Cities in Japan
Kaohsiung: A Guide to the Southern City
Kaohsiung is the opposite of Taipei: warmer, more relaxed, and spread out along a huge harbour instead of stacked into towers. Taiwan’s second city has turned in recent years from a grey industrial centre into a destination for art, food, and sunsets over the water.
Most travellers reach it at the southern end of the HSR line, stay a day or two, then push on to Kenting or head back north. It’s easy, cheap, and especially pleasant in the evening.
Getting around
The high-speed rail from Taipei arrives in about 90 minutes to two hours at Zuoying station, around 1,490 NT$ (roughly ₪170). From there the KMRT, the local metro, reaches the centre and most of the main sights within a few stops. Your EasyCard from Taipei works here too.
What to see
Pier-2 Art Center — a complex of old harbour warehouses turned into galleries, design shops, street sculptures, and cafés. A pleasant walk along the water, especially toward evening.
Love River — a canal through the city centre, with a lit promenade and small boats. Sunset is its hour.
Lotus Pond — in the north of the city, a lake ringed by temples, and its stars are the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas: you enter through the dragon’s mouth and exit through the tiger’s, a tradition said to bring luck. Free entry.
Cijin Island — a narrow sandbar across from the harbour, reached by a short ferry. A beach, a lighthouse, and fresh-seafood stalls. Renting a bike is the pleasant way to get around it.
Food and night markets
The Liuhe night market is central and convenient for tourists, while Ruifeng is bigger and loved by local students. Kaohsiung is strong on seafood thanks to the harbour. More in the food guide.
Day trips
From Kaohsiung you can easily hop south. Kenting, at the tip of the island, offers tropical beaches and a national park, about two to three hours away. Fo Guang Shan is a huge Buddhist complex with a golden Buddha statue, about an hour from the city. You can arrange day tours from Kaohsiung that save you the transport.
Where to stay
The most convenient areas are around the Formosa Boulevard and Central Park stations: central, connected by KMRT, and close to the action. You can compare hotels in central Kaohsiung ahead of time.
From here you can return to the main guide or see how Kaohsiung fits into the itineraries.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need in Kaohsiung?
A day or two is enough for the city itself: Pier-2, the Love River, and Lotus Pond. Add a day trip to Kenting in the south or Fo Guang Shan temple and you'll want three.
How do you get from Taipei to Kaohsiung?
On the high-speed rail (HSR) in about 90 minutes to two hours, around 1,490 NT$ (roughly ₪170) in standard class. The HSR station in Zuoying connects to the KMRT into the centre.
Is there a metro in Kaohsiung?
Yes, the KMRT — smaller than Taipei's but enough for most sights. The Formosa Boulevard station, with its 'Dome of Light,' is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
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