Dome of Light, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Guide + Photos 2024

Kaohsiung in Taiwan has lots of things to do but the Dome of Light at Kaohsiung Formosa Boulevard Station is pretty unique, often described as the “world’s most beautiful station”.

Like no other Taiwan attraction we’ve seen before or since, Kaohsiung’s Dome of Light (水仙大師) is free and the world’s largest indoor installation made of glass tiles.

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Dome of Light, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo

Featuring Italian produced coloured glass and designed by Narcissus Quagliata, the Dome of Light is part MRT station, part gallery and also includes a light show several times a day (which is rubbish – you find out why later!)

From its history to its location at Formosa Boulevard Station, here is our guide to the Dome of Light in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

This article was originally published on cktravels.com in May 2019.

Dome of Light, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo Formosa Boulevard Station

Taiwan checklist

We love using agoda.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.

For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your GuideViator, KK Day or Klook.


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How to get to Kaohsiung Dome of Light

Kaohsiung Dome of Light is located underground (B1) at Formosa Boulevard MRT Station – the nearest entrance / exit is gates 1 or 4.

It is also close to Nanhua Night Market and Liouhe Tourist Night Market.

To get from Kaohsiung Main Station to the Dome of Light, it is one stop on the MRT red Xiangong line (around 7 minutes door to door) or a 20 minute walk from the station.

The Dome of Light in Kaohsiung is also free admission and no advance tickets are required.

Taiwanderers Tip

Grab a Taiwan EasyCard as a convenient way to use buses and public transport in Taipei and across Taiwan. They can be easily topped up at stations and convenience stores.

Read more about how to use a Taiwan EasyCard, including how to top up >


You might also like – 30 cute Taiwan EasyCard designs and where to buy them >


Kaohsiung Dome of Light opening hours and show times

Formosa Boulevard Station (the station where the Dome of Light is located underground) is open from approx 6am to 12.30am seven days a week.

The first light show is at 10am and the final light show of the day is at 9pm.

Dome of Light, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo

The last train departs Formosa Boulevard station towards Siaogang at 12.29am, and the last train towards Gangshan at 12.21am.

As of Summer 2024, the Dome of Light show times are 10am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm.

July 2024 update – at present, the Dome of Light seems to be on hold whilst essential maintenance is underway.


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Arriving at the Dome of Light in Kaohsiung

The main station itself is as you’d expect of any Taiwanese MRT station but it is the Dome of Light that makes this so special and unique.

The four parts that comprise it (water, earth, light and fire) symbolize birth, growth, glory and destruction respectively, and refer to Taiwan’s democratic process and reform.

Dome of Light, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo Formosa Boulevard Station

The Dome of Light was designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata and is approx 30 metres in diameter, and made up of around 4,500 glass pieces.

It is also the ‘world’s largest domed underground station’ and took over four years to complete and install. It looks so amazing, it wouldn’t look out of place in a museum or church.

It is truly a stupendous site to see and not something you’d really expect to find in an Underground station (well, we are from London after all where the underground tube stations are very dirty and unsavory).

Dome of Light, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo

Whilst tourists and out of towners gaze up in awe at Kaohsiung’s oh so cool Dome of Light, it is also funny to watch all the locals and commuters dash on by without a care in the world having likely seen it thousands of times before as part of their daily commute.

Taiwanderers tip – the dome is huge so if you want to take good photos on your camera, bring a wide lense (or tweak your phone settings).

Dome of Light, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo Formosa Boulevard Station

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Dome of Light show times and overview

Whilst the Dome of Light itself is rather impressive, we are less kind about the light show – how can something so beautiful deliver such a dismal light show.

In 2024, we returned to Kaohsiung and managed to catch the Dome of Light soundscape and lightshow that plays regularly. Given how beautiful the dome itself is, we were disappointed by how bad the show was.

Dome of Light show, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo

It was basically a project animation on the floor that even included adverts for laptops and movies part way through – the show lasts around 10 (excruciating) minutes, but it feels so much longer!

Maybe we had high expectations based on other light shows we’d seen, but this is neither stunning or spectacular – it is about as immersive as a wet rag.

Dome of Light show, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo

It seems to be unchanged since they installed it decades ago and it is dire. But don’t just take our word for it – go and see it yourself to decide.

Definitely visit the Dome of Light but don’t wait around for the show as it is rubbish!

The Dome of Light Show plays several times a day in 2024 at the following times and 7 days a week:

  • Morning: 10am, 11am
  • Afternoon: 1pm, 3pm, 5pm
  • Evening: 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm

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Dome of Light piano

When the sound system is running as part of the light show, there is also a public piano that locals tinkles the ivories regularly on – it is really nice to hear (often elderly) citizens play old time tunes on the piano.

Dome of Light piano, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo at Formosa Boulevard Station

The piano is available to play daily from 9am to 9pm and would-be pianists are asked to stop playing during the Dome of Light Show. They must have had some issues in the past as there is even a huge sign showing all the rules to playing the piano.


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Exit through the gift shop and meet Mikan the station cat

Finally, whilst you are in Formosa Boulevard Station and done with the Dome of Light, walk a few steps over to the Formosa Boulevard gift shop, one of Kaohsiung’s best places for unique souvenirs (we bought so many cute gifts here).

Dome of Light KRTC gift shop, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo Formosa Boulevard Station

It sells all varieties of Taiwan transport / MRT related souvenirs plus lots of character based gifts we’d not seen elsewhere (e.g. a whole set of official Doraemon in Taiwan cards and magnets).

So if you aren’t happy with your photos or don’t have a wide lens, you can get all manner of Dome of Light postcards here to take back home as a reminder of this ‘illuminating’ experience.

Dome of Light KRTC gift shop, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo Formosa Boulevard Station

Here, you can also buy some cute EasyCards and iPass transport cards – we were rather enamored by the Mikan the ginger Cat merchandise, who was recently appointed an honorary cat station master in Kaohsiung (yep, you gotta love Taiwan)!

Mikan the ginger Cat at KRTC gift shop, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo Formosa Boulevard Station
Mikan the ginger Cat at KRTC gift shop, Kaohsiung, Taiwan photo Formosa Boulevard Station

Mikan is a famous Kaohsiung cat with over 165k Instagram followers and is often seen exploring Kaohsiung stations via a series of social media videos – and we now are proud owners of a Mikan the cat magnet! We just hope we see Mikan next time – a very cool cat!


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Address

Dome of Light 水仙大師, Formosa Boulevard Station, 800, Taiwan, Kaohsiung City, Xinxing District, Zhongshan 1st Road, 115號B1


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