 Kaohsiung Travel Guide, Taiwan
Kaohsiung cityscape, Taiwan
Author: VSA-itamax (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Kaohsiung (or Gaoxiong in pinyin) is the second biggest city in Taiwan (if Taipei and New Taipei are counted as one). It has a population of about 1.5 million people with a metropolitan population of 3 million. Kaohsiung is the principal port for Taiwan. It is also a center for manufacturing, shipbuilding light and heavy industries. Fishing is also a major industry for Kaohsiung, which sends out an armada of 1,500 fishing boats to fish as far off as South Africa.
The city skyline is dominated by the dramatic skyscraper called Tuntex 85 Sky Tower. At 85 storeys in height it was the tallest building in Taiwan before Taipei 101 was completed.
National Highway No. 10, Kaohsiung
Author: Peellden (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Kaohsiung was founded in the 17th century. The Dutch built a fort known as Fort Zeelandia here. The town was ceded to Japan in 1895, and was known in Japanese as Takao. It only became known by its present name, Kaohsiung, after it was handed over to the government of the Republic of China in 1945.
In 2010 Kaohsiung city will be merged with Kaohsiung county to form an expanded municipality. Along with Taipei, it is one of just two special municipalities in Taiwan with the status of province.
Kaohsiung MRT
Author: Littlebtc (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Downtown Kaohsiung
Author: Matt's Life (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Budget Travel to Kaohsiung
By Plane
Kaohsiung International Airport is the main international gateway to the city. This medium-size airport is the second largest airport in Taiwan. It has two terminals, one for domestic flights while another for international flights as well as connecting flights from Taipei.
The Kaohsiung MRT Red Line has a station at the airport (R4 station). This is the most practical way to reach downtown Kaohsiung. There is also a bus service from the airport to the city.
By Train
The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) train connects Taipei to Kaohsiung in just 90 minutes. Ticket ranges from NT$1400 to NT$1500.
Tuntex Sky Tower, Kaohsiung
Author: Anav Rin (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Getting Around Kaohsiung
The most practical means of transport in Kaohsiung, for the budget traveller, is the Kaohsiung MRT, operational since 2008. There are presently two lines: the Red Line runs north-south which the Orange Line runs from Kaohsiung Harbor to the suburb of Daliao.
Renting a car might be another way to move about Kaohsiung, especially if you intend to do a lot of exploring.
Kaohsiung MRT
Author: chia ying yang (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
|
Accommodation in Taiwan
- Look for Hotels in Taiwan
Helping you compare hotel room rates from different booking sites.
- Look for Hostels in Taiwan
Helping you find budget accommodation with online booking.
Places of Interest in Kaohsiung
- Chichin Beach (Chichin Haishui Yuchang)
Black-sand beach with relatively clean seawater.
- Chichin Island
The oldest tourist areas in Kaohsiung.
- Chichin Lighthouse
11-meter tall structure at t6he entrance to Kaohsiung harbor.
- Chiuyingkuo Lingshihguan (Former British Consulate)
Oldest example of colonial structure still standing in Taiwan.
- Confucius Temple (Kung Miao)
Temple at Lotus Lake.
- Crystal Clear Lake (Chengching Hu)
Largest lake in Kaohsiung.
- Dragon and Tiger Pagoda (Lunghu Ta)
Twin sever-tiered pagodas also over the watger of Lianchitan.
- Fo Guang Shan
A major monastery of Mahayana Buddhism.
- Grand Hotel Cheng Ching Lake (Kaohsiung Chengshing Hu Yuanshan Tafantien)
A huge hotel in classical Chinese palace style.
- Hsitzu Bay
A bay good for a pleasant stroll in Kaohsiung.
- Light of Buddha Mountain (Fokuangshan)
Center of Buddhist scholarship in Taiwan.
- Liuho Night Market
Night market with plenty to eat and shop.
- Longevitiy Mountain (Shoushan)
Oldest section of Kaohsiung overlooking the harbor.
- Lotus Lake (Lianchitan)
Lake 30 minutes north of Kaohsiung.
- Martyrs' Shrine (Chunglie Tzu)
Ming-Dynasty shrine to commemorate those who perished in the many wars in China.
- Meinung
Old village renowned for making oil-paper umbrellas decorated with calligraphy and paintings.
- National Sun Yat-sen University (Kuoli Chungshan Tahsueh)
Modern university complex on reclaimed land.
- Nine-cornered Bridge (Chiuchu Chiao)
A meandering bridge across Chengching Hu.
- Restoration Pagoda (Chunghsing Ta)
43-meter seven-storey pagoda accessed with a winding staircase.
- Seashore Park (Haian Kungyuan)
Beach-side green with walking paths and sand dunes.
- Spring and Autumn Pavilions (Chungchiu Ge)
Pavilion on islet link to Lianchitan by a causeway.
- Temple of the Three Mountain Kings (Sanshan Kuowang Miao)
300-year-old temple to three brothers.
- Three Phoenix Palace (Sanfeng Kung)
The largest temple in Taiwan devoted to Nacha Taitzu, the demon suppressor.
- Tienhou Kung (Temple of the Empress of Heaven)
The oldest architectural structure in Kaohsiung.
- Tuntex 85 Sky Tower
Tallest skyscraper in Kaohsiung.
- Yuanheng Temple
Modern Chinese Buddhism Temple on the eastern slopes of Shousan.
|
|
Tweet 
