10 Reasons to Fall in Love with Kaohsiung – As Featured by CNN: Night Markets, Mutton Hot Pot, and the Yellow Rubber Duck

First, the night markets have once again captured the attention of foreigners. Kaohsiung’s “Golden Diamond” and “Triumph” night markets are jointly ranked as the largest in southern Taiwan. Since their opening last summer, they’ve drawn crowds with their vast space and astonishing number of vendors. The endless array of food stalls, each with its own specialty, impressed CNN reporters—notably the nearby statue of the Four-Faced Buddha and the ultra-luxurious restroom. Another highlight—fresh local cuisine—also made the cut, including mutton hot pot from Gangshan, free-range chicken from Devil’s Valley, seafood from Xingda Harbor and Cijin, Hakka dishes from Meinong, and taro sago from a traditional Taiwanese restaurant, all featured in CNN’s report.

 

Among must-visit attractions, Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung earned CNN’s attention thanks to its Dragon and Tiger Towers. The traditional local custom of entering through the dragon’s mouth and exiting through the tiger’s mouth offers a unique temple-visiting experience distinct from other Asian sites, which amused the reporters. As for themed restaurants, CNN previously covered unique dining concepts in its “10 Things Taiwan Does Better Than Anywhere Else,” and Kaohsiung’s “18 Restricted” adult-themed restaurant was also featured. This restaurant, which provides sex education, takes an erotic theme and emphasizes creating a dining environment that is “playful but not vulgar.” Inside its “Jinshan Shrine,” a 2-meter wooden sculpture of a male genitalia and a breast-shaped hand soap bottle left the visiting reporters blushing.

Devil’s Valley in Tianliao, Kaohsiung, not only offers unique landform scenery but also serves delicious Hakka cuisine. Additionally, cycling through the mudstone badlands to enjoy the natural landscape makes for a rare and distinctive experience, ranking it among the 10 reasons to love Kaohsiung.

 

When it comes to art and creativity, Kaohsiung’s Formosa Boulevard Station also made the list. Its “Dome of Light” is the world’s largest single-piece glass artwork. Its fame even earned it the No. 2 spot on the “World’s Most Beautiful Subway Stations” list by U.S. travel website BootsnAll in 2012, and it’s included here as one of the 10 reasons to love Kaohsiung. The massive installations and cafés in the Pier-2 Art Center are also must-experience highlights.

 

Moreover, a lottery shop near the ferry pier of Qijin features life-sized figurines of Iron Man, Captain America, and other American superheroes. These impressively crafted statues, handmade by the shop owner Tang Yangwu, not only attract visitors for photos but have also put this Taiwanese lottery shop in the international spotlight.