A Kaohsiung Travel Guide For Taiwan Travelers
My very first video outside of Kinmen Island in Taiwan was about Kaohsiung. I can say that I really like this city. And yet, I never made a proper travel guide for Kaohsiung. So let us change that now! Here are my travel recommendations for Taiwan’s southern port city.
If you are looking for more general information about traveling in Taiwan, follow the link. That may help you with a lot more general information. Here I will share my best Kaohsiung travel tips.
Is Kaohsiung worth visiting?
If you have seen my Kaohsiung travel vlog, you know that I am a huge fan of this city, a home to about 2.7 million people. I did, however, make one small mistake before: I once called Kaohsiung Taiwan’s second-biggest city. Technically, it is the third-largest city in Taiwan, after New Taipei and Taichung. Yeah, I did not realize Taichung is actually bigger! And yet Kaohsiung is worth seeing. Let me guide you through some of the best attractions in the city.
Originally, Kaohsiung was a settlement of the Siraya, one of Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples. In 1920, during the Japanese occupation, the authorities chose the Chinese characters 高雄 to represent the city, inspired by the Takao region in Kyoto. These characters are still used today but are pronounced “Gaoxiong” in Mandarin. The English spelling “Kaohsiung” comes from the Wade-Giles romanization system once widely used in Taiwan.
If you are interested in history, pay close attention when visiting the Lotus Pond. You can still see a few ruins and old city walls there today. The pond is one of Kaohsiung’s top attractions and a famous landmark, so it is easy to miss these Qing Dynasty remnants amid all the temples and modern sights.
A Kaohsiung Taiwan travel guide
The Lotus Pond is one of the most famous attractions in Kaohsiung. But if you want to explore something less crowded, head to the Chau Tsai Wetlands. They are not open all year, but if you catch the right season, it is one of the best spots to visit.
It is hard to find another city with such a peaceful natural area right in the middle of an urban landscape. The wetlands sit between the Lotus Pond and the highway. I went there during my very first Kaohsiung trip after moving to Taiwan permanently. It is a small place. You can walk through it in less than an hour, or take your time and enjoy the quiet.
Just outside the city, you will find the Fo Guang Shan Monastery. This massive Buddhist complex includes a museum and a 36-meter seated statue of the Amitabha Buddha. Plan at least a day for your visit, there is plenty to explore, from shrines and temples to gardens and (vegetarian) restaurants.
How many days in Kaohsiung?
Time is a good point. Most Kaohsiung travel guides recommend staying two to three days. But I think you can even stay a bit longer. Kaohsiung guide tours may save you some time, in case you are in a rush. However, I would take an extra day to see places outside of the city. For example, from Kaohsiung you can go to Xiaoliuqio, another great place to visit in Taiwan.
But in a nutshell, you should spend two to three days in Kaohsiung to see the city’s main highlights without feeling rushed.
I do people do day trips from Taipei to Kaohsiung. There is a high-speed train, and it takes less than 1,5 hours. But I frankly would avoid that just because one day does not do the city any justice.
Kaohsiung Attractions You Should Not Miss
Kaohsiung is home to Taiwan’s largest harbor, first opened in the 1680s and later expanded by the Japanese during the colonial period. For decades, Kaohsiung was seen as an industrial city with pollution problems. But those days are gone. Today, the city is full of color, art, and waterfront attractions.
One of the must-see spots is the Pier-2 Art Center, a creative district that transformed abandoned warehouses into one of Taiwan’s coolest art hubs. The area now features hundreds of cafés, artist studios, galleries, street art, and live music venues.
It is easily one of my favorite places in Kaohsiung. The mix of urban culture and seaside scenery gives it a unique energy that every traveler should experience.
What to do in Kaohsiung at night?
Just across the harbor lies Cijin Island, one of the best day trips from Kaohsiung. Take the short ferry ride, stroll down Cijin Old Street, and visit Cijin Tianhou Temple and Cijin Lingshui Temple. In the evening, enjoy fresh seafood or street snacks at the island’s night market while watching the sunset.
Speaking of night markets, my personal favorite in Kaohsiung City is the Jilin Night Market. It is not your typical tourist spot, rather, it is where locals go to eat. The food selection is amazing, the prices are great, and it has a cool vibe. Just be careful with the scooters. The traffic can get a little chaotic!
If you are looking for Kaohsiung skyline views, you might think of the 85 Sky Tower. However, these days the building is largely abandoned, and as far as I know, the observation deck is closed.
Kaohsiung Attractions for Families and Kids
If you are traveling with children, Kaohsiung has plenty to offer. In my vlog about traveling in Taiwan with kids, I visited Shoushan Zoo and the Kaohsiung Qiaotou Sugar Factory. Both are great places for families.
The zoo, with its free-roaming monkeys, is good fun. The Qiaotou Sugar Factory is also worth a visit. I spent a few hours there before catching my flight back to Kinmen. There are also museums and small attractions nearby if you have more time.
Kaohsiung travel guide: Getting to the City
Kaohsiung has its own international airport with a few regional routes, including Kinmen Island. It is very well connected by the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (HSR). The train from Taipei to Kaohsiung (Zuoying Station) takes less than two hours. If you are traveling during rush hours, make sure to reserve a seat. Otherwise, you have to wait and stand.
There is so much more to explore here, and if I find the time, I will put together a Kaohsiung walking tour guide. But for now, that is it for today. Thank you for reading! If you want to learn more about how to get around Kaohsiung and Taipei, check out my Taiwan Travel Guide.
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