Explore Sanmin to the fullest at Golden Lake Butterfly Garden — a super fun one-day town stroll!

By / Scenic Spots Home compiled report
 
Located in the central area of Kaohsiung, Sanmin is the city’s second most populous district. With well-developed transportation, rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and many popular attractions, it’s a must-visit hotspot for travelers coming to Kaohsiung. This weekend, take your family to explore Sanmin!

Zhongdu Love River Wetland Park is situated on the southern side of the Love River, stretching approximately 2.5 kilometers in length and covering an area of over 7,000 square meters. The park features a log-built visitor center, along with wooden pavilions, suspension bridges, tidal water platforms, and lamp and seating designs themed around driftwood. Its rustic style exudes a wild charm, while the multi-layered forest planting mimicking nature restores rich greenery to the urban area. Strolling along the winding, lush riverbanks, you can spot various water birds flying and resting, while the mangroves and wetlands bring new vitality to the Love River.
 
Address: Intersection of Tongmeng 3rd Rd. and Shiquan 3rd Rd., Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City

The butterfly garden is located on the eastern side of Golden Lion Lake Scenic Area and is the largest netted butterfly garden in the country, home to a rich variety of butterflies including over 30 species such as the Swallowtail, Common Mormon, Scarlet Jezebel, and Common Yellow Swallowtail. At peak times, there can be up to 350 adult butterflies. Two large exhibition halls are filled with butterfly host and nectar plants. In Hall One, a 24-meter-long, 4.6-meter-high butterfly viewing bridge allows visitors to look down on the butterflies in flight, while Hall Two houses an indoor interpretive room where professional guides provide in-depth explanations.
 
Address: No. 25, Dingjin 1st Lane, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City

Originally called Dapi (Big Pond), Golden Lion Lake got its name from the lion-shaped mountain behind it and its hook-like shape resembling a crouching lion. With a water area of about 11 hectares, it is one of the storage ponds at the source of the Love River. The lakeside features a huge golden stone lion and a lakeside corridor. With dense greenery and lotus flowers dotting the lake, whether at dawn or dusk, standing here listening to the sounds of insects and birds while gazing at the beautiful reflections of sunrise and sunset on the lake is truly captivating. The diverse attractions make it perfect for family outings and sightseeing.
 
Address: No. 11-2, Lane 114, Jinding Rd., Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City

Zhailinpi Wetland Park is one of the successfully revitalized pond wetland parks in Kaohsiung in recent years, serving multiple functions including flood detention, flood prevention, leisure education, and ecology. The dense native Zhailinpi trees in the park act like the lungs of the city, blocking and buffering the ecological and environmental disturbances from the highway to the north. The ecological conservation area forms ecological floating islands and aquatic cultivation zones, densely planted with aquatic plants such as wild ginger lilies, arrowheads, and cattails, using the self-purification mechanism of the ecological ponds to clean the water. The fresh environment and natural greenery attract water birds and wildlife. Bicycle paths and shaded greenery offer travelers a tranquil corner to relax and unwind, making it a true backyard garden of Kaohsiung.
 
Address: Lane 461, Dingjinhou Rd., Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City