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E-Da Theme Park Roller Coaster | Liu-Ho Night Market | Cijin Island | Lotus Pond

 Love River Tourist Attraction Boat Rentals | Spring and Autumn Pavillions | Tiger and Dragon Pagodas

Fine Arts Museum | Monkey Mountain | Cheng Ching Lake | Foguangshan Temple

    Located near the country’s Southern coast, is a city well-known for its scenic beauty, and a must-see for travelers. Try visiting the Longevity Hill Park, Zuoying- Lotus Pond, Banping Mountain, Lovers' River and other such scenic spots as Seawater Outdoor Bathing in the Xizi Bay with a snow-white fine sand beach and deep dark blue seawater. In the distance. Swaying palm trees stretch out their long branches, and the flamboyant trees with red blossom and evergreen foliage present a wonderful picture of a radiant and enchanting scene that keeps people returning to Kaohsiung.

TRAFFIC GUIDE

·                     e-traffic

·                     Kaohsiung Int'l Airport

·                     High Speed Rail

·                     Taiwan Railway Admin

·                     MRT Kaohsiung

·                     Taiwan Tour Bus

Liu-Ho Night Market

Most locals recommended Lui-Ho night market as the best of any other Taiwan city. It is the most popular for tourists from any country . You can find all kinds of reasonably priced food , snacks discount clothes, souvenirs, jewelry, shoes, arts and crafts, games, etc.

This night market looks like a ghost town and empty......More on Liu Ho Night Market

Other Links: Hsinshing Night Market- Info coming soon

Cijin island

Cijin island is a small island on the west side of Kaohsiung. It is long and narrow from the north to the south and it provides the protective barrier from the elements and mother nature for the Kaohsiung Harbor. 

The island is also home to a strong fishing community where you can find some fantastic, fresh seafood restaurants at reasonable prices. Fresh catch of the day.

But the island also has a historic lighthouse, World War era military bunkers and artillery battery, as well as a nice promenade walk along the coast and cliff line.

All are within easy walking distance of the Cijin Ferry terminal.

When you arrive at the ferry terminal, look at the tourist map and begin walking.

Address: Cijin Island

 Love River

The Love River or Ai River (simplified Chinese: 爱河; traditional Chinese: 愛河; pinyin: Ài Hé)

The Love River is a long river (canal) in Kaohsiung. It originates in Renwu Township, Kaohsiung County, and flows 12 kilometers (8 miles) through Kaohsiung to Kaohsiung Harbor. Love River is the spine of Kaohsiung, playing a similar role to the River Thames of London. This lovely river is of great cultural significance to the people of Kaohsiung and plays an important role in its economy and kaohsiung tourism. A riverside park, the Love River Park, runs along the riverbank in downtown Kaohsiung City. A night market operates in the park, and there are three outdoor cafés, often showing live music and excellent bands. The famous Green Bay restaurant sits on the banks in the southern part near the Wufu bridge and is a nice place for a meal and drinks with friends on the outdoor porch. http://www.e/services/green-energy-boat-tours/solar-energy-bike-rental-genewu Solar Power Boats which hold about fifteen people take tourists up and down the river. The scenery is enhanced by attractive city structures near the river, such as the Holy Rosary Cathedral, Kaohsiung Bridge, and the Kaohsiung District Court. Cultural events such as concerts and the Lantern Festival and Dragon Boat races are often held along  the river.

The Love River was heavily polluted many years back in the time raw sewage and industrial waste water flowed untreated into the river. Recent efforts by the local city government to divert the waste water to the treatment plant in Cijin District has resulted in significantly improved water quality. 

History Notes:

   Before the urban development of the area, the river flowed in a wide and flat channel, used for irrigation and surrounded by farms. In the Qing Dynasty, it was called the Takao River. In 1895, the Japanese dredged the river and turned it into a canal to transport lumber from Southeast Asia. Embankments (levees) were constructed on either sides of on the river and in 1908, Kaohsiung Harbor was constructed at the mouth of the Love River, replacing the mangrove forests. In 1945. 

Lotus Pond (Lake)

      Lotus Lake a man-made lake and popular tourist sightseeing destination on the east side of Tsoying District in Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan.You won't see many lotuses at Lotus lake as you may come to expect. but there are surely plenty of  spectacular temples to amaze your eyes!  It is however, very  famous for the abundance of pretty lotus plants on the lake. If you're passionate about temples, artistic pagodas and old buildings, you will be delighted and amazed in this area. Lotus Pond was  opened in 1951 and has been a popular tourist attraction ever since. We suggest you try to plan an entire day to visit the main sites and have the time to explore the hidden back lanes and many unique little shops. Take along  a camera and good footwear.

  There are many different  Chinese temples scattered  along  the shores of Lotus Pond as well as some real wild looking structures such as dragons and Tigers and pavillions, and the Spring and Autumn Pavilions , the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (See below). Park your car or scooter and take a stroll. It is a beautiful place to take an afternoon stroll and take some pictures.

Address: No. 1435, Cuihua Rd., Zuoying District, Kaohsiung

Directions: Take the MRT Red Line and get off at Ecological District Station. From Ecological District Station Exit No. 2, then take the Bus Red 51 to Lotus Lake stop.

WL Travel TV: Lotus Lake, Kaohsiung, Taiwan from Washington Life Magazine on Vimeo.

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http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002121&id=R157

Directions: Take the ferry from the  Gushan Terminal or Love Pier. You can check  the signboard for details.

Attractions at Lotus Pond

Spring and Autumn Pavilions (春秋閣)

    Two massive pavilions dedicated to Kuan Kung, the God of War, the Spring and Autumn Pavilions were completed in 1951. In front of the pavilions is a statue of Kuanyin, who is riding a dragon. She is the Goddess of Mercy. According to legend, Kuanyin appeared  riding on a dragon high above the clouds, signifying that her believers must erect an image depicting this event between "pavilions of summer and autumn": The present-day structures you can see here are a result of this vision.

Tiger and Dragon Pagodas  (龍虎塔)

     The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are  located approximately 700 meters due south of the Spring and Autumn Pavilions. The dragon's throat is the entrance and the lion's mouth is the exit. Entering a dragon's throat and coming out a lion's mouth symbolizes turning your bad luck into good fortune. While strolling Inside, paintings depict China's 24 most obedient sons as well as beautiful scenes of heaven and horrible depictions of hell to inspire people to do good deeds during their lifetime, and to provide threatening visualizations of retribution bad deeds you may do and acts of sin .

Getting there:

Public Highway:

National Freeway No.1 >Exit at the Dingjin System Interchange > National Freeway No.10 > Exit at the Zuoying System Interchange > Exit at Cuihua Rd.

By Train:
Take a train to Zuoying Railway Station.

By THSR:
Take the THSR to Zuoying Station > About a 10 min. walk

By MRT:
Take the  MRT Red Line > Ecological District Station > Ecological District Station > Exit No. 2  >Take the Bus Red 51 to Lotus Lake stop.

By Bus:

1. Take the Bus No. 301 to Lotus Lake Stop.
2. Take the Bus No. 6, 17, 29, 31, 38, or 219 > Zuoying North Stop.
3. Take the Green 38 > Confucius Temple St.

(孔廟)

Monkey Mountain

Monkey Mountain Tourist Sightseeing

 

Cheng Ching Lake 

             The local Taiwanese authorities seen the potential for growth and tourism and then  decided it to be opened to the public in 1960. The area boomed  and began to develop it as a beautiful lake to visit all year round. Cheng Ching Lake is named for it's peaceful ambience Cheng Ching Lake is also known as  the ‘West Lake of Taiwan’.

Attractions at Cheng Ching Lake

- Bridge of Nine Turns (built in the 60's, running 230 meters long with a width of 2.5 meters, and the bridge has nine turns)

-  Fukuo Island

- Chungling Pagoda  (see above  -  Moon-gazing Building

- Chunghsing Islet

-  Thousand Tree Woodland

- Youth Activity Center  (complete with youth hostel,  a training field, shooting gallery,  and a swimming pool)

- Three Pavilions

- Kaohsiung Golf and Country Club. (Open to the public is a fantastic 18-hole golf course right next to the lake)

-President Chiang’s Administration Building  ( Which has a library that containing many historical documents. including a very popular  document of  the declaration of surrender by Japan after a prolonged conflict of eight years.

Fine Arts Museum

This is another great tourist attraction where you can find tranquility from the noise of the concrete jungle. Set in the middle of a vast and quiet park, the museum displays both local and foreign artwork. It's probably the best venue to spend an afternoon on a rainy day. 

Address: 20 Meishuguan Rd.;

Hours:  Tue-Sun, 9am-5pm; free; bus 205                                               

Admission: NA

Martyr's Shrine

The Martyr's Shrine is a pure  of classical Chinese architecture. Most of Taiwan's religious centers are often built in scenic tourist style locations and Martyr's Shrine is just that. The shrine rests high above the city on the southern slope of Shoushan. The area gives you access to lots of hiking trails.haddress:

Hours:

Admission:

The Kaohsiung Harbor

If you ever feel bored or lonely while in Kaohsiung, head for the harbor and it's many shores. It's such a lively and happening place! You can see people walking, cycling, sipping a  cold drink by the ocean, watching ships loading and unloading containers. All attractions are usually busy and bustling on the weekends. 

Address: NA

Hours: NA

Admission: NA  

Taiwan`s Kaohsiung Harbor to Again be Top-10 in 2011   .Kaohsiung was the world’s busiest container port in 1999, but has since fallen to twelve, partly due to a 50-year ban on direct shipping with China         Kaohsiung Harbor covers 2,683 hectares and has 2 access channels to the sea that are 11 and 16 meters deep. It takes up 26.6 kilometers of coastline and can accommodate up to 155 ships at one time. Kaohsiung Harbor links to 372 shipping routes leading to 367 ports in 102 countries on five continents.   The port of Kaohsiung was the 38th port to join the US post-9/11 security organization, the Container Security Initiative. A CSI team of 10 agents from the United States Homeland Security Department is posted at the Kaohsiung port to investigate any suspicious containers bound for the USA. World’s Top-12 Harbors in 2009 Ranking Harbor Container Volume Year-on-year Growth 1 Singapore 25.87 -13.5% 2 Shanghai 25.00 -10.7% 3 Hong Kong 20.98 -14.3% 4 Shenzhen 18.25 -14.8% 5 Busan 11.98 -11.0% 6 Guangzhou 11.19 1.7% 7 Dubai 11.12 -6.0% 8 Ningbo 10.50 -6.5% 9 Qingdao 10.26 -0.6% 10 Rotterdam 9.74 -9.8% 11 Tianjin 8.70 2.4% 12 Kaohsiung 8.58 -11.4% Unit: 1 million TEUs

More attractions to watch for at Kaohsiung Harbor

- Gushan Ferry Pier 

Museum of History

Nothing overwhelming here in my opinion. The interior doesn't do justice to the building's amazing facade. The exhibitions aren't presented very well and there simply isn't a whole lot to see. But, if you are into history, you'll probably  the area that explains the 2-28 incident and the second floor  boasts a nice array sepia pictures. 

Address:272 ZhongZheng 4th Rd;

Hours: Tue-Fri, 9am-5pm; Sat-Sun, 9am-9pm

Admission: free

Famous Kaohsiung Temples

Foguangshan Temple

This temple is the most elaborate temple on the island. From the outside, it looks like Beijing's Forbidden City with its palatial architecture and never ending curved roof