshan District of Kaohsiung City. It is the largest arts venue under one single roof in the entire world. It has the largest pipe organ in Asia. It was also named as one of the top 100 places in the world by Time Magazine. The arts center also sits next to Weiwuying Metropolitan Park. It is a must see spot for any foreign tourist visiting Taiwan.

Background:
Before 1950, the land on which Weiwuying stands was undeveloped. After that, it was used as a military recruitment camp under the KMT. In 2003, it was decided to use the land as one of Taiwan's main stimulus projects. It was decided that an arts center should be built, and Mecanoo Architecten was chosen as the developer. Ground was broken in 2010, and the main building was completed in 2012. After some delays, the building was finally completed and opened in 2018. The building's shape was inspired by banyan trees in the nearby metropolitan park, with open spaces and walls similar to sitting in a banyan grove. Also, much of the steel needed for creating the unique curved shape was made by local shipbuilders in Kaohsiung. Over a meter of insulation was also added to the roof for sound-proofing. 
The center includes 2236 seats in the main theater, 1981 seats in the music hall, 1210 seats in the drama theater, 434 seats in the performance hall, as well as capacity for over 30,000 people in the grassy area near the building part of Kaohsiung Metropolitan Park. There is also an exhibition hall and business exhibition center. 
Since its opening, it has been nominated for multiple architecture awards. Also, it was named as one of the World's 100 Greatest Places by Time Magazine in 2019.

Hours:
11:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day (outdoor courtyard open 24/7)

Price:
Depends on the event.

Website:
https://www.npac-weiwuying.org/about?lang=en​

How to get there:
By MRT: Take the Kaosiung MRT Yellow line to Weiwuying Station.
By car/scooter: From central Kaohsiung drive east along Sanduo Road across national freeway 1 until you reach Weiwuying, it is hard to miss. There is plenty of paid parking nearby. 
​
Map:
Please see below:

Formosa Boulevard Station has been named the second most beautiful MRT station in the world. It includes the largest glass piece of artwork in the world, which covers the roof and pillars in the central part of the station. Did I mention it's an MRT station? Yeah. Some people like to take selfies here. 

Background:
Formosa Boulevard Station is currently the only interchange station on the Kaohsiung MRT, connecting the red and orange lines. 
It's name in Chinese is simply "Formosa Station" referring to the Formosa Incident in 1979 (aka the Kaohsiung incident) which was a crackdown by the KMT on the pro-democracy movement in Taiwan and helped lead to the full democratization of Taiwan. 
The added the name "boulevard" to the English name, refers to Chungshan Road which is also known as Formosa Boulevard. 
The "Dome of Light" was designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata, and is made of over 4,000 glass pieces. The art piece took over 4 years to complete and the glass was shipped from Germany. The four main themes of the station are Water: The Womb of Life; Earth: Prosperity and Growth; Light: The Creative Spirit; and Fire: Destruction and Rebirth. It has a diameter of 30 meters. ​
In addition, large bending glass windows on the four main exits were designed by Shin Takamatsu Architect & Associates.
The station was completed in 2008 and had 18,000 daily passengers as of 2019. ​

Hours: 
6 AM to midnight. 

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA to Kaohsiung Station, and then switch to the MRT line. Get off at Formosa Station, and you have arrived!
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 17 in downtown Kaohsiung to the intersection of Chungshan 1st Road and Zhongzheng 4th Road. The station is underneath the roundabout. 
​
Map:
Please see below:

Fengshan County New City in Fengshan District of Kaohsiung is not new, but it was the new rebuilt city after the old city of Fengshan in Zuoying was destroyed in a rebellion. It now stands as a monument to the past with only one surviving city gate and three batteries, from when the Qing Dynasty ruled western Taiwan. The old city sits in a pedestrian shopping area and is a nice place for a stroll. It is definitely worth a visit on your trip to Kaohsiung. 

Historical Background:
After the capture of Taiwan by the Qing Dynasty, they quickly set up a settlement in Zuoying in 1684 because of its strategic location between hills and mountains.
The walls of the Old City of Fengshan first started as earthen walls with a moat in 1721. Before this, the construction of city walls was forbidden by the Qing government to prevent rebellions, but after a rebellion by Chu Yi-kuei (朱一貴) in which he ruined the government buildings there with no protection, the Qing allowed walls to be built.
The uprising by 17 year old Zhu Yigui was successful in exiling the provincial government out of Taiwan after heavy taxation and a bad earthquake had left the people destitute. The Qing took back the capital of Tainan about a month later and Zhu Yigui was executed. 
In 1787 another rebellion by Lin shuang-wen (林爽文) ruined the old city, and afterward the local government relocated to the current Fengshan district of Kaohsiung and created a new Fengshan City in 1788. However the government was still attacked continuously.
In 1826, the government rebuilt the Old Fengshan City walls and improved them. During the Japanese Era, most of the remaining city gates and walls were destroyed for city planning and development purposes.

The New City of Fengshan had six gates and six batteries, and included a bamboo wall and an earthen wall. Currently only one city gate remains intact, as well as three batteries.
Originally there were four gates: the Outer North Gate (外北門, no longer exists), North Gate (北門, no longer exists), Greater East  Gate (大東門, no longer exists), East Minor Gate (東便門,  also known as Tongyi Gate 同儀門 still exists), South Gate (南門, no longer exists, also known as Anhua Gate 安化門), and West Gate (西門, also known as Jinghua Gate 景華門 which no longer exists).
Originally there were also six batteries: Pingcheng Battery (平成砲台, still exists),  Chenglan Fort (澄瀾砲台, extant), Xunfeng Battery (訓風砲台, extant), Yingen Battery (迎恩砲台, destroyed), Dongnan Battery (東南砲台, destroyed), and Dongbei Battery (東北砲台, destroyed).

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free
​
Map:
Please see the existing city gates and batteries marked with red castle icons below, and temples dating back to the old city in orange below:

The Old City of Fengshan in Zuoying is the oldest walled city on the island of Taiwan. It has survived rebellions, raids, and changes of power, and now stands as a well preserved monument to the past, from when the Qing Dynasty ruled western Taiwan. It is definitley worth a visit on your trip to Kaohsiung. 

Historical Background:
After the capture of Taiwan by the Qing Dynasty, they quickly set up a settlement in Zuoying in 1684 because of its strategic location between hills and mountains.
The walls of the Old City of Fengshan first started as earthen walls wiht a moat in 1721. Before this, the construction of city walls was forbidden by the Qing government to prevent rebellions, but after a rebellion by Chu Yi-kuei (朱一貴) in which he ruined the government buildings there with no protection, the Qing allowed walls to be built.
The uprising by 17 year old Zhu Yigui was successful in exiling the provincial government out of Taiwan after heavy taxation and a bad earthquake had left the people destitute. The Qing took back the capital of Tainan about a month later and Zhu Yigui was executed. 
In 1787 another rebellion by Lin shuang-wen (林爽文) ruined the city, and afterward the local government relocated to the current Fengshan district of Kaohsiung and created a new Fengshan City. However the government was still attacked continuously.
In 1826, the government rebuilt the Old Fengshan City walls and improved them, building them with concrete and granite stone, and at the time it was the most advanced city wall in Taiwan. However the city remained mainly unused because it was considered unlucky. 
During the Japanese Era of Taiwan, the Japanese made Zuoying a naval port and changed the area into a military zone. 
Zuoying continued as a military zone during the ROC era, but the old walled city of Fengshan was designated as a national monument.
Major renovations of the walls and gates occured in 1991 and renovations are still ongoing. 
Originally there were four gates: the North (also Gongcheng Gate 拱辰門), South (Ciwen Gate 啟文門), East (Fongyi Gate 鳳儀門), and West Gate (Dianhai Gate 奠海門, no longer exists).

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free
​
Map:
Please see the existing city gates marked with red castle icons below:

The Old Fengshan City Confucius Temple Chongsheng Shrine in Zuoying, Kaohisung dates back to the 17th centruy and is the second oldest Confucious Temple in Taiwan. The temple has survived typhoons, revolts, and allied air raids. Now only a part of it sits in the middle of an elementary school yard.

Historical Background:
The Old Fengshan City Confucius Temple Chongsheng Shrine dates back to 1685 when the first part of the Confucious Temple was built in Fengshan during the Qing Dynasty. It survived revolts, typhoons, other natural disasters, and was constantly repaired and expanded. 
During the Japanese era in 1914, a new public primary school was built and the Confucious temple was incorporated as part of the school. Later, in order to expand dormitories, the sides of the courtyard, main entrance, and main temple were torn down. The spirit tablets were transferred to the Tainan Confucious Temple. 
During allied air raids in Kaohsiung, what was left of the temple was completely destroyed except one building, which was the Chongsheng Shrine.
After the ROC took over Taiwan, the Chongsheng Shrine acted as Kaohsiung's confucious temple until the new Zuoying Confucious Temple could be built in 1976, and most of the important shrine artifacts were moved to the new temple. 
In 1982, the shrine was renovated. Later, more temples were built around Lotus Lake.
Now the shrine sits in the school yard at Fengshan Old City Elementary School, and is thought to bring good luck to the students. 

Hours:
Anytime besides school hours (7:30 AM to 4 PM on weekdays).

Price:
Free

How to Get There:
By Car/Scooter: From central Kaohsiung, go north on provincial highway 17 and then turn north on Zuoyingxia Road. The temple is on your right in the Elementary school yard and is hard to miss. There is free and paid parking all around near Lotus Lake. 
By Train: From the north you can walk to the pond from Zuoying HSR station, or from the south you can walk there from Zuoying Jiucheng TRA Station. 

Map:
Please see below:

Gangshan's Skywalk Bridge (aka Xiaogangshan Skywalk Park) is a tourist attraction in Gangshan District of Kaohsiung, which features great views of Agongdian Reservoir and norther Kaohsiung City. The bridge is in the shape of a violin, and there is constant music playing here. If you visit Kaohsiung, this place should definitely be on your list.

Background:
Siaogangshan Skywalk Park  was completed in 2018 at the price of 128,000,000 NT. It is 40 meters tall and 88 meters wide. It officially opened February 14th, 2018. The main pylon resembles a violin and includes 24 suspension cables that look like violin strings. It's Chinese name literally means "the eye of Gangshan."

Hours:
9 AM to 9 PM, closed Mondays

Price:
60 NT per person
Tickets are free until the end of December 2020!

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take Jiaxing East Road east out of Gangshan until it becomes Dazhuang Road, then park at the parking lot in front of the dam. There is a shuttle bus that will take you to the top of the mountain for 25 NT per trip. Vehicle traffic is not allowed up the mountain. The shuttle bus comes about every half hour.
By Bus: From Gangshan MRT Station, take buys R68 A or B to Siaogangshan Station. The trip takes over an hour. 

Map:
Please see below:

Cheng Ching Lake (aka Cheng Cing Lake or Ching Qing Lake) in Kaohsiung is one of the most beautiful parks in Taiwan. Much of the lake is full of traditional Chinese gardens and architecture. Because of its size, it cannot be properly appreciated by only going there for one afternoon; there are simply too many things to see and do there. In this blog, we will provide you a detailed virtual tour of the entire lake.
 
People often don’t realize that Kaohsiung has a lot to offer to tourists. Many of the places down south aren’t represented as well in English as other sites in Taipei, which is why we want to help everyone realize what a great place it is. I used to live in Kaohsiung and exercised at Cheng Ching Lake daily, and it was like living in paradise every day. There are many Kaohsiung residents that visit the lake daily for free, and I envy them.

Historical Background:
Cheng Ching lake is the largest lake in Kaohsiung. Originally it was only a small irrigation pond, but in 1940 the Japanese diverted water here from the Gaoping River to act as a water supply for the surrounding area. During that time it was called Dabei Lake (大埤湖), however Chiang Kai-Shek (the leader of the ROC) renamed it Cheng Ching Lake (澄清湖) in 1963.
The ROC army used the lake as a base shortly after the Chinese Civil War, and built an underground tunnel and bunker to prevent against nuclear attack, which has now been converted into the Cheng Ching Lake Exotic Marine Life Museum. The lake contains a number of memorials to ROC soldiers, such as memorial plaques, army veterans mausoleum, and Fuguo island to commemorate soldiers that fled to the island of the same name in Vietnam during the Chinese Civil War.
The lake is meant to resemble Xihu (西湖, west lake) in Hangzhou, China. Chiang Kai-shek built a winter chateau on the lake, one of 30 guests houses that were built for him in Taiwan. 
Surrounding the lake are a number of other notable sites including the Kaohsiung Yuanshan Hotel Resort, Cheng Ching Lake Baseball Field, Cheng Ching Golf Club, Kaohsiung number 7 waterworks station, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Cheng Ching Lake Youth Activity Center.
Chengqing Lake is also a water source for a large area of Kaohsiung. Because of this (as well as risk of drowning), fishing and swimming in the lake are forbidden.
Every year over a million visitors come to the park, although these numbers have gone down in recent years due to aging infrastructure and lack of new attractions. It is a haven for retired Taiwanese people to come and relax, and more and more young people seem to forget it exists.

Price:
100 NT per person
50 NT for students, 60/100 NT for cars (there is a discount for cars on weekdays), and 30 NT for scooters.
Kaohsiung residents: free!

Hours: 4 AM - 9 PM (no entry after 6 PM)
 
How to Get There:
By Car/Scooter: There are two entrances to the park, one on the north side and one of the south side. There are plenty of places to park once inside. The price is 60/100 NT for cars (there is a discount for cars on weekdays), and 30 NT for scooters.
By Bus: From the Weiwuying MRT station, you can take the 70A bus straight to the main entrance.

Map:

Fengshan Reservoir in Kaohsiung lies on the top of Fengshan Mountain in Xiaogang District of Kaohsiung, and is a nice area to relax and enjoy views of the surrounding area. 

Background:
Fengshan Reservoir was completed in 1984 to provide water for the surrounding industrial areas in Xiaogang and Linyuan. The reservoir itself lies across three districts of Koahsiung: most of it is in Xiaogang, about one third of it lies in Linyuan, and one industrial spillway lies in Daliao. 
The dam holds 7.8 million tons of water, making it a medium to small sized reservoir in Taiwan.
The road around the area is open at the hours listed below. Swimming, bicycle riding, barbequing, and fishing are prohibited.  

Hours:
5 AM to 8 AM 
and
2 PM to 5 PM

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: You can enter from the east or west gate which can be reached from Dapingding or Daliao (see map below). The gates are only open in the early morning and in the afternoon as noted above. 
By Bus: From Xiaogang MRT station, you can take bus R8 E to Daliao Yuantong Temple station. From there you can walk about 30 minutes up the hill to the reservoir's east entrance. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Qishan Old Street is a large a popular historical street in Qishan District of Kaohsiung City. Originally a major industrial hub for sugar cane during the Japanese era, now it is a quite agricultural town in rural Kaohsiung. It is one of the best old streets in Taiwan for its many agricultural products and snacks, as well as the many well preserved historical buildings in the area. 

Background:
The original name of Qishan was Taburian, a name given by the Makatao Siraya Aboriginal Tribe that had inhabited the area for thousands of years.
During the Qing Dynasty, the local Han farmers who began to cultivate the area first planted sweet potatoes (Fanshu 蕃薯) so the area was named Fanshu Village.
During the Japanese Era in 1920, the name was changed again to Qishan. They re-planned the city streets, making them look like a chess board. Also they created what is now Zhongshan Road, or Qishan Old Street, and many western baroque style houses were built along the street at the time.
​Qishan station was completed in 1910 for the Taiwan sugar company, to ship sugar cane from Qishan to Jiuqutang Station in Dashu. The railway line included many stations in between.
After World War 2, the railway line was still in use and began accepting passengers in 1973, as the sugar cane industry died down. By 1979, passengers were banned on the line and the line was dismantled. 
Qishan is still mostly a rural area, with the main agricultural products being bananas, rice, beans, gourds, and other fruits and vegetables. On the old street some popular local delicacies are Rouyuan, Mantou Buns, Tangyuan, and Zongzi.
Now Qishan station and many of the western style houses has been registered as historical monuments. Qishan Old street is also a popular spot for tourists on weekends, and is usually closed to vehicle traffic during the day on weekends and holidays.

Delicacies:
Qishan is still mostly a rural area, with the main agricultural products being bananas, rice, beans, gourds, and other fruits and vegetables. On the old street some popular local delicacies are Rouyuan, Mantou Buns, Tangyuan, and Zongzi.
​
Hours:
Every Day from about 9 AM to 10 PM, with more shops opening later in the day.

Price:
Qishan Old Street: Free
Qishan Station: 30 NT

When to go:
If you go during weekends or holidays, it can get really crowded but that is also the time when most all of the shops and stalls are open. If you want to avoid the crowds you can try going early in the afternoon when it is not as busy, 

How to get there:
By Scooter/Car: From central Kaohsiung, take provincial highway 29 north (scooters) or national freeway 10 (cars) until you reach Zhongshan Road in downtown Qishan. This is the old street.
By Bus: From Zuoying HSR station or Kaohsiung main station there are many intercity busses that can take you to Qishan Station in about an hour.
​
Map:
​Please see below:

Ever want to see an active volcano up close? You can at the mud Volcanos in Wushanding Nature Preserve, Yanchao District of Kaohsiung. These spew out mud all day, which piles up and then gets washed away by rain. It is a unique and beautiful geological oddity worth visiting. These are the largest and most concentrated mud volcanoes in Taiwan. 

Geological History:

Wushanding Mud Volcanoes are part of a stretch of badlands that cover a large swath of southern Taiwan near the central mountain range in rural Tainan and Kaohsiung. Typical badlands are found in dryer climates, are composed of sedimentary rocks, typically have very little vegetation, and have deep valleys or ravines. The badlands in Taiwan are unique in that they are in a tropical rain forest. How is this possible? 
The soil at Wushanding is composed of mudstone, sandstone, shale, and chalk. Because of high alkaline levels due to chalk in the soil, trees and grass cannot grow very well. The lack of vegetation as well as high rainfall gives way to quick eroding hills, or badlands. The local Rivers also helped to carve out the landscape and bare hills.
Due to vents in the earth's crust as well as deep pressures, water is pushed up to form these mud volcanoes. Nearby are also some natural gas vents, such as the ones at Guanziling Fire and Water Cave. The area around Yanchao is full of badlands and mud volcanoes, but the volcanoes at Wushanding are the most concentrated and pronounced in all of Taiwan. 
Wushanding was declared a protected area in 1992.
Because of limited public transportation, normally there are not too many visitors but the weekends can be busy.

Hours:
9 AM to 4:30 PM every day

Price:
Free! But you have to register in order to enter the park.

How to Get There:
By Bus: From Eda World, take bus 7A to Kaohsiung Normal University. It is about a 20 minute walk from the university. 
By Car/Scooter:
Take National Freeway 10 East out of Kaohsiung and get off at the Yanchao exit (or travel by scooter under the freeway). Then travel east on provincial highway 22 passed National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology. You will have to use google Maps to turn left onto a one lane country back road to find the mud volcanoes. 
​
Map:
Please refer to the map below: