Introduction to Kaohsiung
If Taipei is Taiwan’s fast-paced heart, Kaohsiung is its soulful, sun-soaked counterpart in the south. Once known primarily as a major industrial port, Kaohsiung has transformed in recent decades into one of Taiwan’s most dynamic cities—a place where sea breezes meet street art, where temples share space with design hubs, and where friendly locals make the city feel like home the moment you arrive.
With its laid-back vibe, tropical climate, and mix of urban excitement and natural beauty, Kaohsiung is a destination that rewards both fast-paced explorers and slow travelers. Whether you’re cruising through its artistic neighborhoods, hopping on a ferry to a beach island, or sampling southern Taiwanese cuisine at a buzzing night market, Kaohsiung welcomes you with warmth, color, and a creative spirit that’s uniquely its own.
Kaohsiung isn’t just a city—it’s a mood. It’s laid-back but energized, culturally rich yet open-minded, and full of sights, sounds, and flavors that invite exploration without the hustle. Whether you’re after beach days, street food feasts, temple trails, or artistic inspiration, Kaohsiung delivers—all with sunshine and a smile. If you’re traveling through Taiwan, don’t just pass through Kaohsiung—stay a while. You might just find yourself falling in love with its slower pace and endless surprises.
Stay Near the MRT
Kaohsiung’s MRT system is efficient and affordable. Staying near stations like Formosa Boulevard, Sanduo Shopping District, or Central Park gives you easy access to major attractions, restaurants, and night markets.
Dome of Light – Formosa Boulevard MRT
This is no ordinary metro station. The Dome of Light, the world’s largest glass installation, transforms your commute into a stained-glass wonder.
Tip: Catch a short light and music show every hour.
Use Public Transport + Walk
Kaohsiung’s MRT, light rail (LRT), and buses make it easy to get around. You can also rent YouBikes (shared bikes) or enjoy walking through arts districts, waterfronts, and temple areas.
EasyCard works here — top it up and ride freely on most systems.
What to Eat in Kaohsiung
Explore Kaohsiung’s Night Markets
Kaohsiung’s food is slightly sweeter, heartier, and spicier than northern Taiwan. It’s also a great city to explore Hakka, indigenous, and Southeast Asian cuisine. Kaohsiung’s food scene is bold and flavorful. Liuhe Night Market is centrally located and famous among tourists, while Ruifeng is loved by locals for its massive variety and weekend vibe.
Liuhe Night Market – tourist-friendly, central, great for beginners
Ruifeng Night Market – local favorite with a huge variety of food and games
Opens only on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
From: KMRT(R14 Kaohsiung Arena Exit 1) → walk 350 meters
Guanghua Night Market
From: KMRT(R8 Sanduo Shopping District Exit 4) → walk 1400 meters
From: KLRT(C34 Wucyuan Elementary School) → walk 850 meters
Try: Papaya milk, grilled squid, and Taiwanese-style fried chicken.
Things to Do in Kaohsiung
Often overshadowed by Taipei, the southern city of Kaohsiung is a laid-back, sun-soaked destination bursting with culture, creativity, and coastal charm. As Taiwan’s second-largest city, Kaohsiung offers a unique blend of modern art, historical landmarks, delicious street food, and tropical weather — all with fewer crowds.
Whether it’s your first time or you’re returning for more, here are the top tips to make your Kaohsiung trip unforgettable.
Close to Kaohsiung Center (MRT+LRT)
Dome of Light
The Dome of Light (光之穹頂), located in Formosa Boulevard MRT station, is the world’s largest glass art installation and a breathtaking welcome to Kaohsiung. Designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata, its fiery, celestial imagery stretches 30 meters across the concourse, immersing commuters in a mosaic of color and light. It’s a daily cultural spectacle with dramatic hues and symbolic cosmic themes.
Visitors gather here for photos and small ceremonies, making it more than just transit decor—it’s also a social landmark and storytelling canvas. Whether you ride the MRT or make the trip deliberately, the Dome invites reflection, conversation, and artistic appreciation amid urban bustle.
Key Points:
Magnificent 30‑m glass artwork by Narcissus Quagliata
Located inside Formosa Boulevard MRT station
Daily landmark merging art, transit, and social culture
Pier-2 Art Center
Once an old freight depot, Pier‑2 Art Center (駁二藝術特區) evolved into a creative powerhouse full of murals, installations, performance spaces, and hip cafés. Container-turned-art-studios buzz with independent artists, while vibrant street art and pop-up markets complete the bohemian atmosphere. It’s a hub for creative expression and cultural exchange.
The open-air warehouse parks often host exhibition fairs, live music events, and film screenings, drawing locals and tourists alike. Pier‑2 invites wanderers to explore art zones, ride custom bikes by the harbor, and engage in a sense of grassroots creativity within an industrial reinvention.
Key Points:
Converted dockyard become street‑art and cultural venue
Galleries, cafés, pop-up markets, and nightlife events
Creative energy in industrial-modern repurposed space
Love River
Love River (愛河) flows serenely through downtown Kaohsiung, lined with leafy promenades, cafés, and riverside sculptures. Evening cruises with live music compliment the romantic atmosphere, while weekend lantern installations light up the riverbanks. It’s the city’s beloved green “spine” connecting culture, leisure, and local life.
Walkable stretches are ideal for bike rides, jogs, or a casual conduit between art districts. Whether daytime reflections on the water or night markets glowing under lamplight, Love River remains a gentle escape within urban energy.
Key Points:
Scenic river with riverside cafés and live cruises
Romantic night lighting with lantern and sculpture sets
Bicycle and walking-friendly urban stroll zone
Lotus Pond
Lotus Pond (蓮池潭) is a tranquil lake surrounded by ornate pagodas and temples like the iconic Dragon & Tiger Tower and Spring & Autumn Pavilion. Visitor walkways stretch around the pond, offering scenic views with lotus blossoms and reflections of the colorful architecture. Drumming performances and ritual music connect the spiritual to the scenic.
The area is best at dawn or dusk, when lotus flowers open and temple lights glow. Boat rentals, temples, and local food stalls create a leisurely spiritual vibe—an oasis of calm within Kaohsiung’s urban fabric.
Key Points:
Water lake flanked by lotus blossoms and temple architecture
Iconic Dragon & Tiger Tower and Spring/Autumn Pavilion
Photos, cultural rituals, and boat touring
Shinkuchan Shopping District
Shinkuchan Shopping District (新堀江商圈) is Kaohsiung’s vibrant retail and youth-entertainment district, packed with boutiques, branded stores, food courts, and neon nightlife. Popular among teenagers and young adults, the area buzzes from afternoon into late night with fashion, games, and snacks.
You’ll find inexpensive streetwear, trendy accessories, and street food like bubble tea, fried chicken, and stinky tofu. The district pulses with energy—ideal for modern shoppers, night owls, and culture seekers looking to soak up city vibes after dark.
Key Points:
Trend-driven shops, streetwear brands, and youth culture
Diverse street food and themed food courts
Lively at night: neon, arcade game venues, and crowds
Kaohsiung Music Center
Kaohsiung Music Center (高雄流行音樂中心) is a modern performing arts complex on the harbor, built to foster Taiwan’s pop music and indie scenes. Sleek performance halls host concerts, festivals, and cultural events against the backdrop of harbor views and public plazas. The adjacent outdoor stage and drum plaza make it a versatile music venue.
By the waterfront, landscaped decks, cafés, and art installations invite strolls and daydreaming. Regular jazz nights, electronic shows, and music classes attract creative energy and draw both locals and visiting fans into the emerging music district.
Key Points:
Harborfront complex for concerts and music festivals
Indoor/outdoor stages with drum plaza and public space
Support for jazz, pop, and music-industry development
Weiwuying
Weiwuying – National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts
Weiwuying (衛武營) is Taiwan’s premier arts landmark—a vast performing arts center designed by Toyo Ito. Its sweeping, organic façade envelops concert halls, opera theaters, and outdoor performance spaces within a public park. Inside, acoustically refined halls host symphonies, operas, and avant-garde productions.
Visitors can wander its green rooftop, catch street performances, or simply enjoy the architecture’s landscape integration. Weiwuying broadens community access to high arts—from classical music to dance—while anchoring Kaohsiung’s cultural revitalization.
Key Points:
Architecturally iconic performing arts complex by Toyo Ito
Houses concert hall, opera house, drama and music venues
Green rooftop park with free public performance events
Central Park
Central Park (中央公園) is Kaohsiung’s cherished urban green lung, featuring open lawns, tree canopies, ponds, and winding paths. It connects to cultural nodes like Love River and is surrounded by cafés, galleries, and boutique shops. Joggers, tai chi groups, and families gather here daily from sunrise.
Landscape design integrates art sculptures and interactive installations. The park serves as a microcosm of Kaohsiung life—friendly, active, climate-adapted, and culturally savvy—while still offering a downtown oasis of calm.
Key Points:
Downtown green space with lawns, ponds, fitness tracks
Art sculptures and interactive installations
Daily local life: exercise groups, leisure, outdoor culture
Outside the City Center
Cijin Island
Accessible by a short ferry ride, Cijin Island (旗津島) offers sandy beaches, seafood shacks, and charming streets steeped in fishing-town character. Highlights include the black lighthouse, northern pier walk, and bustling open-air market of fresh catches of the day.
Visitors often rent scooters or bikes here, explore coastal trails and seabreezes, and sample grilled squid under red lantern lights at dusk. Cijin is a seaside escape with historic temples, fort ruins, and palm-lined roads—a day-trip favorite.
Key Points:
Ferry-accessible island with beaches and seafood street food
Black lighthouse, coastal market, and seaside walking paths
Bicycle/scooter-friendly, historic forts, temple visits
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
Fo Guang Shan is a grand monastic complex and Buddhist cultural center located near Kaohsiung. The museum’s centerpiece is a massive golden Buddha statue encased beneath a lotus-roofed pavilion. Monastic halls, pagodas, and meditation gardens surround the site.
Visitors can walk the segmented spiritual circuit—climb the pagoda for hilltop reflection, view relic halls, and attend chanting ceremonies. Fo Guang Shan blends spiritual solemnity with architectural grandeur, offering a thoughtful day out for cultural exploration.
Key Points:
Massive Buddha statue within lotus-roofed structure
Pagodas, chanting halls, guided meditation programs
Cultural hall and museum conveying Buddhist heritage
Tianliao Moon World
Tianliao Moon World (田寮月世界) is a lunar-like badland landscape north of Kaohsiung, with sweeping gullies, eroded clay formations, and dramatic ridgelines. Hiking trails and lookout platforms reveal Mars-like cliffs—an otherworldly detour from the city’s urban side.
Photographers and geologists alike appreciate the moon-inspired terrain, especially at sunrise or sunset when the light highlights the topography’s textures. It’s an eerie, photogenic break from tropical greens—a surreal landscape in Taiwan’s backyard.
Key Points:
Otherworldly badlands with eroded gullies and clay ridges
Photogenic hiking and lookout platforms
Dramatic terrain resembling lunar landscape
How to Get to Kaohsiung from Taipei
A Complete Travel Guide
Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s vibrant southern port city, is known for its sunny weather, colorful art districts, harborside attractions, and laid-back vibe. Whether you’re heading there for a weekend escape or as part of a Taiwan island tour, getting from Taipei to Kaohsiung is straightforward and well-connected.
This guide will show you how to travel between the cities by High-Speed Rail (HSR), regular train (TRA), bus, plane, or car, with tips to help you decide the best option based on time, budget, and convenience.
Option 1: Taiwan High-Speed Rail (HSR) – Fastest and Most Comfortable
The Taiwan High-Speed Rail is by far the fastest and most popular way to travel between Taipei and Kaohsiung.
From: Taipei HSR Station (connected to Taipei Main Station)
To: Zuoying HSR Station (left side of Kaohsiung)
Duration: ~1.5 to 2 hours
Cost: NT$1,490 (standard seat, adult)
Frequency: Every 20–30 minutes
Train Type: Non-reserved or reserved seats
Pros:
Fast, clean, reliable
Reserved seats available
Ideal for business travelers and short trips
How to reach central Kaohsiung:
After arriving at Zuoying HSR Station, transfer to the Kaohsiung MRT Red Line (same building)
MRT to Formosa Boulevard Station or Kaohsiung Main Station takes ~15 minutes
Tip: Book early for reserved seats, or use Klook/KKday for discounted passes (like 2- or 3-day HSR passes for tourists).
Option 2: Taiwan Railways (TRA) – Budget-Friendly & Scenic
For travelers who prefer slower travel with scenic countryside views, TRA offers conventional trains running the full length of the island.
From: Taipei Main Station
To: Kaohsiung Main Station (TRA 高雄站)
Duration:
Tze-Chiang Express (自強號): ~4.5–6 hours
Chu-Kuang Express (莒光號): ~6–7 hours
Cost: NT$843–890
Frequency: Every 1–2 hours
Pros:
Arrives directly at Kaohsiung Main Station (downtown)
Budget-friendly
No transfers needed
Tip: This is a relaxing ride and ideal for travelers with time, especially if you’d like to see Taiwan’s coastline or travel overnight.
Option 3: Intercity Bus – Cheapest Option
If you’re on a tight budget or want to travel overnight, intercity buses are a great alternative.
From: Taipei Bus Station / Taipei City Hall
To: Kaohsiung (Main Station, Nanzi, or Zuoying)
Duration: 5.5–6.5 hours
Cost: NT$400–700
Bus Companies: UBus (統聯), Kuo-Kuang (國光), Aloha, Ho-Hsin
Pros:
Cheapest long-distance option
Reclining seats, Wi-Fi, and rest stops
Some routes operate overnight
Tip: Overnight buses are a good way to save on hotel costs and arrive early in Kaohsiung.
Option 4: Flight – Not Usually Recommended
Though flying seems like it might be fast, it usually isn’t the most practical method due to check-in time, transport to/from airports, and similar costs to HSR.
From: Taipei Songshan Airport or Taoyuan Airport
To: Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH)
Flight Duration: ~1 hour
Total Travel Time: ~3–4 hours (with airport transfers and check-in)
Cost: NT$1,200–2,500
Pros:
May work for international flight connections
Sometimes useful during peak train seasons
Tip: Only consider this if you have a flight to catch from Kaohsiung or already near the airport.
Option 5: Drive or Car Rental – Great for Road Trips
Driving down Taiwan’s west coast offers a flexible and scenic way to see the island, especially if you plan stops along the way (e.g., Tainan, Chiayi, Miaoli).
Distance: ~350 km
Travel Time: 4.5–6 hours
Car Rental Cost: From NT$1,800/day
Toll Roads: Yes (ETC or prepaid card)
Pros:
Freedom to stop anywhere
Ideal for visiting rural or less accessible attractions
Tip: Consider carpool apps or guided driver hire if you don’t want to self-drive.
Final Travel Tips
Book HSR or TRA tickets in advance, especially on weekends or holidays.
Download these apps: Taiwan HSR, TRA, Bus+, or Taiwan Railway Timetable.
Use EasyCard or iPASS for local MRT/bus travel once you arrive in Kaohsiung.
Kaohsiung’s MRT connects Zuoying HSR, Kaohsiung Main Station, and major attractions like Formosa Boulevard, Pier-2 Art Center, and Sizihwan.
Suggested 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: City Culture & Art
Start at Formosa Boulevard (Dome of Light)
Explore Pier-2 Art Center
Visit Kaohsiung Harbor and Love River
End with dinner at Ruifeng Night Market
Day 2: History & Coastline
Ferry to Cijin Island for biking, beach, and seafood
Visit Dragon & Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond
Walk through Zuoying Old Town
Day 3: Nature & Relaxation
Morning hike up Shoushan
Explore Weiwuying Cultural Center
Chill at a café in the Yancheng district
Taipei | New Taipei | Taoyuan | Taichung | Tainan | Kaohsiung | Keelung | Hsinchu | Miaoli | Changhua | Nantou | Yunlin | Chiayi | Pingtung | Yilan | Hualien | Taitung | Penghu | Kinmen | Matsu