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Kaohsiung

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At a glance

Country
Taiwan
Region
Southern Taiwan
Population
2.7 million
Best time to go
October to April
Main airport
Kaohsiung International (KHH)
Coordinates
22.63°N, 120.30°E

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Overview

Kaohsiung is Taiwan's great port, a laid-back southern city that has turned old warehouses into art spaces and its riverbanks into cycle paths. It is warmer and sunnier than Taipei, and noticeably less hurried.

The sights are spread out but well linked by metro and light rail. Expect seafood, temples, a short ferry ride to a beach island and one of Taiwan's largest Buddhist complexes on the city's edge.

Things to see

  • Dragon and Tiger Pagodas
    Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Dragon and Tiger Pagodas

    Twin seven-storey pagodas on Lotus Pond. Enter through the dragon's mouth and leave by the tiger's for luck.

  • Pier-2 Art Center
    Photo: Anav Rin from Gushan, Kaohsiung, Taipei, CC BY 2.0

    Pier-2 Art Center

    Harbourside warehouses filled with galleries, sculptures, shops and cafés, linked by a waterfront cycle path.

  • Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
    Photo: Huicheng1967, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum

    A monumental complex with a giant seated bronze Buddha, rows of pagodas and peaceful temple halls.

  • Cijin Island
    Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Cijin Island

    A short ferry ride across the harbour for seafood stalls, a lighthouse, an old fort and a black-sand beach.

  • Formosa Boulevard Station
    Photo: Kevin765432, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Formosa Boulevard Station

    A metro station with the Dome of Light, an enormous stained-glass ceiling glowing over the concourse.

Things to do

Where to stay

  • Yancheng

    The old port district near Pier-2 and the ferry, full of character.

    Hotels in Yancheng

  • Xinxing

    Central, near Formosa Boulevard, with plenty of hotels and restaurants.

    Hotels in Xinxing

  • Zuoying

    Handy for the high-speed rail station and Lotus Pond.

    Hotels in Zuoying

Getting around

The two metro lines and the light rail cover most sights; an iPASS or EasyCard works on all of them. City bikes are good for the flat harbour area.

The airport is on the metro Red Line, around 20 minutes from the centre. High-speed trains from Taipei arrive at Zuoying.

When to go

The dry season from October to April is warm and sunny. Summers are hot, wet and humid, with typhoons possible from July to September.

Plan your trip to Kaohsiung

Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.

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