To my own surprise, Kaohsiung was one of my favourite stops on this Taiwan trip! It offers a good mix of nature and city life, and it will be hard to find yourself feeling bored at any time!
So we got back from Kenting in the evening, and checked in to Hwa Hong Hotel again. Hwa Hong Hotel is conveniently located 5min walk away from Kaohsiung Main Train Station and MRT station. The hotel was reasonably clean, and staff were very friendly and helpful too. However, as with all other hotels along the road, it offers “short 4h rests” which gives it a little dodgy feeling. However, we didn’t encounter anything strange during both our stays.
Day 1 Night
Dream Mall is the biggest shopping mall in Taiwan and East Asia. However, it was largely disappointing. There weren’t a lot of food options (only a food court at the basement and a few restaurants located sparsely across the mall), and there was nothing special shopping-wise too. We found the most entertainment in Daiso and Muji.
Our teppanyaki and steamboat dinner
Day 2
We spent day 2 exploring Cijin Island and parts of Sizihwan, which were absolutely gorgeous! Take the MRT to Sizihwan station and just outside the gantries, there is a temporary stall that offers full day bicycle rental for TWD 90. Together with the bicycle rental, they also give you a tourist map showing all the attractions in the Sizihwan area including Cijin Island!
To get to Cijin, take a ferry from Gushan Ferry Terminal. Don’t worry, bicycles can be brought onto the ferry!
Cijin Island
1) Ya Jiao Seafood Restaurant (22 Miaoqian Road) is famed for their fresh sashimi and prawns. After exiting Cijin Ferry Terminal, go straight along the main street (Miaoqian Road) all the way to the end and there it is!
Ya Jiao’s Signature Fried Squid!
Extremely fresh boiled prawns!
The meal set us back a total of TWD 760 (~S$32). Definitely worth it!
2) Cijin Seaside Park
The park consists of lovely coastal bicycle trails that lead all the way to a Windmill Park. There are also a couple of resting points along the way such as a war musuem in case you need a short break!
3) Chihou Fort / Chihou Lighthouse
You have to park your bicycle at the bottom of of the hill and walk up. The Fort and Lighthouse are connected to each other by a walking trail at the top of the hill and offers great views of Cijin Island and Sizihwan!
View of Cijin Beach!
View of Kaohsiung Harbor!
Trying my best to open my eyes for the photo!
Sizihwan
1) Takao British Consulate is famed as one of the best places to catch the sunset! Quite a climb up but the sunset is worth the climb!
Kaohsiung City
1) Liuhe Night Market
BEST Papaya Milk ever! You can see the snaking queues before you reach it!
Liuhe Night Market is located at Formosa Boulevard MRT station. Drop by the Dome of Light display while you are at the station. It is just a photo stop that wouldn’t take more than a minute of your time. But since it’s on the way, why not!
Day 3
Day 3 was spent exploring the remainder of Sizihwan area and a small hike on Shoushan!
1) Pier-2 Art Center
Take the MRT to Yanchengpu station for Pier-2 Art Center. The art center consists of several exhibition halls (some free-of-charge, some charges entrance fees). The few more popular ones are the Snoopy and Doraemon but they charge quite a hefty TWD 300 entrance fee each!
2) Shoushan
A short hike will bring you to the Martyrs’ Shrine. The starting point of the hike is at the bottom of Shoushan Zoo.
Martyrs’ Shrine
Comparably less impressive view of Kaohsiung
One of our surprise companions during the hike!
We wanted to continue on with the hike to Chaishan Nature Park, but unfortunately we were unable to find our way. Somehow, we ended up at the dorms of National Sun Yat-Sen University, and made our way back to Sizihwan station for Takao Railway Museum.
3) Takao Railway Museum
There is a lovely garden behind Takao Railway Museum where lots of people fly kites in the evening!
Date in the park!
4) Ruifeng Night Market
Ruifeng is THE night market of Kaohsiung! Take the MRT to Kaohsiung Arena station.
We found a stall selling Bao Zha Cong You Bing (Exploding Scallion Pancake) which we missed in Hualien!
Oh grilled oysters!
And that concludes our short 2.5days in Kaohsiung. Tell me, how can anyone not fall in love with Kaohsiung?! Next, off to Tainan we go!
Living Beyond Boundaries 