Kaohsiung

Understand

Kaohsiung has got Taiwan's largest port. Although the ranking has declined, Kaohsiung is still the world's 14th largest cargo-container seaport as of 2018. The city has high concentrations of heavy industry, including steel production, shipbuilding, and other exports that have led to Kaohsiung's relatively high levels of air pollution (though the situation has improved substantially). Unlike Taipei, Kaohsiung is a planned city with wide streets and slightly less traffic congestion than the capital. The city has made great strides in transforming itself from a primarily industrial city into a modern Asian metropolis, and several areas of the city, such as along the banks of the Love River (Ai He, 愛河), have benefited from major beautification projects under the tenure of former mayor Frank Hsieh. The city is often known as Taiwan's Harbor Capital (港都) because of its close connection and heavy reliance on the ocean and maritime transportation. Kaohsiung began in the 17th century as a small fishing village named "Takao" (打狗), derived from the local aboriginal name meaning "bamboo forest". The name was changed to "高雄" (meaning: "high hero") by the Japanese in 1895, also pronounced "Takao" in Japanese, as they found the original name of 打狗 ("beating the dog") to be vulgar. After the island was incorporated into the Republic of China following World War II, the Nationalist government kept the Chinese characters but adopted their Mandarin pronunciation of Gāoxióng. Like the rest of southern Taiwan, Kaohsiung is a stronghold of the Taiwan independence movement. Tipping is not customary here. Excellent service is the norm, and service charges are often already included in the bill.

Orientation Many visitors coming from the north will arrive by high-speed train at the Zuoying High Speed Train Station, which is far to the north of the city. The city center around the Central Train Station and the Formosa Boulevard Subway Station can be accessed via the MRT's red line. Another common point of entry is the Kaohsiung International Airport, which is comparatively close to the city. The airport is on the MRT's red line, and the central area of town is a 20 minutes MRT ride away. There is a tourist information office on the ground floor of the international terminal.

Climate

Kaohsiung enjoys a mild tropical climate, comparatively milder and drier than northern Taiwan. The weather however remains hot and sticky in the summer, with June, July and August seeing the most rainfall. Still, the proximity of the city to the sea makes the summer heat much more bearable th

Getting there

By plane 1 Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH IATA) (About 20 min to the south of the city center.), ☏ +886 7 805 7631, fax: +886 7 805 7589. International flights from Asia arrive daily. There is one ATM before the immigration counters and many more as well as several shops of phone companies in the arrival hall. The airport is on the red Metro (MRT) Line and is also easily accessible by scooter, car or taxi. Kaohsiung is also well-served by domestic flights from Taiwan's outlying islands. However, the popularity of Taiwan High Speed Rail has resulted in the cancellation of all flights to other cities on the island except once daily service to Hualien. (updated Apr 2023) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport – 40 km west of Taipei, but connected to the country's High Speed Rail (HSR) network. Although Kaohsiung has an international airport, its service is more limited compared to Taoyuan. Taoyuan Airport serves Taipei and the north of Taiwan. It may be a better option to arrive there and use the HSR to Zuoying station in Kaohsiung (2 hr).

By train 2 Zuoying Station (On regular TRA trains: New Zuoying Station aka Xinzuoying Station). This station is served by high speed and regular TRA trains, with both the regular TRA trains and the Red Line of the Metro (MRT) connecting the relatively far away station to the city. (updated Apr 2023) 3 Kaohsiung Station. Kaohsiung's main railway station for regular TRA trains, located in the city center. Connected to THSR Zuoying Station both by regular trains and the Red Line of the Metro (MRT). Also serves trains to the East Coast cities of Taitung and Hualien. (updated Apr 2023) Traveling by train is a viable option for getting to Kaohsiung, as the fastest high speed trains from Taipei cover the distance in just 1½ hr on the Taiwan High Speed Rail line (THSR). There are 3 types of tickets: Business Reserved, General Reserved, and Non-Reserved. Reserved are approx. NT$1,500 and non-reserved slightly cheaper at NT$1400. Get Designated Seats if you are traveling with luggage, they are less than NT$100 more expensive. The stations and platforms are wheelchair-friendly and all trains include a wheelchair-accessible car (wider doors, ample space, accessible bathroom). Note that the official English guide for online reservations distinguishes between "senior or disabled tickets" and "handicap-friendly seats"; while it's possible to buy a ticket for the former online ("correct passenger ID" required), a ticket for the latter has to be reserved by calling the ticketing office on the phone. The HSR terminal is in Zuoyin

Getting around

A great way of getting around is to use the cheap city bicycles – see below.

On foot As the sidewalks double as scooter parking areas, caution and awareness are a must when walking through unfamiliar areas off of main streets. Generally, it is best to walk between the scooter parking row and store fronts, rather than between parked scooters and the road. Pedestrians should be especially aware when crossing a road as cars and motorbikes often run red lights. Exploring Kaohsiung on foot is highly recommended, as many of the distances between sites of interest are not far.

By metro

Kaohsiung Metro operates both the MRT and LRT. For the MRT, the Red Line runs from north to south, offering a handy route from the THSR Zuoying station and the airport into the downtown core, while Orange Line runs across the city from the Port of Kaohsiung in the west to the eastern suburb of Daliao, with Formosa Boulevard Station acting as an interchange between the two. The Metro Line is very clean and offers a convenient way to quickly move within the city. However, as the metro is rather young the network is yet not very dense and often you have to walk a few minutes to the next station. Operation of the MRT stops at about 23:30 for the orange line and as late as 00:30 for the red line. Ask at the information desk to be sure. Feeder buses are available to bridge network gaps and provide better access to the metro lines. The MRT stations are all well connected to the city bus lines for further transfers. Stations and trains are wheelchair-friendly, but note that when there are multiple exits from a single station, usually only one of these is equipped with a lift. Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail (marked by a green line) connects 38 LRT stations across the city in a loop, running through tourist hotspots, shopping districts as well as residential areas. It runs both clockwise and anti-clockwise, and it is based on the ground, so sometimes it will stop for traffic. To use the LRT system, simply tap your card on the scanner installed outside the station or inside the train. Since there is no gate, ticket inspections happen on a random basis, and there are fines for fare evasion (50 times the fare price), as well as a NT$1,500-7,500 fine if you refuse inspection. When getting off the train, you need to tap the card again. The K-MRT's ticket gates accept iPass, EasyCard, contactless MasterCard debit and credit cards, UnionPay credit cards, and QR codes from LINE Pay (if you set up your LINE Pay account outside Taiwan, make sure to set the QR code screen to Taiwan to generate

See

Cijin

The Cijin District (旗津; Qijin) is a slender island in front of Kaohsiung which serves as a natural breakwater for the harbor. The district is filled with seafood restaurants selling freshly caught seafood which can be prepared right after you pick it. If you have only a brief period in Kaohsiung, skip Cijin. If you have more than a day, you will find the island to be a pleasant and relaxing place to take a break. Most of the major sites can be seen within two hours. Cijin is connected to the rest of Kaohsiung City by tunnels, but the transportation of choice is one of the many ferries that traverse the harbor. Fare for the ride is NT$30 per person. Bikes and scooters can be brought aboard, but the fee is higher with a scooter (no extra fee for bicycles). Make sure you use Gushan ferry pier and not the one in front of Warehouse No. 2, as that one is less frequently served and is only for pedestrians. The ferries are wheelchair accessible. Upon exiting the ferry, turn right and head for the lighthouse and the fort, which are on a hill with great views of the city, the harbor, and the ocean. From there, continue south towards the beach (maybe visit the Star Tunnel) until you get to the plaza with a fountain. Here you can decide: either go into the street that goes back to the ferry and has about two blocks of snack stands, as well as some good seafood restaurants. Or (especially if you rent a bike, either from Youbike or a rental from a shop in Lisyong Street next to Hamasen station), there is a nice coastal path that goes south along the beach through Cijin Coast Park.

1 Chihou Lighthouse, #34, Chi-Xia Lane, Chi-Jin District. The lighthouse was built by English technicians during the rule of the Ching Dynasty (1883). In 1916, the Japanese remodeled it into Baroque style and painted it white. This renovation was made as part of the expansion of Dagao port. The lighthouse has played a crucial role in guiding ships since 1918 during night sailing. (updated Apr 2023) 2 Chihou Fort, #34, Chi-Xia Lane, Chi-Jin District. Chihou Fort is a battery which was designed by an English engineer. It was after the Ching (Qing) government took over Taiwan that the fort became a military base. The fort stationed a naval commander and one hundred soldiers. The battery was also armored with four British-made Armstrong breechloaders weighing 6.5 tons each. The fort was occupied by the Japanese army in 1895. Subsequently, the cannons in the fort were dismantled and melted. Meanwhile, the battery was abandoned. In 1988, Kaohsiung city government started to restore the

Do

Downtown Kaohsiung

1 Pier 2 Art Center (駁二藝術特區), between Hamasen Metro Station and Yanchengpu Metro Station. 10:00-18:00 daily. This former warehouse district has been converted into a series of contemporary art galleries. As these are commercial galleries and not museums, admission tends to be free. Between the warehouses there are numerous outdoor sculptures. The district is near Fishermen's Wharf, which can serve as a great place to grab a meal after a day looking at art. (updated Apr 2025) 2 Fishermen's Wharf / Banana Pier, Near Hamasen Metro Station. This tourist area features a number of restaurants with live performers and seaside seating. There is also a free exhibit within Banana Pier about Taiwan's banana industry. (updated Apr 2025)

Elsewhere 3 i-Ride Experience Center. Panoramic flying attraction in Kaohsiung Software Technology Park. The ride brings you an amazing soaring experience across the Kaohsiung skyline with immersive 4D effect. (updated Jan 2026) Kaohsiung Lantern Festival. At the end of Chinese New Year, near the Kaohsiung harbour and along the Love River, the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival is filled with a variety traditional lanterns and more modern light sculptures, nightly fireworks shows, Taiwanese food stands and other art programs and live concerts. 4 Urban Spotlight (城市光廊). 24h. Located at the corner of Central Park, Urban Spotlight is a cafe with a stage where local live bands perform in the evening. Take a walk around Central Park then stop at the cafe to cool off. Night Markets. Food, games, and shopping. Try the Liuho Night Market, which is a tourist market. Ruifeng night market, at the corner of YuCheng and Nanping, heaves with locals. Closed Mondays and Wednesdays. Take a nighttime stroll along the promenade of the Love River and enjoy the live music, a coffee or an ice cream in one of the cafes. Go to the top of the 85 Tower, the second tallest building in Taiwan.

Buy

1 Hello Market (哈囉市場). A big, old-fashioned outdoor market selling all manner of food, plus clothing and household goods. See the fish flopping out of their bins and frogs trying to escape from their bags. (updated Jan 2020)

Eat

There are numerous seafood restaurants dotting the main street in Cijin Island, all offering the same fresh seafood for about NT$100-200 per dish. It is a great idea to go in a small group and order a few dishes to try, probably one more dish than the number of people in your group. In the evening, a night bazaar goes into full swing. There are lots of little eats to eat as per Taiwan's night markets, BBQ squid, mochi to name a few are particularly good.

Flavor of the Sea Seafood Restaurant, #75 Miao-chien Road, Cijin District, ☏ +886 7-5711861. Wen-Chin Seafood Restaurant, #28 Miao-chien Road, Cijin District, ☏ +886 7-5714568. 11:00-22:30. Man-San Seafood Restaurant, No.179-11, Jhongjhou 2nd Rd., Cijin District, ☏ +886 7-5714191. 11:00-21:00. Riverside Sea Food Restaurant, #68-16, Chong-chou Second Road, Cijin District, ☏ +886 7-5713485. DanDan Burger, No. 224號, Qixian 2nd Rd, Qianjin District, Kaohsiung City +886 7 241 0928

Night markets

Night markets are a great place to pick up cheap local foods, including stinky tofu, barbecued squid, red bean pancakes and the like.

1 Liouhe Night Market (Liuhe Night Market 六合夜市), Liuhe 2nd Rd 六合二路 (MRT Formosa Boulevard). The most popular and touristy night market, full of Japanese and Korean tourists. Lots of seafood, some local dishes but more stuff for tourists, from Turkish doner to "Thai" banana pancakes. Don't expect the food to be particularly good—the practice seems to be to display a tank of live prawns to prove how fresh they are, all the while sticking frozen ones on the grill. Open pretty much every day after 17:00/18:00. It's fun if you've never experienced a Taiwanese night market before, but in the end it's basically a tourist trap. For real local eats, turn right at the western end of the market and head north up Zili Road (自立路). (updated Jan 2020) A more local, food-oriented night market is Rueifong Night Market (瑞豐夜市), straight outside exit 1 of MRT Kaohsiung Arena. It is open Tuesday and Thursday to Sunday, but if you are uncomfortable in crowds you should avoid the weekends. A similar night market is 青年夜市 near MRT Da-Dong.

Budget Lunchboxes are common throughout the city, and a choose-your-order buffet take-out are typically NT$50-100. The food is typically fried, with a mix of vegetables and meats. The ubiquitous 7-Eleven stores have tea eggs, hot dogs, packaged beverages and junk food. Lunchbox style microwavables are also available, including dumplings, spaghetti and curry rice.

Jiu Pin Xiang Vegetarian (九品香素食). A chain of small vegetarian buffet restaurants with a deli

Drink & nightlife

Two local beer companies, Tsingtao and Taiwan Beer, are ubiquitous throughout the island and can be purchased by visitors cheaply with little hassle about age restrictions. Most major soft drinks are available, and tea stands on almost every corner offer concoctions of fruit, yogurt, green tea, the Taiwanese specialty "bubble tea," and a variety of other flavors. While tap water is most certainly not potable, good reverse osmosis filtration will remove bacteria and heavy metals, and is considered safe for consumption. Water dispensers, which resemble gas stations, are present throughout the city. However, they, along with many of the bottled water brands, are suspect. Both have been found, in the past, to simply bottle or distribute tap water. To avoid ingesting non-potable water, only purchase bottles that are sealed with an expiration date clearly printed on the bottle. Often, it is easier to simply purchase green tea at a stand or a convenience store, or a soft drink. Restaurant water is safe, with the exception of some lunchbox eateries and stands on the street.

2 Coins Bar (2 COIN小酒館), 350 Fujian St (½ block from the Lees Hotel at Wu-Fu 1st Road and Fujian). 2 Coins Bar is a small bar down the street from the Lees Hotel. The bar owner is quite nice, but doesn't speak English. Good music and decent prices are standard for this relaxing bar. Green Creek Cafe, #2, Hai-an Rd., Cijin District, ☏ +886 7-5720157. 07:00-23:00. La Mambo Cafe & Dine, 2F., #10, Hai-an Road, Cijin District, ☏ +886 7-5721998. 11:00-23:00.

Milk Tea Sinle Street is known for its milk tea outlets. Most of them are located in the eastern portion. As with restaurants in the Yancheng district, competition is fierce, as such shops that stood around for a long time tend to be already well-known.

1 Shuang Fei Milk Tea (双妃奶茶), No. 173, Sinle St, ☏ +88675218300. 09:00-21:00. This outlet specializes in milk tea, and is a favorite shop for tourists to Kaohsiung. They have an English menu. NT$35-75. (updated Apr 2025) 2 Ou-jia Yin-pin (藕家飲品), No. 87, Dayong Rd, ☏ +88675211388. W-Su 10:00-20:00. Located on the intersection, it is the first shop you see if you come out from Yanchengpu MRT Station Exit #2. They specialize in lotus tea, lotus milk tea, and milk tea made with lotus boba. Menu in Chinese only, but the owner is friendly and helpful, and will let you try out his drinks. NT$48-98. (updated Apr 2025) 3 Jiu-jiu Tea Shop (玖玖茶舖), No. 119, Sinle St, ☏ +88675516539. 10:00-21:00, closed on Mon. Milk tea shop specializes in white fungus flavored-drinks. Menu available in Chines

Sleep

Budget 1 Backpacker 41 Hostel (背包客四一), No. 39, Lane 261, Siwei 3rd Road (苓雅區四維三路261巷39號), ☏ +886 952 612212, [email protected]. Pretty and clean hostel with large beds and a kitchen. Dorm: NT$410. (updated Oct 2015) 2 Takaobay Hostel, No.33 Dacheng Street, Yancheng District, ☏ +886 983-666-345, [email protected]. Newly furnished with a very friendly and helpful proprietor. Close to the Pier-2 Art Center. £10-30. 3 Trip GG Hostel, 6th floor, No. 117 Zhongshan First Road 中山一路117號6樓 (right across from Formosa Boulevard metro station, exit 1), ☏ +886 7-2851231, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Friendly hostel with a kitchen, a lounge with a view, curtains on the bunks for privacy, an outlet beside each bunk, lockers big enough for a regular-sized backpack, decent Wi-Fi, and a free, simple breakfast. Free towel rental. Washing machines available (NT$50 to wash and NT$50 to dry, or air-dry on the outdoor stairwell for free). NT$600 weekdays, NT$700 weekends, cheaper if booked online. (updated Jan 2020)

Mid-range 4 Century Hotel (世紀旅店), No.85-5, Lingya 2nd Rd., Lingya District (KMRT Sanduo Shopping District Station, KMRT Central Park Station), ☏ +886 73310111, [email protected]. Hotel Holiday Garden, 279, Liouhe 2nd Road (六合二路279號). Clean and modern tourist guest house. Around 4-star service and rooms. Staff speak English and are very forthcoming in helping you in anyway. All rooms have free high speed WLAN-connections. Taxi drivers recognize the hotel by the Chinese hotel name "華園飯店". Close to Love River and behind hotel there is an orange-line K-MRT station. The Kingship Hotel Kaohsiung, #98, Chi-Shen 3rd Road, Yen-Chen District, ☏ +886 7-5313131, fax: +886 2-27152121. Moon Lake Shinkuchan Modern Hotel, 348 Minsheng 1st Rd. Nobel Hotel, 146 Sanduo 1st Rd, ☏ +886 7-7151470. Venus Hotel (高雄昭来大饭店), 311, Cing Nian 1st Road (青年一路311號) (SE Corner of Jhongshan 2nd Road/Cian Nian 1st Road), ☏ +886 7 333-5111. (website is in Traditional Chinese). Clean and affordable hotel near the city center and shopping centers (Far Eastern 21 shopping mall, night markets) and minutes from KMRT stations (between R8 and R9 stations)right across the street from Brickyard. Free breakfast is included in room rate with choice of traditional Eastern or Western style faire. The hotel offers free internet and the front staff speaks enough English to get you what you need or to get you where you need to go. Rooms from NT$880 for students; NT$1099 for everyone else.

Splurge 5 Howard Plaza Hotel Kaohsiung (福華大飯店), 311 Chihsien

Go next

Tainan is to the north. It can easily be accessed by train or car. There is a regular train service from Kaohsiung Central Train Station. The journey takes around 30 minutes, which makes Tainan an attractive day-trip or even half-day destination. Pingtung County is to the south. All the way to its southern end is Kenting. Taitung County is to the east. However, the Southern Cross-Island Highway ( Provincial Highway Number 20) has been closed mid-way since 2009 due to the Typhoon Morakot, so you have to take a very long detour via the South-Link Highway ( Provincial Highway Number 9) if going by road. Penghu – An outlying island archipelago, with a saturated turquoise sea around and coral sand, so pack beach wear.