Travel in Kaohsiung and Its Surroundings
General Information
The city of Kaohsiung is the second largest city in Taiwan, with nearly 3 million residents. It is a major port city located in the southwest of the country and serves as the political and economic center of southern Taiwan.
Between Kaohsiung and Taipei you can drive along highways in about 4 hours (net). The distance between the cities, located at opposite ends of the island, is about 360 km. You can also travel between the cities on a fast, comfortable bullet train in under two hours.
Kaohsiung has an international airport offering flights to other cities in Taiwan and to countries primarily across Asia.
The city has excellent public transportation, including a subway (MRT), light rail, and ferries to the nearby island; nevertheless, many locals still prefer getting around by scooter.
It is recommended to stay in the city for 2-3 nights and dedicate two full days to exploring the city and its surrounding areas.
Recommended Hotels in Kaohsiung
Starhaus Hotel Kaohsiung
A quality 4-star hotel featuring bathtubs/hot tubs and a free minibar stocked with juice, cola, water, and snacks. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary, generous lounge offering cakes, soups, a variety of fruits, coffee, yogurt drinks, and more. On the rooftop floor, there is a fitness center as well as two washing machines and two dryers available free of charge for hotel guests, including laundry detergent. Free internet and parking.
Hotel Dùa
A 4-star hotel in a prime central location near the major Formosa Boulevard Station subway hub and the night market. The hotel offers a fitness center, a bar, and a restaurant. Free internet and parking.
H2O HOTEL
A 5-star hotel at an attractive rate featuring a rooftop swimming pool, fitness center, three restaurants, and a bar. Free internet and parking.
Silks Club
A modern, luxurious 5-star hotel. Excellent central location next to an MRT station. Renowned for its superb service, the hotel offers a rooftop infinity pool, spa, and fitness center, as well as a high-end restaurant and bar. Complimentary in-room minibar. Free internet and parking.
Top Tourist Attractions in Kaohsiung
♦ Guided Tours Suitable for Cruise Ship Passengers in Kaohsiung:
Bookable on VIATOR, including pickup and return to the cruise port:
Lotus Pond
The #1 tourist destination in Kaohsiung! A breathtaking, distinctive site that you should not miss!
Lotus Pond, situated in the northern part of Kaohsiung, gets its name from the abundant lotus blossoms growing in the water. However, its most striking allure comes from the colorful, massive pagodas and statues set within it. Long walkways spanning the lake lead directly to these structures. At the base of two pagodas stand a dragon and a tiger statue, which visitors can enter to access the pagodas. Climb the steps inside to admire the beautiful panoramas from above, including the temple located on the opposite shoreline.
Crossing the lake are two additional walkways leading to further impressive monuments. One is the Pei Chi Pavilion, capped by a gargantuan statue of the Northern Polar Emperor holding an enormous sword inscribed with seven stars.
Another walkway connects to the Spring and Autumn Pagodas, a pair of four-story octagonal pagodas linked together by a bridge. Out front stands a magnificent dragon mounted by the Goddess of Mercy.
Visitors can walk through the belly of the dragon to reach the pagoda. These two pagodas link to an elongated bridge reaching into the lake, at the end of which stands another small pavilion.
You can step inside the massive tiger and dragon statues to marvel at the vibrant paintings and carvings decorating their interiors.
Lining the lake between the pagodas and giant statues is a pleasant walking promenade flanked by food stalls and souvenir shops. Just across the road running along the lake stand two temples.
It is an enchanting, vibrant attraction well worth spending several hours exploring.
Video of Lotus Pond:
Pier-2 Art Center and the Railway Museum
Pier-2 is a former warehouse complex adjacent to the wharf that has been revitalized into a cultural, art, and entertainment hub. The venue has transformed into an artistic district showcasing exhibitions, creative workshops, galleries, boutique shops, and restaurants. Extensive creative effort went into decorating the buildings, painting murals, and placing diverse sculptures throughout the open grounds.
The shops here are open from 10:00 to 18:00, and until 20:00 on weekends and holidays. The light rail has dedicated stops right next to the district.
Adjacent to the Pier-2 Art Center lies the Railway Museum. On-site, historic rail cars and vintage locomotives sit atop preserved tracks interspersed with environmental art installations.
Kaohsiung Liouhe Night Market
The Liouhe Night Market is named after the street on which it is held, Liouhe 2nd Road.
During the day, it functions as a regular thoroughfare lined with neighborhood storefronts and eateries. Starting at 6:00 PM, however, vehicle access is blocked off and the avenue transforms into a bustling pedestrian mall brimming with diverse street food stalls: seafood, dumplings, soups, skewered meats, ready-to-eat fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh juices, filled pastries (both vegetable- and meat-stuffed, either fried or steamed), as well as a local favorite: stinky tofu.
Tables line the center of the pedestrian promenade to seat the many patrons who come to dine. Scattered along the market are also stalls selling souvenirs, bags, wallets, ornaments, and inexpensive goods. The market remains lively and full of shoppers even on weekdays. It operates from 6:00 PM until around midnight. Be sure to arrive hungry!
Subway Station
Kaohsiung features two MRT subway lines. Formosa Boulevard Station, situated at the edge of the night market, sits right where the two lines intersect. A visit to this station is highly recommended—even if you are not taking the subway—thanks to its extraordinary design featuring the "Dome of Light," a vibrant illuminated stained-glass ceiling supported by two massive glowing pillars. In the station concourse, a public piano is also set up for visitors to play after registering their details with station staff.
Ferry to Cijin Island
Cijin Island is a long, slender strip of land roughly 8 kilometers long and half a kilometer wide, forming the natural barrier harbor for the city. At its far southern tip, the island connects to the mainland via an underwater tunnel; at its northern tip near the cruise terminal, it connects via frequent pedestrian and scooter ferries.
The island boasts organized beaches situated on the side facing away from central Kaohsiung. Renting bicycles is extremely popular (available in all sizes and styles, including multi-seat family surreys) to cycle toward the beaches and along the scenic coastline.
Taking the ferry to Cijin Island in the evening followed by a stroll through the bustling pedestrian promenade makes for a memorable night of dining and shopping. The vibrant market street is packed with shops and diverse food vendors serving fresh seafood, potted ice cream desserts, and fresh tomatoes in savory dipping sauce. Visitors will also find plentiful souvenir stalls and electronic gadget shops offering competitive prices (often cheaper than in Taipei).
Love River
A river flowing through downtown Kaohsiung, lined with promenades and plied by illuminated tour boats and gondolas. It is especially popular after dark. Along the esplanade stands a vibrant, large illuminated sign spelling out the word LOVE. The river and its scenic walkways look out onto the modern skyscrapers of central Kaohsiung.
Day Trips Around Kaohsiung
Visit the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
About a half-hour drive northeast of Kaohsiung lies the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, regarded as Taiwan's premier museum for Buddhist art, literature, and architecture. It also houses a sacred Buddha tooth relic. The complex is an expansive, breathtaking site containing eight distinct pagodas and a colossal statue of the Buddha.
♦ Booking a Guided Tour to the Buddha Museum - also departs from the Kaohsiung Cruise Port - from VIATOR:
Kaohsiung Shore Excursion to Buddha Bliss and Baking Fun
The facility serves as a cultural, religious, and educational center. The grounds are modern, immaculate, and decorated with numerous statues and expansive murals lining the grand boulevard between the pagodas leading up to the giant Buddha statue at the far end.
The site houses numerous restaurants and retail shops. Consistent with Buddhist monastic guidelines, all dining establishments are vegetarian (all monastics follow a vegetarian diet). A highly recommended restaurant on the grounds is Hi-Lai Vegetarian. Visitors can also tour the older monastic grounds, which serve as the monastics' center for study and living quarters.
E-Da Outlet Mall and Entertainment Center
Not far from the Buddha Museum is an expansive shopping and entertainment complex. In addition to countless shops—many carrying high-end labels—it includes an entertainment center with cinemas, a sports complex featuring an ice-skating rink, and an amusement park with classic rides (somewhat dated).
Mountain Excursions East of Kaohsiung
Maolin Butterfly Trail at Maolin Ecological Park
Located roughly 60 km northeast of Kaohsiung is an ecological reserve with hiking trails for butterfly watching known as the Maolin Butterfly Trail. Here you can observe regional purple crow butterflies showcasing purple and brown hues with rows of white spots along the wing edges.
From the parking lot, cross the road to reach the start of a well-maintained trail featuring numerous steps, bordered by flowering plants buzzing with colorful butterflies. While various species inhabit the area, most are dark in coloration.
The loop trail involves a steep ascent, but it can easily be shortened by hiking up to the scenic overlook for views of the surrounding valley before returning. The round-trip walk to the lookout takes about half an hour. A short drive away through stunning landscapes brings you to the Maolin Waterfall, reachable via a scenic walking route that includes ascending several flights of steps.
Duonagao Suspension Bridge
Approximately 6 km north of the butterfly park stands a suspension bridge measuring over 200 meters in length and hanging more than 100 meters high. It offers sweeping panoramic views in all directions over a river meandering through towering mountains, as well as views of an adjacent arched vehicular bridge spanning the gorge. Highly recommended.
When arriving from the eastern approach, visitors walk about 700 meters from the parking area to the span. Midway along the path, a separate railed spur trail leads to an additional scenic viewpoint overlooking the valley.
For those arriving by vehicle from the western side of the suspension bridge, parking is available very close to the bridge entrance. Crossing the bridge is restricted to pedestrians and scooters only.
Duona Indigenous Mountain Village
From the butterfly park, continue northeast along a winding scenic mountain road for approximately 13 km until the road terminates at the village of Duona, home to the indigenous Rukai people. The village features one central main street with a collection of food stalls and local eateries.
Video of Excursions Around Kaohsiung: