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

First, night markets have once again caught the eye of foreigners. Kaohsiung’s “Golden Diamond” and “Triumph” night markets are tied as the largest in southern Taiwan. Since opening last summer, they’ve drawn widespread attention thanks to their vast space and astonishing number of food stalls. The endless array of culinary offerings, each with its own specialty, impressed CNN reporters, as did the four-faced Buddha and the ultra-luxurious restroom in the night market. Another highlight—fresh local cuisine—also earned a spot in the report, including mutton hot pot from Gangshan, free-range chicken from Yueshi World, seafood from Xingda Harbor and Cijin, Hakka dishes from Meinong, and taro sago dessert from Old New Taiwanese Restaurant.

 

Among must-visit attractions, Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung gained CNN’s attention thanks to its Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. In particular, the local tradition of entering through the dragon’s mouth and exiting through the tiger’s mouth offers a cultural experience distinct from visiting temples elsewhere in Asia, which the reporter found particularly amusing. As for themed restaurants featured in CNN’s earlier piece “10 Things Taiwan Does Better Than Anywhere Else,” Kaohsiung’s “18+ Forbidden” adult-themed restaurant was also highlighted. This eatery that offers sex education uses erotic themes as its main style, emphasizing a “playful but not vulgar” dining atmosphere. The 2-meter wooden male genital sculpture in the “Jinshan Shrine” inside the restaurant, along with the breast-shaped hand soap bottle, left the reporting journalists blushing.

Meanwhile, Yueshi World in Tianliao, Kaohsiung, not only offers unique landform scenery but also serves up delicious Hakka cuisine. In addition, cycling through the mudstone badlands to enjoy the natural landscape provides a rare and distinctive experience, making it one of the 10 reasons to love Kaohsiung.

 

When it comes to art and creativity, Kaohsiung’s Formosa Boulevard Station also made the list. The station’s “Dome of Light” is the world’s largest single-piece glass artwork. Its fame even earned it the title of the world’s second most beautiful metro station by the U.S. travel website BootsNAll in 2012, and it’s also included among the 10 reasons to love Kaohsiung. The massive installations and cafes in the Pier-2 Art Center are also must-experience attractions.

 

In addition, a lottery shop near the ferry pier at Qijin features life-sized figurines of Iron Man, Captain America, and other American superheroes. These vivid creations, handmade by the shop owner Tang Yangwu, not only attract tourists for photos and social media check-ins but also shine as a beacon of Taiwan’s lottery shops on the international stage.