Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung cityscape, Taiwan


Kaohsiung (or Gaoxiong in pinyin) is the second biggest city in Taiwan (if Taipei and New Taipei are counted as one). It has a population of about 1.5 million people with a metropolitan population of 3 million. Kaohsiung is the principal port for Taiwan. It is also a center for manufacturing, shipbuilding light and heavy industries. Fishing is also a major industry for Kaohsiung, which sends out an armada of 1,500 fishing boats to fish as far off as South Africa.

The city skyline is dominated by the dramatic skyscraper called Tuntex 85 Sky Tower. At 85 storeys in height it was the tallest building in Taiwan before Taipei 101 was completed.

National Highway No. 10, Kaohsiung


Kaohsiung was founded in the 17th century. The Dutch built a fort known as Fort Zeelandia here. The town was ceded to Japan in 1895, and was known in Japanese as Takao. It only became known by its present name, Kaohsiung, after it was handed over to the government of the Republic of China in 1945.

In 2010 Kaohsiung city will be merged with Kaohsiung county to form an expanded municipality. Along with Taipei, it is one of just two special municipalities in Taiwan with the status of province.

Downtown Kaohsiung

Visiting Kaohsiung

Going to Kaohsiung by plane
Kaohsiung International Airport is the main international gateway to the city. This medium-size airport is the second largest airport in Taiwan. It has two terminals, one for domestic flights while another for international flights as well as connecting flights from Taipei.

The Kaohsiung MRT Red Line has a station at the airport (R4 station). This is the most practical way to reach downtown Kaohsiung. There is also a bus service from the airport to the city.

Kaohsiung MRT


Going to Kaohsiung by train
The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) train connects Taipei to Kaohsiung in just 90 minutes. Ticket ranges from NT$1400 to NT$1500.

Tuntex Sky Tower, Kaohsiung

Getting Around Kaohsiung

The most practical means of transport in Kaohsiung, for the budget traveller, is the Kaohsiung MRT, operational since 2008. There are presently two lines: the Red Line runs north-south which the Orange Line runs from Kaohsiung Harbor to the suburb of Daliao.

Renting a car might be another way to move about Kaohsiung, especially if you intend to do a lot of exploring.

Kaohsiung MRT

Places of Interest in Kaohsiung

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