Kaohsiung, a coastal city that used to be small fishing village where multiple aborigines live. It showcases multicultural background of settlers with rich history and colorful art culture. The city thrived in the past decades to reach its status to be the biggest maritime industry in the country then progresses to be one of top destination when visiting Taiwan.
HOW TO GET THERE
The city has a massive airport that caters to a lot of international flights. From budget airlines such as Airasia and Cebu Pacific to boutique ones like China Air and Starlux. If you are flying from Manila, Philippines, Airasia has multiple daily flights whereas Cebu Pacific only flies Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Round trip tickets may cost on average ₱ 5,000 and can go lower if these airlines have promotion. As for me, I booked it on a long weekend holiday in September so I paid ₱ 6,132.
PLACES TO CHECK OUT
I mentioned earlier that the city has rich historic, art and food culture so the focus of my city exploration are these three. Kaohsiung is an industrial city so there’s not much activities to do here but you can still appreciate them when you do city tour.
DOME OF LIGHTS
Located in Formosa Boulevard Station Exit 1. The dome is the world’s largest public art installation made from individual pieces of colored glass. The picturesque site is not just for picture taking and appreciating the art behind it. It can also turn into entertainment when the station turns the two-minute light shows three times a day on Mondays to Thursdays. Fridays will only be at 7 p.m while the weekends have five shows from 11 a.m to 8 p.m with 2 hours intervals.
RUIFENG NIGHT MARKET
The most popular night market among the locals. People from Kaohsiung including foreign settlers recommend this place. There are wider selection of food here and most of them are viral on social media such the XXL Taiwanese fried chicken and papaya milk. From meals, drinks, snacks to desserts, they have it all. I also spotted foreign stalls that sells Spanish beef barbecue and Thai banana roti. Food isn’t only sold here because you can go shopping for a new outfit on some alleys and there are numerous gaming shops that you can enjoy after munching.
LIUHE TOURIST NIGHT MARKET
Approximately 200-meter street stretched with 138 stalls that open at night. The two lanes are normal streets during the day but lit up at night to sell food and various produce. The market is mostly catered to tourists so I didn’t see a lot of locals during my visit. Take note that prices are higher here compared to Ruifeng. Most menus are written in Chinese however, sellers can speak English so you will still have idea on what you are getting.
SHOUSHAN ZOO
Located on top of Shou Mountain with an overlooking view of Kaohsiung city is where you can find this attraction. If you are into animals this site is for you. However, manage your expectation because comparing to Taipei Zoo, it’s way smaller and has lesser types of animals to view. This place is family-friendly as we spotted families having a picnic but beware of wild monkeys. They are notorious in stealing food and belongings.
Entrance Fee: NT$ 40 (₱ 71)
WENWU TEMPLE
Don’t be confused when searching this temple because there is another Wenwu Temple in Nantou County. Be sure to type Wenwu Temple Kaohsiung to get the right details of this place of worship. Not a lot of information is published about it but according to the temples official website it is called Civil and Military Temple built during the 10th year of Republic of China. If you are Taoist or just want to have an experience with temples then this place is for you. Visitors are welcome to pray or just explore the area. The staff are friendly and are willing to guide you in case you want to lit some incense and say your wish to the Taoist gods.
HAMASEN RAILWAY CULTURAL PARK
Another free site to check out especially if you are into history at the same time train geek. Hamasen Railway Park used to be Kaohsiung Port Station and it was the city’s first railway station. It is easily accessible as soon as you step out of the tram. You can see various display of trains dating back during the precolonial era. If you walk further you can also view some odd shape sculptures adding to the image of Kaohsiung being a city of arts.
CIJIN ISLAND
My favorite place I visited on this trip. Just 5 minute ferry ride from Gushan Ferry Pier that cost NT$ 20 (₱ 36) is the beautiful little island of Cijin. You can spend half a day or whole day to catch the sunset in Cijin Sunset Bar. There are numerous of historic sites to visit here for free with an amazing overlooking view of the island and Kaohsiung city such as Kaohsiung Lighthouse, Cihou Fort, and Cijin Star Tunnel. You can also surf, sunbathe and have a picnic on Cijin Beach. If you are up for another food trip then go see Cijin Old Street nearby is the spectacular Cijin Tianhou Temple. Going around the island is accessible on foot but if you want to save some time renting a bike or a rickshaw is also great options.
LOVE PIER AND GLORY PIER
Taking the Green Line Tram will take you to these two massive piers located across from each other. If you fancy city views of skyscrapers with futuristic art building along the Love River then you shouldn’t miss these places. On the Glory Pier side you can also view an enormous number of docked yachts. It will make you question your life choices (LOL) but that’s fine since you can chill on a strip of fancy restaurants and cafes along the river. I highly recommend to see this place on the late afternoon to evening to avoid the harsh sun and to witness the ray of sunset reflecting on the water adding to the charm of the area. It also has light shows during events courtesy of Kaohsiung Music Center.
Add: If you are looking for a reliable site to book your transportation such as ferries, buses and airport transfers go to 12go.com. (Affiliate link)
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OTHER PLACES TO CHECK OUT
These places are great experience to add when in Kaohsiung. You can go see them if they are your cup of tea.
KAOHSIUN PUBLIC MAIN LIBRARY
view from the top deck
To be frank, this is just my second option. I happen to be in Kaohsiung during public holiday so the museums I want to check out are closed. Good thing, my hotel recommended this place and I must say, as a person with a background in libraries it was nostalgic. The eight-floor building with a top deck view of the coast and city is open to public including foreigners. It is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m to 10 p.m and Sundays at 10 am to 5 p.m. If you are into books and you want to spend a lazy afternoon go and pay a visit. They have wide range of books from academic to fiction available both in Chinese and English. It also houses a mini gallery that features different arts depending on their theme of the month.
HAIDILAO HOT POT
This chain restaurant has been making a buzz across social media for their hot pot menu and top tier customer service experience. Founded in 1994 from Sichuan, China, the restaurant grew and became the largest hot pot chain expanding world wide. Aside from excellent customer service they have a lot of free unlimited stuff such as ice cream, side dishes,water and soup. Playing area for kids, massage chairs for adults and gel manicure are also free of charge. There are performances such as the Face Changing Dance if you happen to be there on a Sunday and Noodle Dance upon customer’s request but add on the bill. Haidilao Kaoshiung practices no minimum order opposed to other branches from different countries. You pay depending on how much you ordered but there are extra cost for unlimited rice and sauce.
DIN TAI FUNG
A homegrown Taiwanese chain restaurant since 1972. Din Tai Fun is known for their Xialongbao described as steamed dumpling. It is recognized as one of the best restaurant by New York Times and Michelin Guide hence it expanded across the globe. Al though it is available in 15 countries it is still worth a visit to see their original menu that could be nonexistent outside Taiwan. According to locals I spoke with, their menus are expensive but worth it.
BREAKFAST RESTAURANTS
As someone who grew up in a place where restaurants cater the same food from morning to evening, breakfast restaurants are new to my ears. I heard this first time from my Taiwanese friend who mentioned that most locals don’t eat breakfast at home. They would rather eat their morning food at eateries before going about their day to save time. This type of business is only open in the morning until 11 a.m or 2 p.m. They have wide range of options to choose from authentic Taiwanese dish such as noodle soups, dumplings and rice to western menu like sandwiches, toasts, sausages and pancakes. You can easily spot these restaurants on google since they are everywhere.
Overall my experience in Kaohsiung is noteworthy. I admit that the lack of activities in the city made me less impressed. But with all the free things the city offered, delicious food I ate and the hospitable locals I hanged out with, it is still rewarding. If you are into city tours, historic sites and arts then go book your flight to Kaohsiung now.
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ITINERARY
- Day 1: Arrival Day
- Check in
- Dome of Lights
- Love and Glory Pier
- Ruifeng Night Market
- Day 2: City Tour
- Shoushan Zoo
- Hamasen Railway Park
- Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts
- Wenwu Temple Kaohsiung
- Liuhe Tourist Night Market
- Day 3: Cijin Island Day Trip
- Kaohsiung Lighthouse
- Cihou Fort
- Cijin Star Tunnel
- Cijin Old Street
- Cijin Tianho Temple
- Cijin Beach
- Cijin Sunset Bar
- Day 4: Chill Day or Shopping
- Check out Breakfast Restaurant
- Kaohsiung Museum of History
- Kaohsiung Public Main Library
- Haidilao or Din Tai Fung
- PX Mart (for pineapple cake)
EXPENSES
Round trip plane tickets: ₱ 6, 132
Accommodation:
3 nights at Centre Hotel Kaohsiung: NT$ 1,740 (₱ 3,096)
Transportation:
- Easy Card: NTD 100 (₱178)
- Easy Card Load: NT$ 350 (₱623)
Entrance Fees:
- Shoushan Zoo: NT$ 40 (₱72)
Food: NT$ 2,000 (₱3,557)
Souvenirs:
- Pineapple Cake: NT$ 50/box; 6 NT$300 (₱534)
- Ref Magnet: NT$40 each; 3 NT$ 120 (₱214)
TOTAL: ₱14, 406
*For Filipino travelers take note that there’s ₱1,620 travel tax in NAIA.
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