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Sightseeing and Attractions

Kaohsiung City

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Located in the southern part of Taiwan,the city of Kaohsiung is the island's largest industrial center. It has stayed abreast of Taiwan's recent progress and prosperity; expanding and modernizing,the city strides into the 21st century as a newly emerging international metropolis. Beginnin centuries ago,Kaohsiung was called"Dagou" or "Dahgu," transliterated from the name of local aborigines. Disturbed by the violence of pirates in the area, in 1563,the"Takuo"tribe eventually moved to the site of present-day Pingtungcity. This name persisted untill 1920,when the city's name was changed to Kaohsiung.


AMUSEMENT PARK

• Blue Lagoon Water Park
  Historical Background : The Blue Lagoon Waterpark, only ten minutes from Kaohsiung city center, is an amusement park with a Caribbean theme. In order to create a Mediterranean atmosphere, the Park had set up nine sha ta stytle filtration systems in order to supply the park with a continuous source of clean water. Tropical vegetation is planted among the waterways, and the Park also employs lifeguards with nationally certified licenses. The Blue Lagoon is the first Water Amusement Park in Taiwan to set up this kind of service. Nurses certified in ALC training are based in the Park, so that visitors may enjoy the facilities safely, with trained medical personnel nearby. Apart from their specially designed tropical landscape, the Park has an exclusive seven-story water slide for rubber boats that can accommodate four people, so that friends and family may enjoy the ride as a group. It is extremely exciting to lose balance while sliding down the water tunnel at 360 degree turns, but visitors with heart problems should refrain from going on this ride; instead, they can try floating among the waves in the artificial pool, or sunbathe in the floating pool, and imagine themselves on a peaceful tropical island.
  Cultural Highlights : Because the Blue Lagoon Waterpark has a Caribbean theme, the architecture and landscaping of the entire park gives off a tropical atmosphere. Buildings are done in red tiles and white brick, and lofty palm trees and brilliant birds of paradise are everywhere to be seen. Picnic tables and comfortable lying chairs are also placed in every corner, so that visitors can relax in the warm breezes. In accordance with their Caribbean theme, the restaurants in the Park provide Bar-B-Q meals, smoked foods, and a variety of authentic sauces. For the visitors convenience, most of the restaurants provide buffet-style fast food service.
   

NIGHT MARKET / SNACK

• The Liu - Ho Night Market
  You will not be considered to visit Kaohsiung if you miss out Liu Ho Night Market. As early as in 1950, more and more stalls came to stationed in Ta Kang Pu of Hsin Hsing District in Kaohsiung, finally forming the well-known "Ta Kang Pu Night Market". The night market is developed into large-scale, known as Liu Ho Night Market. The Night Market is not far away if you walk from Kaohsiung Railway Station along the Chung Shan Road straightforward, which takes only ten minutes more, and then turn right to Liu Ho Road. In daytime, the market is a straight road, and turns into prosperous market area in nighttime. There are 138 stalls in Liu Ho Night Market, most of them serve snacks and provide entertainment and games for recreation, the garments/apparels and groceries are rarely seen in the market. In particular, the dozens of steak houses boom around the market offering beef steak at reasonable price or family-size package meal. No matter what you like to have, a variety of delicious food, specialties, cold drinks, ices and seafood here are offered for your choice. Just remind you, don't miss the opportunity to taste the papaya milk and steamed salty shrimps in Kaohsiung.
   

GENERAL

• Dragon and Tiger Pagodas
  About 700 meters to the south of the Spring and Autumn Pavilions are the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. 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 symboilizes turning bad luck to good fortune. Inside, paintings depict China's 24 most obedient sons as well as scenes of heaven and hell to inspire people to do good deeds during their lifetime, and to provide threatening examples of retribution for wrongdoing.
   

• Former British Consulate
  This building rests on the side of an old hilltop overlooking Hsitzu Bay. Built in 1858, it was the first foreign consulate in Taiwan. Inside, a number of historical relics, maps and models are on display, earning it the title of "Kaohsiung Historical and Cultural Museum".
   

• Kaohsiung : Love River Park
  Almost all big cities have a beautiful river passed by, this is specially true in Kaohsiung. Love River lies across Kaohsiung for times of sunrises and sunsets. Love River, known as Ta Kou (Da Gou) River in Ching (Qing) Dynasty, was renamed by Japanese as Takao River. The river was also called Kaohsiung Canal. After restoration of Taiwan, the riverbanks were beautified with greenery works and developed to be park areas, decorated with pillars chained with iron rope. The area becomes a romantic place for lovers to date with each other, therefore, the river was reputed as Love River. In order to celebrate his dear Madam Chiang's birthday, the late president Chiang Kai-Shek named it Jen Ai (Ren Ai) River, however, local people are still used to call it Love River. The Love River has been a dirty river with odorous smell due to pollution of industrial and house drainage. It was ironically regarded as the most ugly landmark of Kaohsiung. Following years pollution control, the River rebuilds its beauty, with egrets flying over and fishes playing waves. On the banks, a number of parks and green lands were developed and constructed with a very long bicycle way. You may wander relaxedly on the pathways of the banks, admiring the pleasant landscape and enjoying the gentle touch of breeze.
   

• Lotus Lake
  Historical Background : The water, which came from the Kaoping stream, was used to irrigate the farmland nearby. The use today is just a view for leisure. The origin name of the Lotus Pond is called the Lotus Pool. It was rebuilt as the orders by the Feng Shan Town administer, Sung Yung Ching, in the Kung Year of forty-fourth. The length of the Pond is about 1.4 axioms, and the width is around 400 Kung. The original surface of the Pond is about 75 hectare, but because of the mud stored every year, the surface now is only left 42 hectare. There are many athenaeums at the west coast. With the area of 500 meters, there are more than 20 cloisters. From the north to south part are the Confucius temple, the arctic black supernal emperor, the open Ming, the spring and autumn period pavilion, the Five booth, the dragon and tiger pagoda, and so on. Every building forms of temple, no matter is the stone carve, the clay figure, the copper casting, the brushwork, the scrap, or the setups, all disclose out the provincially of the Taiwan customs. And the art formations of these temples represent the achievements of Taiwan's art. They form the famous tourism resorts.
  Cultural Highlights : The little pond was surrounded with galore Chinese buildings. There is the Tung Confucius temple according to the Tung Chu Temple's setup at the north part; there are Chi Ming and Dragon Tiger pagodas at the south part. The people in the local built two Chinese style attic buildings opposite to the Chi Ming pagoda in 1953. The middle pond is a half moon shape. The two Chinese style attic buildings are called "Spring and autumn attics" one is the spring attic and the other is the autumn attic. The "Dragon Tiger" pagoda was built for Tzu Chi Kung in the Chinese Year of sixty-fifth. There is a giant dragon and a tiger located in the front of the pagoda. Tourists can past through the mouth of the dragon and out from the mouth of the tiger. During the quiet and no wind summer evenings, when the cloister drumbeat of every kinds of temple nearby, and the soft breeze coming from the pond, it is the other kinds of romantic feeling.
   

• Lotus Lake Scenic Area
  Spring and Autumn PavilionsTwo 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. the Goddess of Mercy. riding a dragon.
   

• Sou Mountain
  Sou Mountain is located at the southwest area in Kaohsiung city, it is the hillock with coral reef geologic character heading north to south, which was called the Unicorn Mountain, Gold Bury Mountain, Dog Beating or Drum Beating Mountain in the past, and it is the natural land mark of Kaohsiung City, and it was the origin resident for the early Dog Beating community, Pin Pu Tribe. There are many trees plentifully growing on the mountain, and with sightseeing spots like Won Sou Mountain Park, the Martyrs Shrine, the Zoo, Chien Gwan Temple, Fa Hsin Temple and Yuan Heng Temple, etc. Walking along the footpath next to Sou Mountain Zoo, you can reach the limestone caves area of Sou Mountain scenic area, and moving forward by following the twisty narrow limestone caves, you can see crystals from the milky stones like stalagmites and stone pillars, etc., and witness the wonders and mystery of the nature creations. Won Sou Mountain Park is also called Sou Mountain Park, the grass and trees are beautifully green there, the roads around the mountain can reach all directions, and you can enjoy a distant view of the Kaohsiung harbor, enjoy the sunset in Si Tze Gulf and night view of Kaohsiung City from top of the mountain. Here is also the Nature Preservation Area for Taiwanese Macaques, the macaques are playing through the trees in groups, with a bit of luck, one can also enjoy watching the fast moving and jumping actions of the monkeys. Besides those lovely macaques, there are also all kinds of precious and rare large mammalian animals, reptiles and birds in Won Sou Mountain Zoo, and in the zoo, there is the biggest wall-painting of mosaic presently in our country. The Martyrs Shrine next to Sou Mountain with Chinese palace style structure, offers sacrifices to divine plates of the martyrs from the civil revolution war, on both sides, there are green woods heavily growing, in front of the temple, old pine trees are planted everywhere, and there are also two ancient cannons of Manchu Dynasty preserved for people to evoke sense of the past, its high location offers an open sight view and makes it one of the best spots for the distant view of Kaohsiung harbor and downtown.
   

• Spring and Autumn Pavilions
  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, the Goddess of Mercy, riding a dragon. According to legend, Kuanyin appeared above the clouds riding on a dragon, signifying that believers must erect an image depicting this event between "pavilions of summer and autumn": The present-day structures are a result of this vision.
   

MUSEUM / GALLERY / MEMORY

• Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts
  The Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts is the third fine arts museum to be established in Taiwan, following the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and the Taiwan Museum of Art. The Kaohsiung museum is still under development, and only its main gallery building and part of its sculpture park are open so far, but it has already become a major part of the Taiwan art scene. It first opened its doors in June of 1994; and since it was the last of the island's three main art museums, it has been able to encompass the latest of modern thinking in such areas as native history, community consciousness, and an emphasis on environmental landscaping. In external form the overall structure has a long horizontal appearance, with a long front corridor that delineates an open-air theater for outdoor performances and displays of large sculptures. This is also a place for the people of Kaohsiung to go and relax. Among the treasures in the museum's collection are uot;Water Buffalo Herd," which is the last work completed prior to his death by Huang Tu-shui, who is known " the father of Taiwan sculpture " a warrior from the French sculptor Bourdelle's "Montauban" and a standing stone Buddha.
   

• Kaoshiung Museum of History
  Historical Background : Kaohsiung History Museum is located next to Ai River, Kaohsiung City. The museum was reopened in 1998. The building itself was built in 1938, which means it is over 60 years old. After World War II, the building was used as Kaohsiung City Hall. As the building is significant as a landmark and in Kaohsiung's history, the building was rebuilt as a history museum. Beside the museum are the Industrial Exhibition Center and the Concert Hall.
  Cultural Highlights : Kaohsiung History Museum is a professional museum, collecting and filing historical documents and objects in Kaohsiung. Besides the categorizing of historic sites, the museum will enhance its research ability and combine local resources so as to preserve the diverse development of Kaohsiung.
   

• The National Sciences and Technology Museum
  National Science and Technology Museum opened in November 1997. The museum is not only a prominent organization of social education, it is also the first and largest museum of applied science in Taiwan. It occupies a base area of 19 hectares, and is divided north and south by Jiouru Road. The museum comprises several permanent galleries and three temporary galleries as well as the IMAX 3D theater. Exhibits focus on the historical, current and future development of technology as they relate to the industry and economic development of Taiwan. Exhibits introduce principles, procedures and applications of technology, and their influences on society. Many of the exhibits also provide the visitors with fun and knowledge not only through observation, but also through hands-on experience. The museum aims to enlighten visitors through the wonders of technology. The museum has embarked upon a commitment to provide a wide variety of technological education activities. It offers an alternative learning environment where participants can learn about technological life in both serious and playful ways.
   

HERITAGE / TEMPLE

• Confucius Temple
  This temple is an immitation of the architectural style common during the Sung dynasty. Solemn and majestic, it is Taiwan's largest Confucian temple. Beside an arching bridge is a bronze relief of China's most influential philosopher. The temple is also the site of the annual Teachers' Day celebration held on September 28 in honor of the birthday of Confucius. To the east, you can see the jagged left side of Mt. Panping, which looks chopped off, rising up in the background.
   

• Tienhou Kung (Matzu Temple)
  The Tienhou Temple is one of the oldest architectural structures in Kaohsiung. Dedicated to the Goddess Matzu, protector of mariners and fishermen, it was constructed in 1691. On the 23rd day of the third lunar month, Tienhou Temple hosts special festivals in honor of the goddess's birthday.
   

• Yuanheng Temple
  Originally built in 1679, the Yuanheng Temple, also called "Rocky Temple," was rebuilt in 1926. It is an important religious center in the Kaohsiung area.
   

BEACHES / ISLANDS

• Cijin Coastal Park
  Since early times, crossing over from the island has been of utmost importance for the dwellers of Cijin. While now people can cross over easily by means of an underground tunnel, erryboats remain exceedingly popular. They are also a much-loved means of transportation by visitors to the area. Another special form of transportation on Chihin is the "three wheeled cart". Common in the 1960s, this cart is now seldom seen in other parts of Taiwan.
   

• Cijin Lighthouse
  In 1883, the Cijin Lightouse was consructed on the summit of Chihou Mountain.l This approziaedly 11-meter high, octagonally shaped, lighthouse was comletely re-modeled in 1918. It has been classified as a third-class historic site and is alo called "Kaohsiung Lighthouse." Visting hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Transportation: Take bus 1 or 31 to the ferry crossing. From the Cijin lsland landing proceed on foot.
   

• Cijin Scenic Area
  Since early times, crossing over from the island has been of utmost importance for the dwellers of Cijin. While now people can cross over easily by means of an underground tunnel, ferryboats remain exceedingly popular. They are also a much-loved means of transportation by visitors to the area. Another special form of transportation on Chihin is the "three wheeled cart". Common in the 1960s, this cart is now seldom seen in other parts of Taiwan.
   

• Cijin Seafood Street
  If a busy day of touring has worked up a hungry appetite, why not try any of the seafood dishes available on Cijin's famous "Seafood Street?" There the variety of seafood dishes available should be enough to satisfy even the most discriminating palate. Besure and confirm the prices before you feast.
   

• Xizu Bay Beach
  Xizu Bay is perched on the sea at the western edge of Kaohsiung City, just southwest of Mt. Longevity, with the Qijin Peninsuna stretching southward. Its main feature is a swimming beach known for its clear blue water, the beauty of its sunsets, and its natural reef. The atmosphere and the scenery here change from morning to night; each time of the day has its special attraction, but the brilliant colors of the sunset are unparalleled in their beauty. The long breakwater here is the landmark of Xizu Bay, and basking in the sea breeze on the breakwater gives the most pleasant and comfortable sensation imaginable. The vessels both large and small scattered like stars on the surface of the sea are entertained by the intermittent sound of foghorns; and as the day darkens and the air of romance deepens, pairs of lovers stroll along the breakwater listening to the waves and watching the lights of fishing boats on the sea. From the parking lot at the entrance to the bay you can also get a good view of Kaohsiung Harbor. National Sun Yat-sen University is situated within the Xizu Bay Scenic Area, adding a bit more of a cultural flavor; here you will also find, in addition to the swimming beach, a salt-water aquarium, Seaside Park, and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The swimming beach has fine, soft sand and a grove of stately coconut palms, filling the area with the flavor of the South Seas. In the summer this is a perfect place for enjoying the water, playing beach volleyball, and sunbathing, and in peak seasons the crowds are dense and the activities intense. Lounging under a palm tree and basking in the soft cool breeze as the sun goes down is an experience that lifts you out of the mundane world.

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Information provided by Tourism Bureau, Rep. of China.

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