Article by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, compiled and reported
Kaohsiung City has been increasingly home to high-quality cultural arts and public landscapes, making it a beloved destination for “modern literary youths.” Recently, the Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau launched a literary youth networking gathering, inviting literary youths of all generations to visit Kaohsiung, experience a “Kaohsiung Literary Youth Journey” that engages all five senses, and encourage fellow literary enthusiasts to discover more diverse cultural and art activities in Kaohsiung. They are also encouraged to share their experiences and photography online, spreading the word through word-of-mouth and inviting everyone to come and enjoy a cultural cleansing journey of literary tourism.
The Ten Drum Sugar Factory Cultural and Creative Park features the nation’s first chimney water theater. (Photo provided by Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau)
Recently, the Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau initiated an online meetup on the “Kaohsiung Tourism Network Fan Page,” inviting literary youth enthusiasts of all ages—from older to younger generations—to participate in the “Literary Youth Kaohsiung Journey.” By taking green public transportation, they first headed to the “Ten Drum Sugar Factory Cultural Park,” which blends both old and new histories spanning a century, to enjoy a water theater performance by the Ten Drum Percussion Troupe, an ensemble frequently invited to international shows. On the way back, they rode the MRT, immersing themselves in the beauty of the “Kaohsiung MRT Public Art.” The group of literary friends who met at the meetup were also happy to share what they saw and heard directly on Facebook, using the power of word-of-mouth and crowd sharing to offer travel experiences to those coming to Kaohsiung.
The Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau pointed out that there are more and more emerging “literary youth spots” in Kaohsiung. For example, the “Ten Drum Sugar Factory Cultural Park” pioneered the nation’s first chimney water theater, focusing on drumming arts. In addition to long-term fixed performances, it is also a cultural tourism destination rich in human history and natural ecology. The Kaohsiung MRT incorporates public art into station architecture. R23 Qiaotou Railway Station is an elevated station designed with the concept of cane sugar crystals, integrating the history of the sugar factory. It features a large-scale ceramic wall public artwork, “Heavenly Work Opening Things,” created by Dr. Chu Bangxiong. Within its geometric shapes, it deconstructs the image of a train carrying sugarcane traveling across fields, symbolizing how Taiwan’s sugar industry spurred industrial economic development. R17 World Games Station was a filming location for the movie “Black & White.” Its exterior resembles a battleship sailing through waves, and its public art is based on the concept of the “Spirit of Banpingshan (Half-Screen Mountain).” The station is covered with digitally painted glass art created by an internationally renowned team, recreating the insects and plants of southern Taiwan. Through light refraction, it feels as if you are in a rainforest. The Kaohsiung MRT’s Formosa Boulevard Station and Central Park Station have even been rated by a U.S. travel website as among the most beautiful stations in the world. Kaohsiung MRT gives each station its own uniqueness and cultural identity, turning the entire system into a large-scale living art museum—with every station being a great spot for photography and street snaps.
The huge ceramic wall public art piece “Heavenly Work Opening Things” by Dr. Chu Bangxiong at Kaohsiung MRT Qiaotou Railway Station showcases a majestic aura through delicate craftsmanship. (Photo provided by Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau)
Additionally, the long-popular literary youth spot, Pier-2 Art Center, exudes the vitality of experimental creation within its harbor warehouses. It frequently hosts exciting large-scale exhibitions and is a favorite leisure destination for locals as well as a crucial hub for the development of southern Taiwan’s art scene. The second-class historic site, Takao British Consulate, is located on a hillside next to Qijin Bay. Ascending via a zigzag staircase, it is Taiwan’s first Western-style building. It now combines dining and leisure, where literary youths can dine and enjoy tea while taking in the panoramic view of Kaohsiung Harbor. The third-class historic site, Kaohsiung Lighthouse (Qihou Lighthouse), is a pure white structure exuding fresh elegance. It is the second oldest lighthouse in Taiwan, standing on Qihou Mountain and witnessing Kaohsiung Harbor’s transformation from a small fishing village into an international commercial port. There’s also Qihou Fort, Love River, Kaohsiung Film Archive, Dadong Art Center, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Zuoying Old City, Zhongdu Tangrong Brick Kiln, Lotus Pond Dragon and Tiger Towers, one of the top ten small tourist cities—Meinong, and the Moon World Badlands—all must-visit pilgrimage destinations for literary youth.
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