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Kaohsiung

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City
—°16
Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
ℹ️

Practical info — Kaohsiung

▾

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • The KMRT and light rail are extremely efficient; grab an iPASS or EasyCard for seamless travel and small store purchases.
  • Rent a YouBike to cycle along the Love River, especially in the late afternoon when it's cooler.
  • Night markets are open late; wait until after 7 PM for the full, bustling experience.
  • Summers are very hot and humid, and typhoons can occur from July to September, so check the weather before planning outdoor trips.

🍽 Food

🍽
Papaya Milk

A refreshing, sweet local specialty; best found at the Liuhe Night Market.

🍽
Seafood

Head to Cijin Island or Ruifeng Night Market for incredibly fresh, grilled squid and shrimp.

🍽
Danzai Noodles

A savory, comforting noodle soup that is a staple in southern Taiwanese cuisine.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Pier-2 Art Center

A hub for independent designers and boutique shops set in old warehouses.

🛍
Dream Mall

One of the largest shopping malls in East Asia, excellent for high-end retail and escaping the heat.

🧘
Lotus Pond

Visit at sunrise to peacefully walk among the impressive pagodas and pavilions before the crowds arrive.

🧘
Cijin Island Coast

Take a short ferry ride and walk along the quieter stretches of the black sand beach.

Kaohsiung is Taiwan's second-largest city and home to its most vital maritime gateway, ranking among the world's busiest container ports. Situated in the southwest of the island, the city transformed from a small fishing village into a heavy industrial powerhouse, specializing in steel, shipbuilding, and petrochemicals. With a population of about 2.7 million, Kaohsiung is now a modern metropolis characterized by spacious boulevards and innovative urban design. A prominent landmark is the 347-meter Tuntex Sky Tower, which held the title of Taiwan's tallest building until the completion of Taipei 101. Cultural sites such as the Lotus Pond, featuring the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, and the Pier-2 Art Center demonstrate the city's successful shift toward tourism and the arts. The Love River flows through the urban core, serving as a scenic waterfront lined with parks and cafes. Kaohsiung hosted the 2009 World Games and continues to expand its international presence through major infrastructure projects and cultural festivals.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C212223252727282827262421
Rain mm33273756183303287436240765334

Geography

Population
2,737,660 (2026)
Coordinates
22.62700, 120.30100

Facts

  • The Port of Kaohsiung is the largest shipping port in Taiwan.
  • The Tuntex Sky Tower stands 347 meters tall with 85 floors.
  • The city has an approximate population of 2.73 million people.
  • The Love River flows for approximately 12 kilometers through the city.
  • Kaohsiung was the host city for the 8th World Games in 2009.
  • The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond were completed in 1976.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Kaohsiung Software ParkKaohsiung Software Park1 km · EExplore →
Pier-2 Art CenterPier-2 Art Center2 km · SExplore →
Lotus PondLotus Pond3 km · WExplore →
Qihou FortQihou Fort4 km · SExplore →
Weiwuying Metropolitan ParkWeiwuying Metropolitan Park5 km · NExplore →
Linyuan Petrochemical ParkLinyuan Petrochemical Park13 km · NEExplore →
E-DA Theme ParkE-DA Theme Park14 km · NWExplore →
Gaoping RiverGaoping River15 km · NEExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Kaohsiung (16)

Urban Spotlight📍 landmark

A widely known urban attraction bringing animated light installations to the city.

Postal Museum🏛 museum

Established in 2021, this museum showcases the postal history of the region.

♿💶

Xiaoyao Villa🏺 historical

Historic villa ruins offering a glimpse into the region's past architecture.

Nanhua Tourist Night Market📍 landmark

A lively night market attraction filled with local street food stalls.

Dome of Light📍 landmark

A well-known, animated glass art installation acting as a major city attraction.

Museum of Southern Taiwan Medical History🏛 museum

A specialized museum documenting the evolution of medical practices in southern Taiwan.

San Feng Tang⛪ religious

A prominent, well-known place of worship celebrated for its intricate traditional architecture.

Kaohsiung Literature Library🏛 museum

An educational museum and library dedicated to local literary heritage.

Central Park🌳 park

A widely recognized central urban park providing expansive green spaces for recreation.

Our Lady of Fatima Church⛪ religious

A dedicated Catholic place of worship serving the local community.

Water Tower Park🌳 park

A notable city park developed around a historic water tower structure.

Kaohsiung Cultural Center🎭 culture

A prominent theatre and cultural center hosting major regional performances.

Sihwei Administration Center, Kaohsiung City Government🏺 historical

A significant townhall facility managing civic administration for the region.

The church in Kaohsiung, Jiouru 1st Road.⛪ religious

A local community church serving as a quiet place of worship on Jiouru 1st Road.

Zhongzheng Market🎭 culture

A busy, everyday marketplace serving the local neighborhood with fresh goods.

Minsheng Market🎭 culture

A traditional community marketplace offering a variety of daily necessities.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to get around the city?
The MRT system is modern and clean, efficiently connecting all major attractions.
What is the landmark of Kaohsiung?
The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond are the most photographed structures in the city.
Are there good places for shopping?
Yes, the Pier-2 Art Center area provides many trendy boutiques alongside art galleries.
What is the weather like in Kaohsiung?
It has a tropical climate with warm temperatures all year round, handy for seaside activities.
Is the city safe for tourists?
Kaohsiung is considered very safe and welcoming, even during evening strolls through busy districts.
Kaohsiung: where is it located?
Kaohsiung is located in Taiwan.
Kaohsiung: what is there to see?
Highlights include Urban Spotlight, Postal Museum, Xiaoyao Villa.
Kaohsiung: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.
Kaohsiung: why is it worth visiting?
Kaohsiung is Taiwan's second-largest city and home to its most vital maritime gateway, ranking among the world's busiest container ports.
View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →
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History & landmarks

Pier-2 Art Center — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Pier-2 Art Center
Former abandoned warehouses in Kaohsiung transformed into a vibrant hub for modern art and design.
Lotus Pond — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Lotus Pond
An artificial lake in Kaohsiung, surrounded by numerous colorful temples, pavilions, and statues.
Dragon and Tiger Pagodas — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Dragon and Tiger Pagodas
Two colorful, seven-story pagodas at the Lotus Pond, where you enter through a dragon's mouth and exit through a tiger's mouth for good l…
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
A massive Buddhist temple complex and museum that houses a significant tooth relic of the historical Buddha.
Chimei Museum — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Chimei Museum
An impressive private museum in Tainan, exhibiting European art, musical instruments, historical weapons, and natural history.

Nature

Gaoping River — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Gaoping River
The Gaoping River is the longest river in southern Taiwan and supplies water to a large agricultural plain.

More places

Kaohsiung Software Park — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Kaohsiung Software Park
An innovation hub in southern Taiwan for digital content and cloud computing.
Port of Kaohsiung — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Port of Kaohsiung
The largest port in Taiwan and one of the busiest container ports in the world.
Shoushan Zoo — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Shoushan Zoo
An urban zoo in Kaohsiung on the hillside of Mount Shoushan, featuring Asian and African animals.
Qihou Fort — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Qihou Fort
A historic fortification on Cijin Mountain that guarded the port of Kaohsiung.
Weiwuying Metropolitan Park — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Weiwuying Metropolitan Park
A massive park in Kaohsiung on a former military base, ideal for walks and nature observation.
Linyuan Petrochemical Park — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Linyuan Petrochemical Park
One of the most important centers for petrochemical production in southern Taiwan.
E-DA Theme Park — Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
E-DA Theme Park
A Greek-inspired theme park in Kaohsiung with numerous rides and entertainment options.
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