Text by MOOK Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported
February 14th is Western Valentine’s Day every year, and this year the Gregorian calendar marks 2014 — which sounds like “love you for a lifetime (爱你一世)” in Chinese — making it an even more special time for couples to express their love. In response, the Kaohsiung City Government’s Tourism Bureau has specially set up creative plantings at Formosa Boulevard MRT Station, linking three major scenic spots — Shoushan Observation Deck and Love River — to jointly celebrate this sweet and deeply meaningful Western Valentine’s Day.
Romantic spots in Kaohsiung for Valentine’s Day. (Photo provided by Kaohsiung City Government)
XU Chuan-sheng, Director of the Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau, said that in preparation for Valentine’s Day, the city government has been creating sweet tourist attractions in Kaohsiung. Starting with the observation deck in front of the National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine on Shoushan and a LOVE-themed art installation, which blend the beautiful views of Shoushan and Kaohsiung Harbor, symbolizing the enduring love of “a vow made on the mountain and by the sea.” Then there’s the well-known Love River in Kaohsiung, expressing the deep affection of couples who wish to “bathe in love forever.” More recently, the creative plantings at Formosa Boulevard Station, paired with the backdrop of Kaohsiung’s landmark 85 Sky Tower, convey the meaning of “love reaching its highest point.” The Tourism Bureau links up Kaohsiung’s various famous attractions with the romantic atmosphere of Valentine’s Day, using the soft power of tourism to promote Kaohsiung.
Creative plantings at Formosa Boulevard Station make Valentine’s Day even more romantic. (Photo provided by Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau)
The city’s Tourism Bureau has used three-dimensional green sculptures and vertical planting designs at Exits 2 and 4 of Formosa Boulevard MRT Station, including the “Happy Swan” and “Love Gift Box” at Exit 4, the “Diamond-Shining LOVE” lettering, as well as the “Ode to Joy,” “Hearts Entwined,” and the “Tall” ribbon lettering at Exit 2. Adjacent to the gift and wedding cake shops on Zhongzheng Road, these features combine prayer and love motifs, becoming new hotspots for couples to take photos and for wedding photography, successfully shaping Kaohsiung as a city of happiness.
Taking photos with the beautiful light displays is like giving her a giant diamond ring. (Photo provided by Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau)
Among them, a three-dimensional LOVE-shaped planting with a diamond-patterned design in the center has become especially popular with visitors. Many boyfriends planning to get married have proposed to their girlfriends in front of this uniquely meaningful diamond, adding to the romantic atmosphere. The Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau hopes to create a vision of a happy city by combining eye-catching sensory effects with environmentally friendly greening designs, linking up Kaohsiung’s romantic attractions.
● Extended Reading:
Kaohsiung Lantern Festival: Thousand-Float Carnival and Fireworks Show on Love River during Lantern Festival
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