Spot to Watch Planes Up Close – Kaohsiung’s Harborfront Railway Bike Path Now Open

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

The bicycle path along the Harborfront Railway Line in Kaohsiung’s Qianzhen District (beside Cuizheng South and North Roads) officially opened today (the 9th). Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu noted that this project connects the Qianzhen Star Bicycle Bridge and the Coastal Road bike path, providing a higher-quality dedicated cycling route that links various leisure spaces through an extensive network of bike paths.


▲ The Harborfront Railway Bicycle Path in Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung (Photo / Provided by Kaohsiung City Government).

Stretching approximately 4.5 kilometers from the Qianzhen Star Bicycle Bridge in the north to the intersection at East Asia Road in the south, the path can be connected to the first section of the Harborfront Railway Bicycle Path to the north, spanning about 6.8 kilometers, and to the tree-lined Coastal Road bike path in Xiaogang District to the south, covering roughly 7.4 kilometers. Together, they form a western harborfront cycling network of approximately 18.7 kilometers.

The former disused railway space has been transformed into a 20-meter-wide, lush green recreational bike path, complementing the existing pedestrian walkways along Cuizheng South and North Roads both inside and out. Tall, straight banyan hedges effectively block the noise from traffic on Zhongshan Road, while the existing greenery has been enhanced with seasonal flowering plants such as yellow and red tabebuia, creating a natural landscape that reflects the changing seasons along the green corridor.

Original features of the old railway, such as switch tracks and low-set diesel signal lamps, have been preserved along the route, adding a nostalgic touch. The Kaohsiung Public Works Bureau stated that the Caoya Depot section has been renovated into a spacious 40-meter-wide open area. Notably, the Old Banyan Tree Plaza and uniquely designed treehouse offer cyclists a place to rest and enjoy the shade. This section is also the only bike path in Kaohsiung where you can watch planes take off and land up close.