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| Kaohsiung | ||
| province | ||
|---|---|---|
| Republic of China has no parent region. | ||
| Residents | 2.773.533 (2018) | |
| height | 9 m | |
| Tourist info web | http://www.kaohsiung.gov.tw | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Kaohsiung is the second largest city in Taiwan.
background
Kaohsiung was founded by fishermen on the offshore island of Cijin. Kaohsiung has one of the largest ports in the world and is a base for the Taiwanese Navy. Kaohsiung became particularly famous in the 1960s, when Taiwan was still the largest banana producer in Asia. Almost the entire harvest was exported from Kaohsiung, mainly to Japan.
getting there
By train
With the THSR (Taiwan High Speed Rail) you can go to Zuoying, from there you use the KMRT (urban metro). The 1 Central Station the city is centrally located and is served by various trains on the east and west lines. There is a regular connection with very cheap long-distance trains ("Limited Express", roughly on par with the European InterCity / EuroCity) to almost all larger cities on the west coast of Taiwan, but the journey times are significantly longer than with the high-speed trains (more than 6 hours from Taipei, opposite a good 1: 30h with the THSR). The half hour drive from Kaohsiung to Tainan (approx. 50 km) costs, for example, only 106 TWD (approx. 3 EUR, as of June 2019) including seat reservation.
By plane
The 2 Kaohsiung International Airport
(IATA: KHH) is served by various cities in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, all regional flights to Kaohsiung land here. The airfield is connected to the KMRT.
By boat
The 3 Kaohsiung Port is the second largest port in Taiwan. There are various ferry connections to neighboring islands or countries. The cruise ship dock is at the 4 Banana Pier.
mobility
The best way to get there is by Kaohsiung Metro KRTC Ahead. The destinations are labeled in English and it is very easy to buy tickets from the machine. Also the EasyCard electronic wallet, which is also used, for example, in the public transport network of Taipei can be used is accepted in the metro, so you don't have to worry about buying tickets. Bus travel is quite complicated for those who do not speak Chinese, otherwise the bus network is very well developed. The final destinations are alternating Chinese / English on the buses.
The specialty in Kaoshiung are the Amphibious buses to see which ones drive on land as well as in the river or in the lotus lake.
Kahoshiung is very easy to explore by bike. There is a very good system of cycle paths and the roads are also safe. Renting bikes is easy with the C-bike System possible. All you need is a credit card and you can rent a bike at the numerous bike stations. You can then hand it in at a station of your choice.
Tourist Attractions
Due to its location, the city has a lot to offer in terms of sights.
- 1 The old British consulate (打狗 英國 領事館 及 領事 官邸, Former British Consulate at Takao), 高雄市 鼓山 區 蓮 海路 20 號.
The consulate is the first consulate in Taiwan. From here you have a wonderful view over the harbor and in the exhibition in the consulate you can learn a lot about the history of the English in Taiwan.
- 2 Sanfong temple. This interesting temple is only a few minutes walk from the main train station. It includes three beliefs, shamanism through the god Nocha in the entrance hall, Buddhism in the back hall and on the first floor Taoism through the Jade Emperor.
- 3 Kaohsiung 85 (高雄 85 大樓), Lingya District. Tel.: 886 (0)980 018 666.The Tuntex Sky Tower or Kaohsiung85 is the second tallest building in Taiwan at 384 meters and is one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. The building is used as an office building and hotel. There is a viewing platform on the 75th floor.
- 4 Cathedral of the Holy Rosary (玫瑰 聖母 聖殿 主教 座 堂).
The cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Taiwan. It is in close proximity to the Love River and shows the beginning of the influence of the Catholic Church in Taiwan.
- 5 Lotus lake (蓮池 潭, Lotus Pond).A pond created in 1686 with a large number of temples. The most famous are the dragon and tiger pagodas, the spring and autumn pagodas, the statue of the Heavenly Emperor and the largest Confucius temple in Taiwan. The Lotus Lake can be reached with the amphibious bus, the normal bus or the MRT to the Ecological District station.
- 6 Cijin. An island and a district of Kaohsiung. The port is located on its east coast, while the west coast is used for tourism. The roots of Kaohsiung lie on this island, which is why there is also the oldest temple, the Tien Hou Mazu Temple from 1673. There is also an old lighthouse and the Chihou Fortress from the late Qing Dynasty on the island. The lighthouse and fortress are on the northern tip of the island. From the lighthouse you have a sensational view over the city and the harbor. Of the fortress, which was destroyed by Japanese warships in 1895, only the old battlements and foundation walls as well as the south gate remain. In the old city center there is a fish market and small shopping streets. If you want to swim, you can do so here at the stand, as long as the waves allow it. The island is known for its very good seafood cuisine. You should definitely try parrot fish.
- 1 Pier 2 Art Center, No 1, Dayong Road, Yancheng District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 803. Directly at the harbor is a modern quarter in which many small shops sell alternative and artistically inspired products.
 Old British Consulate |  The dragon and tiger pagoda |  The statue of the Heavenly Emperor |  Chihou Fortress on Cijin |
activities
Kaohsiung has quite a few clubs and a relatively large indie scene. There are various rock festivals and cosplay weeks throughout the year, with the dragon boat festival in June being particularly well-known.
- At the 1 Pier 2 Art Center.exhibitions are housed in old banana warehouses and there are various events.
shop
There is everything your heart desires from expensive designer shops, Sogo to the simple market. The best way to start is in the Sanduo Shopping District, accessible via the KRT 2 Dream Mall is the largest shopping mall in Asia. You can easily spend a whole day here. On the roof there is an amusement park with a Ferris wheel, in the food center there are restaurants as far as the eye can see and exploring all the shops is almost impossible.
Mention should be made of Computer Street, which is located east of the main train station. Here you can find everything that has to do with computers, cell phones or computer games. At the weekend the street is overrun with students.
kitchen
The cuisine in Kaoshiung is very different from the rest of Taiwan. You should especially eat fish here, which is very fresh. Other specialties are goat meat, beef noodles and, as a sweet, nougat.
If you want to eat something special, go to the Fongshan district (it is best to take the train one stop). Old Taiwan is just a few meters from the entrance of Fongshan Railway Station. A restaurant serving traditional Taiwanese cuisine. The restaurant itself is built as an old train station. You can decide whether you want to dine in the train compartment or in the station. Everything is 1960s-style, and the restaurant has an exhibition about that time in Taiwan.Old Taiwan
nightlife
The nightlife in Kaoshiung takes place both in the night markets, which are spread all over the city, as well as in various clubs. As a special goal, you should save the flow of love for the night. The banks of the river are great for walking and there are tons of restaurants and bars. If you want, you can take a small ferry around. There are many bars and restaurants at the old banana pier. Banana Pier
accommodation
You can easily book all types of hotels via the various internet providers. We recommend the Kindnes Hotels, which are scattered all over the city. In addition to very good clean rooms and a gigantic breakfast, you get free ice cream, coffee, orange juice and you can borrow the hotel's bicycles for free.
trips
- Meinong, MeiNong I-Chan, 142, ChengGong Rd., MeiNong town, Kaohsiung County. Tel.: (07) 681-8475. Those interested in the culture of the Hakkas will find just a few kilometers north of Kaoshiung Meinong. 90% of the population of Hakka are here and you can find many testimonies to this culture. Meinong is mainly known for the paper umbrellas that the Haakas make and artistically paint here. If you want to know more you can find a museum where the history of the Haakas and their life is documented. Meinong Hakka culture center If you want, you can also prepare a special hakkatee, the lei cha, in the village. It is a lot of fun to pound tea and sesame seeds with a large wooden stick until you can finally taste them.
- Taiwan Indigenous People Culture Park. If you want to deal with the indigenous people of Taiwan even more intensively, you will find what you are looking for in Sandimen in the Taiwan Indigenous Culture Park.
