Explore Kaohsiung’s Seven Themed Land & Sea Adventures During the Qingming Holiday

By MOOK Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

This year’s Children’s Day and Qingming Festival holiday spans four days — the perfect time for family reunions, ancestor worship, and spring outings. The Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau has launched seven spring travel themes, including Taiwan’s largest performance troupe festival “Neimen Songjiang Battle Array,” “Kaohsiung Harbor Nostalgia,” “Airport Express Sightseeing Bus,” “Indigenous Village Charm,” “Blue Highway Fishing Village Experience,” “Love River Breeze Fun,” and “Shoushan Zoo Family Fun,” showcasing the diverse landscapes of Kaohsiung as a city of mountains, seas, rivers, and harbors. The public is invited to bring their families to explore Kaohsiung this spring and enjoy the warm vibes of southern Taiwan.

● “Neimen Songjiang Battle Array”

The art of performance troupes has been passed down in Neimen for over 200 years. The “2015 Kaohsiung Neimen Songjiang Battle Array” kicks off from March 28 to April 6 at the Nanzih Nanhai Zizhu Temple. This year features the debut participation of high school and vocational students in the Campus Troupe Competition, along with a public martial arts exercise contest, chef-cooked banquets, the Luohanmen Buddha Welcoming Pilgrimage, and 3D light projections at temples. Thoughtful arrangements include free shuttle buses and guided local history tours. Century-old troupes and creative new-generation performances gather here daily, making it an ideal martial arts-themed family trip.

● “Kaohsiung Harbor Nostalgia”

The harbor is the origin of Kaohsiung. Qijin, Gushan, and Yancheng — three districts surrounding Kaohsiung Harbor — are among the city’s earliest developed areas. Visitors are encouraged to stroll through old streets, explore historic sites, sample local street food, enjoy sea breezes and coastal sunset views, and watch large ships enter the port. Xu Chuansheng highlights that the Yancheng Pier-2 Art Center is currently offering a mini train experience, taking riders through the century-old railway district of Pier-2 and Hamasen until April 6 — don’t miss out.

● “Airport Express Sightseeing Bus”
Another new way to explore Kaohsiung is the “Airport Express” sightseeing bus, which runs every Saturday, Sunday, and national holiday, taking passengers to famous attractions in the Xiaogang area with onboard guided commentary. Highlights include the Hongmaogang Cultural Park, Dapingding Tropical Botanical Garden, the local famed gift shop Jin Fu Xi Pastry, and the Xiaogang-exclusive airport café. Passengers who purchase the Airport Express exclusive e-ticket card can also enjoy various discounts on food, lodging, tours, shopping, and transportation. Online registration also offers a chance to win a luxury car prize.
 
● “Indigenous Village Charm”

The “Indigenous Village Charm” theme recommends Taoyuan and Namaxia. Xu Chuansheng explains that along Provincial Highways 20 and 21, you can reach two major indigenous regions in northeastern Kaohsiung, rich in Aboriginal culture and pristine natural ecology. April is peak season for peaches and plums, as well as fireflies. Visitors are welcome to hike for forest bathing, savor seasonal specialties and Aboriginal cuisine, and in May, enjoy events like the Bunun Ear-Shooting Festival and the Peach Road Race — truly exciting.