Green Energy Kaohsiung, 2011 Marine Expo & Yacht Show

With its long-developed offshore fishing industry and distinctive mountain, sea, river, and harbor scenery, Kaohsiung’s various docks have remained popular attractions to this day. This year’s Kaohsiung Marine Expo & Yacht Show will be held from August 13 to 17 at Glory Pier and True Love Pier. The event will showcase luxury yachts as well as cutting-edge and rarely seen naval and coast guard vessels. There will also be a “Naval Heritage Exhibition,” an “Indigenous Peoples Cultural Exhibition & Music Night,” and the public is welcome to attend.

The Kaohsiung Marine Expo has been held for seven years since 2004, attracting thousands of visitors each summer with its rich and diverse activities. This year’s expo will feature luxury yachts from four major groups; cutting-edge and rare vessels from the navy (such as the La Fayette-class frigate, Yongfeng-class minesweeper, and Kuan Liu missile patrol boat) and the Coast Guard Administration’s Ocean Patrol Directorate General, including the 2,000-tonne Wei Hsing patrol vessel and self-righting boats. Visitors can also take a harbor cruise to the Yangming Kaohsiung Marine Exploration Museum, enjoying the magnificent views of Kaohsiung Harbor during the 30-minute voyage and entering the museum for free to view the “Ships Through the Centuries Special Exhibition” and the “Love Our Home – Green Sea Turtles Special Exhibition.” Alternatively, they can opt for a Blue Highway experience, taking a leisure fishing boat from True Love Pier to Oyster Liao Fishing Port or a passenger ferry to Matsu Nanliao Fishing Port for a tour of fishing village culture.

The exhibition section of the event includes a “Naval Heritage Exhibition,” a “Coast Guard Equipment Display,” an “Ocean Education Interactive Zone,” a special exhibition on oceanic national parks curated by the Marine National Park Headquarters titled “Surging Archipelago – Special Exhibition of Marine National Parks,” an “Indigenous Cultures Expo – Indigenous Peoples Cultural Exhibition” organized by the Council of Indigenous Peoples, a “Music Night of Indigenous Peoples,” exhibitions of specialty products from various district fishing associations in the city, performances showcasing the achievements of home economics and 4-H clubs, an “Ocean Pollution Prevention & Resource Conservation Exhibition – Total Mobilization for the Marine Environment,” an “Ocean Ecology Themed Philatelic Exhibition,” a “Harbor Cruise Experience,” and a “Blue Highway Experience.” These numerous static and dynamic activities are suitable for family fun.