The Southern City of Kaohsiung
by Cecilia Sung
Photos by Franck Peret
Kaohsiung (高雄), well known as the second largest city in Taiwan and the third largest container terminal in the world (after Hong Kong and Singapore), is also a major industrial center. Highly industrialized and commercialized as it is, Kaohsiung still has many tourism resources and facilities: the residents are hospitable and the hotels are reasonable, transportation is convenient, and the climate is comfortable. Now the city is improving its sight-seeing areas in an effort to make itself an important tourist destination.
Kaohsiung is the world's third largest
container port.
A Harbor and Industrial Tour
As a port city, Kaohsiung has many geographical advantages: broad water areas, vast hinterland, favorable climate, and extensive sand bars that form natural breakwaters. The harbor itself was recently opened to tourism, and three private boat companies provide cruises for tourists. The total cruise time is one hour and forty minutes, and features harbor facilities as well as the beautiful surrounding scenery. A tour guide recounts the history of the harbor as you cruise your way around it, and is ready to answer questions. The Kaohsiung harbor cruise can be booked with Hoching Boat Company (河清三號), tel: (07) 222-2123 and costs NT$350 for adults and NT$240 for children. Tours with Greater China Cruises (大中華客輪) tel: (07) 561-508 and Chang'an Cruises (長安輪) tel: (07) 521-3005 cost slightly more: adults NT$400 and children NT$250.
the China Steel Corporation accepts groups
of visitors for educational tours.
While in Kaohsiung you can also arrange a tour to the China Steel Corp. (中國鋼鐵廠), which is the largest steel plant in Taiwan and fifteenth in world ranking. China Steel, which has been persuaded to open its doors to tourists by the Kaohsiung City Government, welcomes groups of tourists for informative tours of the steel works. For more information, please contact this phone number: (07) 802-1111.
If you're interested in other heavy industries, the China Shipbuilding Corporation (中國造船廠) will help satisfy your curiosity. Like China Steel, the China Shipbuilding Corp. takes group tours only. For more information, please call (07) 801-0111 in Kaohsiung.
Feeding the monkeys at Mt. Longevity.
Nature and History
Mt. Shou (壽山), or Mt. Longevity, is situated at the southwestern edge of the city and provides its best lookout; at an elevation of 328 meters, you get a great view of the whole city and even the Taiwan Straits. The Martyrs Shrine (忠烈祠) on the top of the mountain commemorates those Chinese who lost their lives fighting for their country. This is a friendly mountain because of its low evaluation. More than 1,000 Taiwan macaque monkeys (台灣彌猴) live on the mountain; the local residents bring fruits and other foods to feed them, and the monkeys have become so familiar with human beings that they sometimes surround tourists begging for food. Mt. Longevity has remained unspoiled because it was off limits to civilians until 1988.
Chichin is the only place left in Taiwan
where tourists can ride in pedicabs.
Just south of Mt. Longevity, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Kaohsiung is Hsitzuwan beach (西子灣). This scenic spot offers a romantic venue for lovers and other visitors. National Sun Yat-sen University (中山大學) is located next to the beach, which is open from March 1 to November 30. Admission is NT$60 for adults and NT$40 for children.
There are two historical sites near the beach: the former British Consulate (前清打狗英國領事館) and the Strategic North Gate (雄鎮北門). The British government built its consulate on a hill above the harbor in 1866 and withdrew during the Japanese occupation (1895-1945); after Taiwan's restoration to China, the building became a weather station. It has been renovated and now has a display room. The red brick building, built in the British colonial style, has one story in the front and two stories in the rear; there are covered arcades on the outside wall, and the basement wall has gun ports for defense. As the oldest example of colonial architecture still existing in Taiwan, it has been restored to its original condition and is protected as a second-rank historical site. Its height commands a view of the beautiful setting sun and fishing boats in the Taiwan Straits, as well as of the ships in Kaohsiung Harbor. The Strategic North Gate, a third-rank historic site, is located 500 meters from the entrance of National Sun Yat-sen University.
The seashore Park at Chichin offers pleasant
sea-front walks.
Scenic Beaches and Chinese Culture
Chichin (旗津), a long island with an average width of only 200 meters, is the cradle of Kaohsiung city. With a view toward internationalization, the city government has spent a huge amount of money developing Chichin as a popular tourist spot called the "Chichin Seashore Park." The park is divided into four sections: the beach, a "sea view path," a wild area, and an ecological area. Touris can reach the park by car or ferry. Once there, they can ride bicycles or simply walk along the path. There is a tourist center in the park with a restaurant offering food and beverages, but no accommodation is available. Admission is free of charge. For more information, please call: (07) 331-6040.
Just along from the Seashore Park visitors can see Chichin Lighthouse, which was constructed in 1883 on the summit of Chihou Mountain. The octagonal lighthouse is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. A short walk on from the lighthouse is Chihou Fortress, which was an important strategic point at the end of the Ching dynasty.
Besides its scenery, Chichin is also famous for its seafood. As you get off the ferry, you can see streets full of seafood restaurants. The selection of ocean delicacies on offer there should be enough to satisfy even the most discriminating palates. Be sure to confirm prices before you feast!
One of the special characteristics of Chichin is its tourist pedicabs--the only place in Taiwan where you can still experience this once-popular mode of transportation. Visitors might want to take a short pedicab ride to Tienhou Temple--one of Kaohsiung's oldest architectural structures. This beautiful old temple is dedicated to Matsu, the Goddess of the Sea, and was built in 1691.
Rate sea life is featured at the Ocean
Treasures Park.
Clear Water and Emerald Beauty at Chengching Lake
In addition to their mountain and beaches, the people of Kaohsiung are justly proud of their lake--Chengching Lake (澄清湖), on the outskirts of the city. The lake resort covers an area of 375 hectares and has a water area of 103 hectares; the road around the lake is seven kilometers long. The China Youth Corps Hostel (救國團青年活動中心) nearby provides accommodation for tourists. The palace-style five-star Grand Hotel sits right next to the lake, providing rooms as well as a golf course. Tourists can ride bicycles around the lake, but vehicles are banned on Saturdays and Sundays due to the huge crowds of people who swarm to the lake on these days.
On the northwest side of the lake is a new ocean park on the site of a former bomb shelter built for the late President Chiang Kai-shek. This park, called the "Ocean Treasures Park," is actually a tunnel 200 meters long and 2.3 meters wide also known as the Chiang Kai-shek Tunnel (蔣公隧道). In 1992 the tunnel was opened as an ocean park with all kinds of sea life, including a special variety of rare black coral that is normally found 600 meters below the sea, and grows only one inch every hundred years! Admission to the park costs NT$100 for adults and NT$70 for children. Opening hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Groups of over 25 people can enjoy a 10 percent discount.
Chichin is a popular place to watch the sun
set.
Feasting and Night-life
After an adventurous and exciting day tour, don't forget to take a look at Kaohsiung's fascinating night life. T.G.I. Friday's Restaurant is located on the busiest downtown street, ready to serve authentic American food. Another favorite, Swensen's, which is best-known for its fine ice cream, is a great choice for dessert as well as steaks and sandwiches. If you need to shake off the extra weight that you gain from your meal, try the Fashion Music Pub, which has a live band every night. This is a pleasant place for friends to hang out, listen to music, dance, and drink. For those who prefer more quiet, the Pig and Whistle, a British-style bar, serves as an alternative. Don't worry if you go alone, the bartender is always very happy to talk to you. And finally, New Orleans is a bar with a live band specializing in jazz music. All these places are located in downtown Kaohsiung and are within easy walking distance of each other
Copyright 1995 Vision International Publishing Co.