So?! Taking advantage of the upcoming 228 holiday, I’ve put together a bunch of awesome spots in Kaohsiung—and the best part is, most can be reached via the MRT or simple public transport. Let me take you on a tour around harbor city Kaohsiung and discover its beauty, kindness, and charm together!
Day 1 Itinerary
O13 Dadong Station → Dadong Art Center, Dadong Wetland Park
O10 Wujia Ying Station → Wujia Ying Metropolitan Park
O5/R10 Formosa Boulevard Station → Dome of Light
O1 Sizihwan (Hamasing) Station → Takao Railway Story Museum → Sky Deck → Pier-2 Art Center
Day 2 Itinerary
Kaohsiung Butokuden → Takao British Consulate → Qihou Lighthouse & Qihou Battery → Starry Tunnel → Rainbow Church → Windmill Park
Top Attractions in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung Public Library Main Branch, Hongmaogang Cultural Park, Zhongdu Wetland Park, Moon World Geopark, Dagang Gorge One-Line-Sky, Hou’an Community Painted Alley, Dashu Old Iron Bridge Skywalk. And as a bonus → the dazzling night view of Kaohsiung!
First stop on our MRT light trip brings us to the Dadong Art Center located at “O13 Dadong Station.”
“Kaohsiung. Fengshan District” Come on, let’s release colorful sky lanterns together here at Dadong Art Center!
Whew~ aren’t they pretty? These giant, multicolored sky lanterns are right before your eyes—so beautiful you can’t bear to look away!
And right across from the Dadong Art Center is the equally worthy-of-exploration Dadong Wetland Park. With trees standing tall and lakes reflecting them, the beautiful scenery here has even earned it the nickname of “Kaohsiung’s mini-version of the Forest of Serenity.” Pretty cool, huh? This attraction, dubbed the mini Forest of Serenity, is located just opposite the Dadong Art Center. After being redesigned by the Kaohsiung City Government, it now takes on a whole new look!
“Kaohsiung. Fengshan District” A must-visit hidden gem recommended by locals—a so-called “mini Forest of Serenity” in Kaohsiung that you can reach directly by MRT!
Ta-daaa~ Doesn’t it give off the vibes of Nantou’s Forest of Serenity? The circular wooden stakes under the cedar trees and their reflections in the water make you feel for a moment like you’ve arrived at that beautiful forest!
Don’t underestimate this green gem nestled within the hustle and bustle—this artificial wetland is an integrated space for ecological habitat, water purification, and cultural leisure.
“O10 Wujia Ying Station” Wujia Ying Metropolitan Park
Speaking of Wujia Ying Metropolitan Park, it has quite the impressive background. It’s known as one of the “lungs of Kaohsiung,” alongside Shoushan Mountain—sounds pretty amazing, right? But what’s even more remarkable is that this park was once a strict, no-access military training camp for new army recruits. “Kaohsiung. Fengshan District” Truly—it’s the truth. What used to be a stern and serious military camp has transformed into a secret backyard garden: Wujia Ying Metropolitan Park.
Recommended reading:[Kaohsiung Travel] The Harbor City Is Loads of Fun: Top 10 Super Popular Attractions
“Kaohsiung. Fengshan District” Wujia Ying Metropolitan Park – a former military base turned into a great place for relaxation and nature walks + surprise neon leopard-print nail art
But now, it’s been transformed into a large recreational park. Seriously, the residents of Kaohsiung are really lucky!
The three original military ammunition depots have been renovated into ecological education centers. The three connected buildings are painted with digital camouflage patterns, and in this season of blooming flowers, the purple blooms set against the cold military architecture create a uniquely beautiful contrast.
“O5/R10 Formosa Boulevard Station” Dome of Light
Formosa Boulevard Station was once ranked the second most beautiful metro station in the world by the renowned travel site BootsNAll—largely thanks to this masterpiece: the Dome of Light. Phew—no matter how many times I see it, I still think it’s absolutely stunning. The Dome of Light is located inside Formosa Boulevard Station, where the Red and Orange MRT lines intersect, and it's the largest single-piece glass artwork in the world, created by internationally acclaimed artist Narcissus Quagliata over four and a half years.
The Dome of Light holds deep symbolism—the two central pillars represent yin (blue) and yang (red), and their harmony creates the world. “Kaohsiung. Qianjin District” Central Park Station on the MRT—shiny yellow rubber duckies + Formosa Boulevard Station – Dome of Light + Yongqing Elementary School – Green Tunnel
“Kaohsiung. Qianjin District” That’s right. This delightful park doesn’t require a trip abroad—it’s right here in southern Taiwan~ Central Park + City Light Corridor
“O1 Xiziwan (Hamasing) Station” to the Kaohsiung Railway Story House → Sky Deck → Pier-2 Art Center
The Kaohsiung Railway Story House is located at the Kaohsiung MRT O1 Xiziwan (Hamasing) Station. Its former identity was the TRA Kaohsiung Port Station. On October 24, 2010, the day of the commemoration of the completion of Taiwan’s longitudinal railway, it reopened with a new look as the “Kaohsiung Railway Story House.” The preservation and reuse of the Kaohsiung Port Station turned it into a small-scale railway museum. With a new lease on life, the old station was reborn as the Kaohsiung Railway Story House, transforming into another tourist attraction that provides it with enough support to keep going.
“Kaohsiung. Gushan District” A nostalgic old train station + Pier-2 Art Center installations ~ Kaohsiung Railway Story House
Interestingly, just outside the story house, there are actually several retired trains parked, and travelers are scrambling to take photos with them as souvenirs.
Also located at the Kaohsiung MRT O1 Xiziwan Station (Hamasing), the Sky Deck offers a view so captivating that, in the words of Ju, you can simply stand there and daydream to your heart’s content.
“Kaohsiung. Gushan District” Highly recommended!! A new highlight in Kaohsiung ~ A beautiful new spot where even standing and doing nothing is enjoyable ~ Sky Deck
Getting to the Sky Deck is super easy. Just take the Kaohsiung MRT Orange Line to the terminal station: O1 Xiziwan Station, then exit from Exit 2. Walk straight ahead for a few hundred meters and you’ll arrive. Climb up the stairs to the Sky Deck, and let’s gaze down over the Hamasing Railway Park and out toward the cruise ships in Kaohsiung Harbor.
Next, let’s head over to the fun and unique Pier-2 Art Center nearby. “Kaohsiung. Yancheng District” No way!! Transformers are actually hiding here ~ Pier-2 Art Center
Wow wow wow!! Believe it or not, you’re not seeing things—there really is a giant Transformer standing proudly in a corner of the Pier-2 Art Center. Look at it, all geared up and ready to take off to save the world!! Phew!! Up close, it’s really huge—no wonder it’s the big boss of the Pier-2 Art Center.
Hehe, there are also two amusing pieces of installation art sitting on the rooftop, smiling gently at the passersby.
The next morning, it’s recommended that you explore some of the must-visit spots in southern Kaohsiung’s Gushan and Cijin areas. Wait? You ask, since there’s the MRT yesterday, how do we get to these spots today? Come on, don’t doubt it—traveling around Kaohsiung is very convenient. It’s suggested that you rent a bike at Exit 1 of the Xiziwan MRT Station in Kaohsiung. (Price: 100–400 NTD per ride, depending on the type of bike.) Haha, isn’t it great? With just a bike under your feet, you can continue exploring Kaohsiung to your heart’s content.
Day 2 itinerary
Kaohsiung Budokan → Former British Consulate in Takao → Cihou Lighthouse & Cihou Battery → Starry Tunnel → Rainbow Church → Windmill Park
On the second day, first thing in the morning, we head to the Kaohsiung Budokan. This Japanese-style building is located behind Gushan Elementary School. It was built by the Japanese before World War II. At that time, to promote the martial spirit of Bushido, every administrative district had at least one budokan, and this one in Kaohsiung was the first of the Kaohsiung branch of the Budokan Association.
“Kaohsiung. Gushan District” So it turns out that even in the port city of Kaohsiung, there are buildings full of Japanese-style exotic charm ~ Kaohsiung Budokan
Hehe!! Even Xi, a local from Kaohsiung, didn’t know that just behind Gushan Elementary School near the Cijin ferry terminal, there was a Japanese-style building left over from the Japanese colonial period.
Hahaha, next we come to the Former British Consulate in Takao. This is a national second-class historic site and Taiwan’s first Western-style building, combining Western design with Eastern craftsmanship. Um, sorry, Xi couldn’t find the photos, so for those interested, please skip ahead to the article for the full read.
“Kaohsiung. Gushan District” Former British Consulate in Takao + Cijin Windmill Park + Seafood Restaurants by the Sea
Alrighty!! If you’ve had enough of Gushan District, let’s hop on our bikes and take the ferry to Cijin to explore some fun and interesting sights. After about a 5-minute boat ride, we finally arrive at the Cijin Ferry Terminal!! First, let’s check out the Cihou Lighthouse (Kaohsiung Lighthouse) and Cihou Battery, both municipal third-grade historic sites.
“Kaohsiung. Cijin District” Hehe, standing quietly in front of the pure white lighthouse, enjoying the vast, boundless harbor scenery ~ Kaohsiung Lighthouse (Cihou Lighthouse)
Maybe because Kaohsiung is Xi’s hometown, I always feel that Kaohsiung Lighthouse is the most beautiful lighthouse in all of Taiwan. Hehe, if I didn’t tell you it was a lighthouse, you’d almost think you’d wandered into a European town with pastoral scenery. Isn’t that right?
Cihou Mountain guards the entrance of Kaohsiung Harbor (Takao Port). As early as the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, a military camp and battery were set up here, equipped with six cannons. In the second year of the Tongzhi reign (1863 AD), when Takao opened its port for trade with foreigners, the military significance of Cihou Battery grew even more crucial. (Source: Internet)
“Kaohsiung. Cijin District” Moving!! Witnessing the ancient battery that once protected Takao Port in the early Qing Dynasty ~ Cihou Battery
Cihou Battery is built with cement and red bricks, in a faint brick-red color that gives off a nostalgic vibe.
The Starry Tunnel is located behind Jjinjin Hospital. Walk along Miaodian Road (Seafood Street), head toward the beach, turn right once inside the beach area, follow the signs straight ahead, and make a turn along the wooden boardwalk to reach the Starry Tunnel. This long, ancient tunnel has a wooden boardwalk floor and is decorated with night lights, driftwood, and glow-in-the-dark stones to form patterns of the 12 zodiac signs, resembling the starry sky under the night sky. Sadly, the 12 zodiac patterns aren’t lit up at the moment, so you’ll have to imagine them!!
“Kaohsiung. Cijin District” Wow~~ It’s like stepping into a mysterious time tunnel, whoosh~~ and suddenly you’re at the blue coast ~ Starry Tunnel
After exiting the tunnel, you’re greeted by a long seawall that divides the sea in two. Outside the seawall, the waves are rough, but inside, it’s calm and peaceful. Looking back at the millennia-old coral reefs, you can’t help but marvel at the greatness of nature.
These two newly built rainbow churches are located right next to the Cijin Shell Museum, which is also the opposite direction of the terrifying giant shell and Sea Pearl. Look!! Walk to the end of the Shell Museum, and a colorful, geometrically beautiful sight appears before Xi’s eyes. So exciting!! “Kaohsiung. Cijin District” Another new highlight of the port city of Kaohsiung!! The Cijin Shell Museum transforms into a sea-and-sky “Rainbow Church,” and the view is so stunning you’ll be snapping photos non-stop.
Actually, these two new installations were created because a Kaohsiung-based wedding photography company rented the nearly unused Cijin Shell Museum from the Tourism Bureau and invested millions to renovate it into a wedding photo studio. (But calling the Cijin Shell Museum a “white elephant” isn’t quite fair, because for Xi, the museum has super strong air conditioning—on a hot seaside, it’s practically heaven, okay?)
Hehehe!! Today, travelers have mostly stayed on the Cijin Peninsula. After all, there are so many fun and interesting spots on Cijin worth exploring. Finally, let’s take you to Cijin Windmill Park to play with these little crabs and shrimp.
“Kaohsiung. Cijin District” Yellow windmills romantically spin in the breeze, and even the crabs and shrimps join in the fun~ Cijin Windmill Park
Awesome?! Are you all super interested in this two-day, one-night light trip to Kaohsiung? As always, take advantage of the upcoming 228 Holiday, quickly book your hotel, head south to Kaohsiung, and soak up the warm vibes of southern Taiwan!
Recommended reading:[Family Travel] One card to explore the whole harbor city – A lazy person’s guide to Kaohsiung attractions!
But wait, the sharing isn’t over yet today!! The great Kaohsiung area isn’t just about the quality attractions mentioned above, oh no!! Having wandered around Kaohsiung for many years, Sister Xitang knows there are actually so many fantastic spots worth exploring!! Next, she’ll continue to introduce the attractions she’s visited and share them for your reference.
Quality Attractions in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung Public Library Main Branch, Hongmaogang Cultural Park, Zhongdu Wetland Park, Moon World Geopark, Dagang Mountain’s One-Line Sky, Hou’an Community Painted Alley, Dashu Old Iron Bridge Skywalk. And as a bonus → the dazzling night view of Kaohsiung!
First, we arrive at the Kaohsiung Main Library. Let’s get to know a bit about this uniquely designed green energy building. After four years of anticipation, the new main branch of the Kaohsiung Public Library, the world’s first attempt at a suspended library building, was completed on November 13. The new main branch won the international design competition’s top prize as a “green architectural cultural landmark where trees are within the library and the library is within the trees.”
In addition, the “column-free interior space” and the “top-down construction method” are two standout architectural features. Beyond emphasizing the relationship between people, books, and trees, it also records the beautiful vision of an unprecedented civic movement. (Information from the internet)
“Kaohsiung. Qianzheng District” Wow~ another new highlight of the harbor city, beautifully showcasing the combination of green energy and knowledge in an eco-friendly green building~ Kaohsiung Public Library Main Branch.
I truly admire the arrangement of the bookshelves in the main library, which are of international-standard library caliber.
Would you like to walk along a skywalk with views of mountains and sea? Would you like to feel the powerful thrill of massive ships entering the harbor? Would you like to sit in the rotating restaurant of the High Tower and enjoy delicious food? Come on, let me take you to the Hongmaogang Cultural Park in Kaohsiung’s Xiaogang District to experience up close the strength and beauty unique to the harbor city culture.
“Kaohsiung. Xiaogang District” Here!! You can definitely see the unique charm of the harbor city~ Hongmaogang Cultural Park.
“Kaohsiung. Xiaogang District” Come on, come on~ Only here can you closely experience the thrilling sight of massive ships entering the harbor~ Hongmaogang Cultural Park.
Here, the structure of old houses is used, combined with antique architectural techniques, to recreate a virtual reality of the life in the Hongmaogang settlement. The unfinished form allows visitors to easily see through the house-building process and the use of materials, reliving the heyday of Hongmaogang.
Hehe, at that moment, Sister Xitang stood under the scorching sun on the ocean-view platform, ready to enjoy the rare spectacle of large ships leaving the harbor!!
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Zhongdu Wetland Park systematically collects, conserves, and regenerates Taiwan’s wetland plants, restoring the coastal forest belt that once existed in Kaohsiung’s history, repairing the urban environmental system, and offering multiple functions such as ecological education, species diversity preservation, national land security and flood prevention, as well as public recreation. (Source: official website)
Ta-da, most impressively, in 2012 it represented Taiwan in the “2012 Global Outstanding Building Award,” known as the Oscars of the architecture world, and once again earned recognition from international experts and scholars, winning the top prize in the environmental restoration category, receiving strong international support and acclaim. (Let’s give a round of applause!)
“Kaohsiung. Sanmin District” Don’t be surprised!! I’m not in Bali~ This is the authentic interpretation of a river-sea wetland mangrove natural ecosystem~ Zhongdu Wetland Park
Treehouses built with driftwood and thatch give off an especially leisurely vibe. Hehe, I call it the daydream pavilion because the sun is just too intense, so I step into the daydream pavilion and let the gentle breeze caress my face. For a moment, it really feels like I’m on vacation on some small island in Southeast Asia!
The pathways on the ecological island follow the principle of minimal development, allowing people to blend into nature without disturbing wildlife.
The desolate and barren terrain before your eyes is located in Yuanshan’s Moon World Geopark. It shouldn’t be unfamiliar to many, as Moon World is most famous for its moon-like surface.
“Kaohsiung. Tianliao District” Here!! You’ll find a unique terrain with a hauntingly beautiful bleakness – the scene before you might make you think you’ve landed on the surface of the moon~ Moon World Geopark
Hehe, you must take a memory shot with this bamboo artwork shaped like a croissant moon. Sister Xitang, representing all tourists, confirms she’s been here!! (Actually, it has a very beautiful name called the Crescent Moon Viewing Platform, okay?)
Standing on the viewing platform and gazing at the rolling mudstone landscape of Moon World, if it weren’t for this park, catching a glimpse of this magnificent scenery would probably be quite difficult!
Speaking of Dagang Mountain Scenic Area, in the early days, Dagang Mountain, located at the border between Kaohsiung’s Gangshan District and Tianliao District, sits about six kilometers northeast of Gangshan District. It’s a small square mountain that rises like an upturned boat on the plain.
Before the 1980s, due to military needs, most of Dagang Mountain was designated as a military restricted zone, generally off-limits to visitors; as a result, the outside world had a mysterious impression of Dagang Mountain. (Information from the internet)
Today, the military restricted area has shrunk, and a large number of visitors flock to Dagang Mountain, though most only explore the front mountain. In fact, the back mountain still hides more natural wonders, such as One-Line Sky, Stone Breast Milk, Slimming Cave, Old Lady Cave, Cool Cave, and Japanese-era military caves, all of which are worth seeing.
“Kaohsiung. Tianliao District” Hidden in southern Taiwan is a spectacular and majestic cliff. Want to experience the thrilling sensation of walking between mountain walls?
Then head to the “Dagang Mountain One-Line Sky”!
The limestone terrain, due to erosion, often features karren and solution caves. As for the "One Line Sky" (Yixiantian), it naturally formed as a unique tensional valley due to tectonic uplift and earthquakes, and after being dissolved by water, it developed wider spaces that allow people to pass through. (Source: Internet)
Located in Houching Community’s Colorful Alley in Renwu District, Kaohsiung, this spot is a favorite of Sister Xi. Hehe, she actually made two trips just for these murals. So, what’s so special about them?
The murals feature the two most famous heroines from Frozen, currently the most popular among little girls—yes, Princess Elsa and Princess Anna, Let It Go, Let It Go Go Go Go, you know the ones.
Most painted villages or alleys across Taiwan are usually created by amateurs, but not Houching Community in Renwu. The local neighborhood chief invited Mr. Tsai, a mural artist who used to paint hand-drawn movie billboards, to create the wall paintings.
“Kaohsiung. Renwu District”—Wow~ no way!! Jurassic Park has appeared in “Houching Community Colorful Alley”! Let’s hurry over and take a look at these lifelike dinosaur murals.
“Kaohsiung. Renwu District”—What?! Princess Elsa from Frozen has shown up in southern Taiwan? This is awesome~ Houching Community Colorful Alley.
Look at this Transformer—it’s so realistic, if you didn’t know it was a painted alley, you might really mistake it for a movie mural outside a cinema.
And the highlight? Even Japan’s famous Todai-ji Temple makes an appearance here, along with an adorable little novice monk.
It’s a bit old, you know, more like grandpa age, and coincidentally, it just celebrated its 100th birthday not long ago.
Back in the day, it was specially designed to lie there??? letting trains run back and forth over it. (Pfft, what a lame description!)
Its shape resembles a beautiful rainbow hanging gracefully across the sky.
It once held the title of the longest bridge in Asia. (Dropped the mic!)
That’s right, it’s the Old Iron Bridge Skywalk located in Dashu District, Kaohsiung.
“Kaohsiung. Dashu District”—The elegant, rainbow-shaped old iron bridge. A new life~ Let’s experience it together~ Dashu Old Iron Bridge Skywalk.
In 1983, Taiwan Railways, considering safety, built a new electrified railway bridge—the Xin Gaoping River Bridge (a reinforced concrete prestressed beam bridge)—on the north side of the old iron bridge. So?! When walking on the skywalk, you can easily get a close-up view of trains passing by right next to you.
On the left→ the Xin Gaoping River Bridge, and on the right→ the Lower Tamsui River Iron Bridge. This scene of old and new passing the torch is, well, quite moving. Just think about how much history has unfolded in this very spot before your eyes.
Alright, no more chit-chat. Let me take you all to experience the breathtaking vibe of Kaohsiung, which only gets more beautiful at night. Look—lights wrap around the entire library, sparkling like brilliant stars, truly stunning.
“Kaohsiung. The Night Is Too Beautiful” Highly recommended. A warm winter mini-trip with romance off the charts. Come check out the new highlight of the harbor city’s night view.
Wow~ At night, the Cloud Deck quietly stands in place, with a few scattered visitors on the platform gazing toward the distant Hamasen Railway Cultural Park. Although I didn’t walk up to the Cloud Deck myself, I imagine the view must be incredibly beautiful and real.
Let’s head to the observation deck next to the National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine on Shoushan to fully enjoy the million-dollar night view that belongs exclusively to Kaohsiung.
[Authorized Repost by Celia FunLife] Original article from [Let’s Take the MRT and Ride Bikes for a Relaxing Trip Around the Harbor City!]