Qijin Peninsula

Qijin Peninsula

Guide Qijin is located at the southwestern tip of Kaohsiung City and is a narrow, elongated island stretching from northwest to southeast. In the early days, Qijin was called "Qihou," referring to the tribe situated behind Qishan. Later, in the fourth year of the Yongzheng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1726 AD), a map of Taiwan compiled by a Dutch missionary referred to it as “Hanternas.” During the tenth year of the Xianfeng reign (1860 AD), following the signing of the Beijing Treaty after the Second Opium War, Qijin became a trading port due to its favorable geographic location. A few years later, in the second year of the Tongzhi reign (1863 AD), the Qihou area officially opened for business, flourishing with various industries and bustling activity—it was the earliest developed area in Kaohsiung. Later, the Kaohsiung City Government invested over 50 billion NTD to build the Qijin Coastal Park, which now attracts large numbers of tourists every year and serves as an excellent destination for sightseeing and leisure. Introduction The most famous cultural features of Qijin Island include the Qijin Ferry, tricycles, the lighthouse, Tianhou Temple, and the coastal park. In the past, all external transportation to and from Qijin relied on ferries. Now, with the undersea tunnel, transportation has become much more convenient, and the ferry has instead become a tourist attraction. Additionally, the island retains the once-popular 1950s-style tricycles, allowing visitors to experience the joy of riding them as previous generations did. Located atop Qijin Mountain, the Qijin Lighthouse, also known as the Kaohsiung Lighthouse, was built in the ninth year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty and is the second lighthouse on Taiwan proper. At that time, frequent ship traffic in the Kaohsiung area led the government to recognize the inadequacy of existing port navigation facilities, which often resulted in maritime disasters. As a result, they ordered the construction of the Qijin Lighthouse to aid in navigation. The lighthouse has since undergone renovation, featuring an octagonal base with a balcony offering panoramic views of Kaohsiung Harbor. The Qijin Coastal Park covers an area of 45 hectares and is divided into four sections: a swimming beach, a seaside walking trail, an off-road area, and a natural ecological zone. There is also an ocean-view platform supported by 15 pillars, extending from the shore into the sea, where visitors can experience the immense force of waves crashing against the structure firsthand. Transportation Take bus routes 1, 31, or 50 to the ferry terminal, then transfer to the ferry to Qijin. From the Qijin ferry pier, walk north for about twenty minutes following the signs to reach the destination.

Kaohsiung City, Taiwan