Kaohsiung is King! No trip to the west coast of Taiwan is complete without a trip to the sprawling coastal city of Kaohsiung.
Although possibly not as well known as Taipei on the tourist scene, there are many things to do in Kaohsiung, from its vibrant arts scene, beautiful outlying islands and incredible street food – plus Kaohsiung calls its main waterway ‘Love River’ so bonus marks for that!
This article was originally published on cktravels.com in May 2019.
This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.
We’ve visited Kaohsiung on several occasions (most recently in February 2025) and would totally recommend visiting this part of western Taiwan as part of your next Taiwan itinerary.
Our own personal highlights include Weiwuying Street Art Village, one of Kaohsiung’s most colorful neighborhoods, Pier 2 Arts Center and meeting Kaohsiung’s famous station cat, Mikan.
From the super-cool Yancheng neighbourhood (complete with a new Godzilla themed cafe) to Kaohsiung’s famed Dome of Light, likely the most beautiful station in the world, here is our guide to the top things to do in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 2025.
You might like – Our guide to Tainan, Taiwan >
Travelling to Kaohsiung, Taipei
As Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s third biggest city (after Taipei and Taichung), plus the most populated place in southern Taiwan, there are many transport options to get here.
Going to Kaohsiung via Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR)
Kaohsiung can be reached by high speed rail (HSR) from Taipei and other cities.
You can buy discounted high speed rail one way tickets between Taipei and Kaohsiung (plus other stations) via this Klook HSR booking link >
Please note these discounted Taiwan High Speed Rail tickets are exclusive to overseas tourists and you will need to show your passport upon redemption.
If arriving from Taipei you should take the Taiwan High Speed Rail from Taipei Main Station to Kaohsiung’s HSR Zuoying Station. The journey takes around an hour and a half, however Kaoshiung’s HSR station is located slightly out of town – you can connect to downtown Kaohsiung City by taking a short MRT ride.
There is an alternative and cheaper TRA train from Taipei (Tze-Chiang Limited Express train). The journey time is so much longer at around 4-5 hours, but you arrive at Kaohsiung station which is in central downtown Kaohsiung.
Kaohsiung by bus
You can take a bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung for as little as $NT600 one way. The quickest coaches / buses from Taipei to Kaohsiung take a little over four hours.
Flying to Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung International Airport is the second busiest airport in Taiwan (after Taipei) and has many international flights to and from it.
Direct flight destinations to and from Kaohsiung International Airport include China, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and the Philippines.
Getting around Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung has a really easy to use transport network for getting you to all the main places of interest in the city.
There is an underground train system (MRT/KRT) with 2 separate lines (red and orange), plus a light-rail system (LRT), and an easy to use bus network.
Book an unlimited Kaohsiung MRT pass >
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 like – 30+ cute EasyCards you can buy in Taiwan >
Kaohsiung accommodation
Budget to Mid-Range ($$)
Airline Inn – Kaohsiung Station
Budget hotel located within walking distance of Kaohsiung station. We’ve stayed here ourselves on two occasions most recently in 2025 and like it for its location plus free laundry. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
TAI Urban Resort
Stylish 5 star hotel with a 27th floor bar, rooftop infinity pool, spa, gym and on-site restaurants. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Check out the best hotels in Kaohsiung via booking.com or agoda.com
Things to do in Kaohsiung
1. Lotus Lake Temples (the interiors are currently undergoing renovations)
March 2025 update: after many months of work, the scaffolding has now been removed from the famous tiger and dragon pagodas but you can still not visit the interiors – all the other pagodas and pavilions remain open and all are lit up at night.
A short train or bus ride away from downtown Kaohsiung brings you to Lotus Lake – one of the top Kaohsiung things to do / attractions and famous for its eponymous lotus flowers.
Kaohsiung’s Lotus Lake is actually a man made lake that was built in the 1950s, as a way to entice more visitors to the area – it definitely seems to be working! The annual Kaohsiung Lantern Festival also often takes place at Lotus Lake.
It is also famous for being home to several large statues and religious shrines – the most famous of these (and likely the ones you will have seen on Instagram) are the Tiger and Dragon Pagodas, the Spring and Autumn Pavilions plus the Beiji Xuantian Shang Di Pavilion. This is also a great place to visit in Kaohsiung at night as everything is lit up.
Our favourite pagodas at Lotus Lake are the Tiger and Dragon pagodas as we had never seen anything like this before.
In line with Taiwanese tradition, we visited by entering through the dragon’s mouth and out via the tiger’s jaws to hopefully increase our good fortune.
Taiwanderers Tip – for an amazing shot of the Lotus Lake tiger and dragon pagodas, head inside the Chiji Temple 左營城邑慈濟宮 just across the road and look back towards the lake.
Using a drone at Lotus Lake
This was a perfect spot to use our drone as the views of the lake from up high with its epic religious relics looks incredible. We didn’t crash the drone either, so the good fortune from exiting the tiger’s mouth must have worked!
Please ensure you check the up-to-date local drone regulations in Kaohsiung as they may have changed since our trip.
You might like: Watersports at Lotus Lake at Liantan Water Skiing Theme Park >
2. Pier 2 Art Center
Pier 2 Art Center is an immense complex, spread over several old industrial warehouses right next to the port in the Yancheng District.
Once a hive of fishing piers and international shipping trade, this area of Kaohsiung fell into disuse until it was revived in 2006.
The whole Pier 2 Art Center area is usually abuzz with families, friends and teenagers out shopping, browsing or going to the various pop-up exhibitions.
There is a lot to see and do here so make sure you give yourself at least a couple of hours to fully explore this ‘pierless’ part of Kaohsiung.
From quirky pop-up shops to weekend flea markets and fun outdoor sculptures and murals, there is a lot to see at Pier 2 Art Centre and it is one of Kaohsiung’s top things to do. There is also a branch of Taiwan’s famous bookstore chain and department store, Eslite.
To reach Pier 2 Art Centre, take the orange line on the KMRT to Yangchengpu Station (exit 1), or take the Light Rail tram to Dayi Pier-2 station.
Read our Kaohsiung Pier 2 Art Centre article >
You might like – Recommended Kaohsiung tours with Klook, Viator and Get Your Guide
3. Dome of Light, Formosa Boulevard MRT Station
Another unique Kaohsiung attraction, this has been described by many as the ‘…world’s most beautiful underground / train station’ and is one of the most popular things to see in Kaohsiung.
Kaohsiung’s Dome of Light can be found at the Formosa Boulevard MRT station and was designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata.
It is the ‘world’s largest domed underground station’ and took over four years to complete and install (it is approx 30 metres in diameter, and made up of over 4,000 glass pieces).
The main Formosa Boulevard MRT 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.
In 2024, we 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.
It was basically a project animation on the floor that even included adverts for laptops and movies part way through. Definitely visit the Dome of Light but don’t wait around for the show as it is rubbish!
Read our dedicated guide to visiting Kaohsiung’s ‘Dome of Light’ at Formosa Boulevard MRT station >
You might like – Our 1 day Taipei highlights itinerary or our 3 day ‘best of Taipei’ guide
4. Cijin Island
Kaohsiung is home to Cijin Island – a ‘tropical paradise’ just a short five minute ferry ride from main harbour in downtown Kaohsuing.
The Cijin Island beaches are beautiful but in a rough and rugged kind of way – the beaches at Cijin Island are also popular for sunbathing and surfing. You can walk along the coastal path (or hire a cyclo).
Along the boardwalk from the main Cijin Island beach, you’ll come across possibly the island’s most famous attraction, the Rainbow Church.
It is more of a contemporary art installation than an actual church – although Instagrammers seem to worship it and it is one of the most colourful and Instagrammable places in Taiwan.
We recently revisited Cijin Island’s Rainbow Church and it has really faded since these photos were taken. Please can someone repaint it to be as colourful and vibrant as it once was.
Other Cijin Island sites include the Giant Seashell (no, really!), Tinamou Temple and the surreal sculptures in Turbine Park.
Cijin Island is easily one of our favourite Kaohsiung things to do and attractions – check out our guide to Cijin Island blog post >
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5. Liuhe Night Market
A tasty tourist treat, Kaohsiung’s Liuhe Night Market is predominantly a street food thoroughfare that lines both sides of a city block – it is a busy road by day but closed to traffic at night.
Renowned for its seafood due to being a coastal city, we visited Liuhe Night Market most nights whilst staying in Kaohsiung and sampled lots of local fare.
Popular local dishes to try whilst in Liu He night market included beef noodle soup and their take on clam spaghetti.
There is plenty of seating down the main strip at Liuhe Night Market and it never felt too crowded – Liuhe Night Market usually has around 150 to 200 stalls.
As well as street food at Liuhe Night Market, locals love to play fairground style amusements and fun games – we rate it as one of the best night markets in Taiwan >
The prices may be a little higher than the local daytime markets, but it is still very cheap compared to western standards.
Liuhe Night Market is open every night from 6pm, and to get here take exit 11 from Formosa Boulevard MRT station – which takes you to the eastern end of the market.
6. Ruifeng Night Market
Another popular large night market to visit in Kaohsiung is Ruifeng Night Market, located between the Yucheng and Nanping Road in the Buoying District (a 3 minute walk from the Kaohsiung Arena MRT station).
We revisited it recently and it still hasn’t lost any of its street-food sparkle. Although we visited Ruifeng Night Market on a Saturday night so it was crazy busy (some of the aisles are really narrow so if you are claustrophobic or don’t like crowds, this one is best to avoid).
Larger than Liuhe Night Market and near to legendary Lotus Lake, hop off at Kaohsiung Arena MRT for the bevy of budget bites that Ruifeng has to offer.
Unlike Liuhe where the stalls are in lines, Riufeng has more of a community feel, with a dedicated space that almost feels like a town square (and numbers are boosted by all the tourists that visit too).
From massages to Mahjong, shooting galleries to super-fun fairground rides, this night market also has one of the largest non-food sections we’ve ever encountered.
Ruifeng Night Market food stalls include fried dumplings, grilled mushrooms, peppered conch (snails), pork pepper buns and popcorn fish – we’d estimate there are around 150 food stalls here.
Kaohsiung’s Ruifeng Night Market is open Tuesday and Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to midnight.
7. Weiwuying Street Art Village
Could Weiwuying Street Art Village / WeiWu Mi Mi Village be Taiwan’s most colorful place? We think it is a true Kaohsiung Kaleidoscope of color!
Bigger than the famous Rainbow Village in Taichung, Weiwuying Street Art Village has welcomed illustrators and street artists from all over the world.
A rainbow residential estate on the outskirts of Kaohsiung in the Lingya District, Weiwuying Street Art Village (衛武營街頭藝術彩繪) is easily accessible by the Kaohsiung MRT and one of the best free things to do in Kaohsiung.
From the most marvelous murals to sublime street art-alleys, here is our guide to visiting Weiwuying Street Art Village in Kaohsiung >
8. The Kaohsiung Shoushan Love Lookout
A short (but fairly steep) walk from the Pier 2 Art Center complex takes you to the Shoushan LOVE lookout.
Located just in front of the hilltop Martyr’s Shrine, the Kaohsiung Shoushan Love Lookout opened in 2012 and is a superb vantage point to see the whole of Kaohsiung including the surrounding port and mountains. It is also one of the best free things to do in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
As well as an observation lookout, there is a huge metal ‘LOVE’ sculpture at the top (hence the name), which is very popular as a photo spot with romantic local couples.
You may need to either queue to get a picture or if that fails, shoulder barge as alas, not everyone signs up to the queuing etiquette.
9. Sanfeng Temple
Built over 300 years ago and moved to its current location brick by brick only 40 or so years ago, Sanfeng Temple is one of the most beautiful temples in Taiwan we have ever explored, up there with Longshan temple in Taipei.
As there were no other tourists there when we visited Sanfeng Temple, it felt even more special. It is regarded as a Taoism temple of south Taiwan, but with Northern style architecture.
We visited Kaohsiung during the Chinese New Year festivities so Sanfeng Temple was adorned with hundreds of red lanterns strewn across every available space, with a steady stream of well wishers and worshippers.
Safeng Temple has several sublime storeys to explore – make sure you head up the staircases at the rear of the temple, up two flights of stairs, to get the best views of the temple and Kaohsiung.
Taiwanderers Tip – We’ve been to Sanfeng both by day and at night and it looks even more enchanting in the evening with all the red lanterns lit up.
You might like – Our Sun Moon Lake area guides including how to get to Sun Moon Lake
10. Take a Cruise on the Love River
Is there a more beautifully titled river in the world than the ‘Love River’? Kaohsiung has definitely made something special out of its waterfront.
The riverside parks, cafes and boardwalks are wonderful to explore plus there is even an outdoor saloon bar overlooking the water.
We’d recommend taking a Love River cruise as it is inexpensive (NT$150 for foreigners) and a great way to see the iconic Kaohsiung Music Center from the water.
We did a Love River Cruise in February 2025 so we could see all the giant Chiikawa floating figures, which were part of the 2025 Kaohsiung Wonderland Winter Festival (Kaohsiung is becoming famous for its giant floating structures, like the recent Squid Game doll and yellow rubber duck).
In fact, Kaohsiung’s Love River feels even more European when you see the Italian gondolas glistening in the evening sun along the river here. Bella bella – a little piece of Italy in Kaohsiung.
Love (River) this? Book your romantic gondola in Kaohsiung here >
Very much the focal point of the Kaohsiung city, the locals really appear to have taken the Love River to the hearts (naturally) and it is a haven for picnics, dog walkers and waterfront diners.
Go on a Love River Boat Cruise >
11. Fo Guang Shan Temple
A visit to Fo Guang Shan temple is a essential thing to do in Kaohsiung
It is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan & home to a 108 metre high / 1,800 tonne copper Buddha (the largest seated Sakyamuni Buddha statue in Asia).
You can reach Fo Guang Shan by jumping onto the E02 shuttle bus that departs from outside the Zuoying HSR / Zuoying MRT station directly to the temple.
Sadly it started raining so hard on our trip to the temple that we weren’t able to stay that long (the grounds are massive though). You can also do temple stays at Fo Guang Shan.
Inside the visitor center, there are gift shops & the renowned ‘Hi Lai vegetarian restaurant’ plus possibly Taiwan’s only temple Starbucks – complete with an exclusive Fo Guang Shan temple Starbucks mug – who knew?!
Try this – Chiayi: Alishan Mountain Discovery Journey from Kaohsiung >
12. Kaohsiung Godzilla cafe (Kaiju Tea Shop / Guaishou Chi Tea)
This has to be one of the most ‘roarsome’ things to do in Kaohsiung! Hidden away in the backstreets trendy Yancheng district, Kaohsiung’s Godzilla cafe AKA Kaiju Tea Shop (map) is a monster of a tea shop, with Godzilla galore merchandise, across two floors.
As you’d expect, all of the food and drink is Godzilla themed, from the ‘Godzilla’monstorous’ foam on the cappuccinos to the gorgeous Godzilla pancakes available in several flavours.
Browse hundreds of Godzilla statues as you wait for your drinks to be made – there is also a small museum upstairs. If you can, try to get a seat at the counter to get up close with giant Godzilla heads.
Find Kaohsiung’s Godzilla Cafe on Google Maps >
You might like – Our guide to Taipei’s best neighborhoods to stay in >
13. Yancheng District
Old school Yancheng district in Kaohsiung used to be an industrial district, known for its black market goods and cheap eateries. These days, the alley-ways are bustling with retro bars, vintage goods and top rated restaurants.
Half the fun here is just stepping into random side streets to see what eateries or stores you’ll find, from boutique bakeries to marvellous Mexican street food stalls like Maddog.
Lots of the local youth indulge in cocktails and craft beer here in hole in the wall bars that are only big enough to house three or four drinkers – it is such a cool experience to walk around, especially in the early evenings.
Also be saw to check out the 75 year old Yancheng First Public Market, including the famous milkfish stall, a local Kaohsiung speciality.
Read more in our guide to the Yancheng district >
14. Kaohsiung Weiwuying Metropolitan Park
A short walk from Weiwuying Street Art Village, Kaohsiung Metropolitan Park is a huge urban park with lots of trails, lakes and pathways to explore.
It is a pleasant spot to walk around and also seems to be home to a large collection of parrot owners who meet up here regularly to release their colorful birds.
Their squawks can be heard around the park and they fly in circles until returning to their handlers – it was fascinating to watch.
You can walk around various lakes via boardwalks plus you might hear some street-performers and musicians playing in the park or locals undertaking tai-chi.
Try this – Classic Kenting day tour from Kaohsiung >
15. National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts
Located on the edge of Weiwuying Metropolitan Park, Kaohsiung Center for the Arts is a combined cultural center, home to a concert hall, opera house and play theater.
It is a very cool building to explore and the design and architecture are stunning; it reminded us of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul.
The area used to be a former military base before the center was built and it now has the ‘largest single roof art space’ in the world (so the poster told us!)
There are even gift-shops inside plus the center is free to explore and walk around – for us, the best bit was the communal piano located on the concourse outside, below the center.
We listened to a steady stream of piano players (of all abilities) and the acoustics given the unique shape of the building were incredible; the twinkle of the piano just reverberated across the plaza.
You might like – First time visitors guide to visiting Taipei and Taiwan >
16. Kaohsiung Music Center (KMC)
Opened in 2009 and looking like something out of a STAR WARS movie, the futuristic Kaohsiung Music Center can be easily walked to from the Pier 2 Art Center and is free to visit, even if you aren’t going to a concert.
The design of the building is unique, using hexagonal formations to almost create something like a beautiful beehive.
Inside you’ll find a 12,000 seater venue plus a smaller concert hall, several restaurants and a few concession stalls (plus free toilets – handy if you are doing a long walk around Kaohsiung’s port area).
We visited the Kaohsiung Music Center (KMC) on a weekend to have a look inside – there were a few pop-up food-stalls outside plus a Taiwanese pop store during a pop-up signing.
At night, the building lights up in a variety of colors and is one of the most famous sights in Kaohsiung at night.
You might like – Our guide to the ‘free’ Taiwan Receipt Lottery, which travelers can enter >
17. Longhua Public Market
We discovered this Kaohsiung food market totally by chance whilst visiting various Kaohsiung themed 7-Elevens.
Very popular with local workers, Longhua Public Market is a mix of traditional Taiwanese food stalls and more international fare like Vietnamese and Japanese dishes.
With around 50 different stalls and ample eating area, this is one of the best places to satisfy your foodie fix in Kaohsiung.
You might like – Our guide to Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil Taiwan filming & eating locations >
18. Mikan 蜜柑, Kaohsiung’s Famous Station Cat
Meet Mikan 蜜柑, Kaohsiung’s cutest station cat. Mikan has a huge social following, her own range of cute kitty merchandise and makes regular appearances at a Kaohsiung Metro KRTC station (KRTC stands for Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation).
A stray cat adopted by Kaohsiung station staff, Mikan the cat’s fanbase is growing all the time and hundreds flock to Ciaotou Sugar Refiner Kaohsiung Metro station every time she appears (often in costume).
The station is even cat-themed, plus a bakery next door sells cat shaped steamed buns.
Mikan celebrates her 5th birthday in 2025 so there are lots of anniversary events planned!
From what you can buy (including Mikan jam) to how to find out about her appearances, here is our guide to Mikan 蜜柑, Kaohsiung’s station cat >
19. The Qiaotou Sugar Factory
We recommend a visit to the old The Qiaotou Sugar Factory near the Mikan’s MRT station, Ciaotou Refinery.
Opened in 1901 and ceased production in 1999, you can freely wander around the grounds and former works. It is now a historical park with lots to see including koiohsu carp ponds, old railway carriages & interesting galleries & museums (all free to visit).
A popular way to get around is to hire tandem bikes which are themed liked characters such as Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro – you will also see similar tandem bikes on Cijin Island.
20. Whatever Paradise Arcade
We’d seen this cool claw machine and utopian UFO catcher arcade on TikTok so knew we just had to visit to see what all the fuss was about.
Set up by famous YouTuber Brother RU, this claw machine place almost feels like a mini Pop Mart with loads of blind boxes and toys on display which can be won when exchanged for tickets
Whatever Paradise has dozens of games to play in a modern setting with lots of cool features like a sushi bar (which again, you can buy with winning tickets).
Gamers can be seen walking around with huge trolleys of prizes like laundry detergent boxes and chocolates – it almost feels like being in an episode of Supermarket Sweep!
You might like – Our Taiwanderers monthly guides to all the best Taiwan festivals, events and exhibitions >
21. Sanmin Night Market
We’ve already mentioned Kaohsiung’s Ruifeng and Lihue night markets but for a quieter and local night market experience, head to Kaohsiung’s Sanmin Night Market.
A small road featuring lots of pop-up food stalls alongside permanent restaurants, there are lots of amazing food choices from scallion pancakes to stinky tofu, taro balls to tasty pork knuckles.
The popular stalls have huge queues of hungry locals – just be very mindful of the mopeds that drive up and down the street at speed (often grabbing takeaways along the way)!
You might like – Our guide to Taiwan’s Sanrio themed train >
22. Kaohsiung Station Goes Kawaii
So train stations aren’t normally tourist attractions but there are a few reasons to visit Kaohsiung station (and we don’t mean just to get a train).
For starters, Kaohsiung Station has recently unveiled an amazing new structure designed by Dutch architects which kind of looks like a space-ship.
It’s a structural marvel and there are several staircases that allow you to explore a small roof-park on top.
Secondly, there is a huge Anime, Manga and Japanese store collection across two of Kaohsiung station’s basement floors, which includes a huge branch of Japanese collectibles store Animate, a maid cafe plus gashapons galore.
Finally, if you are a Taiwan ink stamp collector, the tourist information visitor center has several stamps for your collection including Tall Bear, Kaohsiung’s official bear mascot.
23. Dream Mall Kaohsiung & Kaohsiung Eye
Welcome to Taiwan’s largest shopping mall, Dream Mall in Kaohsiung (and once the largest mall in the whole of East Asia).
Opened in 2007 and accessible by the Dream Mall light rail transit, it has 12 floors of shops, services and parking plus a kid’s theme park on the top floor, including the Kaohsiung Eye, a big ferris wheel with fantastic views.
There are two main buildings with air bridges between the two, plus features like fountains and outdoor plazas – international brands and shops at Kaohsiung Dream Mall include Gap, Sony, H&M, Samsung & DJI.
On the 8th floor, you’ll also find a rather gorgeous theater and the slightly odd ‘Time-Hall’ (lots of clocks) plus gachapon machines galore.
You might like – Our guide to the 15+best shopping malls and districts in Taipei >
24. Kaohsiung 7-Eleven Pokémon Store
You may have heard about Taiwan’s only Pokémon Center in Taipei, but did you know there is also a Pokémon 7-Eleven store in Kaohsiung?
It is one of over 10 different themed 7-Elevens in Kaohsiung which include Snoopy and Hello Kitty; more on these in a moment.
With a recent refurbishment in May 2024, the 7-Eleven Pokémon theme store Chonghui in Kaohsiung has all your Pokémon favorites like big Pikachu plushies, Nintendo Switch gaming, a Pokémon trading card battle area plus awesome arcade machines.
Read our Kaohsiung Pokemon 7-Eleven blog which has photos and the Google Maps location >
You might like – 10 Hello Kitty things to do in Taiwan >
25. Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway
2025 update – please note the main museum is closed for restoration until August 2025 but you can still ride on the outdoor miniature train.
Chances are if you’ve ever seen any photos of Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Art Center before, it will be full of families riding the famous miniature train. This can be found at the Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway, in the Penglai Warehouse.
Inside, there are lots of dainty dioramas, miniature railways plus a detailed overview of Kaohsiung Port’s rich railway history.
Across from the museum, Hamasen Railway Cultural Park is where you can see lots of old train carriages and locomotives for free, in an outdoor museum. The Hamasen Railway Cultural Park is fantastic if you love old trains and vintage vehicles.
Book your Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Miniature Railway ticket >
26. Sanfong Jhong Street
Like taking a step back in time, Sanfong Jhong Street in Kaohsiung is a 1950’s covered shopping arcade and wholesale market popular with locals for fresh produce and preserved goods.
With around 100 shops along one street with a roof canopy, this is a popular place in Kaohsiung to buy traditional Chinese herbal medicines, a little reminiscent of Dihua Street in Taipei.
We also saw pick and mix sweets / candy, loose leaf teas, pharmaceuticals plus stalls selling religious charms and fortunes.
We visited at the weekend and it was pretty quiet, with only a handful of shops open and the odd moped driving down the main path – maybe one to check out early mornings during the week.
You might like – Our guide to Yongkang Street, Taipei’s tastiest neighborhood >
27. Dain Dain Burgers
A local southern Taiwan burger and fast food chain, we had our first bite of Dain Dain burgers in Kaohsiung – kind of like a Taiwan McDonalds, you order at the serving hatch and then are served up your meals a few minutes later.
Popular with local families (expect big queues at the weekend), the branch we visited near Sanfeng temple was so busy so we reckoned it must be good.
From hamburgers and fried chicken to congee and corn soup, this is fast-food Taiwan style. Most combos cost between NT$100 to NT$120 including a main, side (like fries) and a drink.
You might like – Our guide to Din Tai Fung, Taiwan’s most famous dumpling restaurant chain >
28. Kaohsiung Station Cats at Xin Zuoying Station
Move over Mikan – did you know Xin Zuoying station in Kaohsiung also has three station cats with their own station play area?
Three stray cats were adopted by Xin Zuoying Station staff and in early 2025, a new cat lounge was unveiled where the cats can play whilst travellers watch.
We caught up with these cute Kaohsiung station kitties just before we boarded Taiwan’s Sanrio train (link) back to Taipei – how much cuteness can you handle in one day?
From what to expect to the location of the cat play area, here is our guide to checking out the cats of Xin Zuoying Kaohsiung station (a short walk from the Zuoying HSR station next door) >
29. Kaohsiung Glory Pier
For one of the best views of Kaohsiung Harbor, Pier 2 and the Kaohsiung and the modern Kaohsiung Music Center, head to Glory Pier overlooking the Love River.
A perfect place to see in sunset in Kaohsiung, there are evening ferry departures from here plus you can see the Kaohsiung Music Center light up at night.
Try this – Kaohsiung cultural yacht round-trip ferry ticket & cultural park ticket >
30. Kaohsiung’s ‘Bananas’ Train
Kaohsiung’s latest attraction is ‘bananas’ – quite literally, and has gone viral on social media.
Initially planned as a temporary installation to celebrate Kaohsiung’s agricultural importance, these BIG bananas look set to be a long-term feature (well, unless anyone tries to peel them).
This ‘fruity’ addition can be found in one of the old locomotives in the park by giant bananas to decorate the Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway. So many Kaohsiung bananas used to be exported to Japan, the city had the nickname of ‘Banana Kingdom’!”
31. Sunny Hills Kaohsiung store
See that MASSIVE queue snaking around the block at Pier 2 Art Center? That’ll likely be Sunny Hills pineapple cake and pastry shop.
Popular with overseas tourists (and the odd local), this decadent dessert shop and pastry place offers everything from mooncake to apple turnovers.
The reason for the big queue? Amazingly, Sunny Hills Kaohsiung Pier 2 Store offers up small samples of tea and pineapple cake (likely in a bid to encourage you to buy more). Nice!
P.S. In our Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Facebook group, we ran a huge group vote about Taiwan’s best pineapple cake… ChiaTe was the winner with over a quarter of the votes followed by Pan’s Cake, narrowly pushing Sunny Hills into third place. You’re welcome!
You might like – 10 Hello Kitty things to do in Taiwan >
32. Takao Railway Museum
Run by local and enthusiastic volunteers, the Takao Railway Museum is free to visit and is a two room museum in the former waiting room and freight office of the once busy station.
Take a step back in time and get up close to old railway artifacts and miniature railways – alas we don’t speak Chinese nor do the volunteers speak English but they were very smiling and beckoning us over to look at things.
You might like – Guide to the best souvenirs to buy in Taiwan >
33. Kura Sushi (Global Flagship Store)
OK, so it’s not traditional Taiwanese food, but if you like the sound of sashimi or think nigiri is nice, consider a trip to Kaohsiung’s flagship Kura Sushi restaurant.
It is a joyful Japanese conveyor belt restaurant right next to Kaisyuan Station on the Red Metro line.
Popular with locals and travelers alike, Kura Sushi is one of the biggest restaurant chains from Japan, a fun and inexpensive dining experience that is now popping up all over Japan.
All of the sushi, snacks and drinks arrive by conveyor belt – even putting away your finished, dirty dishes has been ‘gamified’ (for every five dirty plates you drop into a slot on your table, you get a free go at an online game – smart!).
34. Don Don Donki Kaohsiung
Japan’s most delightful discount store is now open in Kaohsiung, on the lower levels of Talee Department Store.
Originally known as Don Quijote in Japan where it has dozens of stores all over the country, Don Don Donki (as it is branded in Taiwan) opened their first Taiwan store in Ximending in 2021.
This is a fairly new Don Don Donki store in Kaohsiung (launched December 2023) that is open from 10am to 11pm daily (alas not 24 hours like Ximending).
Located over several stories including a big fresh food area (with lots of Japanese food like takoyaki and sashimi / sushi), DON DON DONKI is a great place for late night shopping in Kaohsiung.
35. Day trip to Tainan
If you have a spare day in your Kaohsiung itinerary then you might want to consider visiting the charming city of Tainan (Taiwan’s former capital and oldest city).
Tainan is revered for its ancient temples and fortresses – it was even the island’s capital for over 200 years until 1887 under the Qing dynasty.
As well as beautiful old buildings and modern street art, Tainan is home to some of the best Taiwanese food plus sublime side-streets packed full of lanterns and old tea shops.
From night markets to old movie theatres, creative parks to ‘coffin bread’ (better than it sounds), there are so many things to do in Tainan (and eat and drink!).
Tainan is only 1 hour away by local train and there are lots of things to do in the city.
Check out our guide to Tainan article >
36. 7-Eleven Bar at Liuhe Night Market
Ok, this is a bit random but you’d be surprised how many times on our Taiwanderers Facebook group we get asked about locations of 7-Eleven bars in Taiwan.
Cheers / “Ganbei” to Liuhe Night Market 7-Eleven (map), where you can drink pints of beer and watch live sports with the locals.
Yes, in Taiwan, there are selected 7-Eleven stores that have their own in-store bars where you can enjoy a freshly served pint, sit at the counter and enjoy convenience store snacks.
We like this Kaohsiung 7-Eleven bar as it is in the midst of all the night market stalls so you can people watch and have some Buckskin beer, after eating your way around all the food stalls outside.
37. Ziyou Traditional Evening Market
Maybe it was because we visited on Friday night, but Ziyou Traditional Evening Market was the busiest Kaohsiung market we went to.
A hotch-potch of food, clothing and homeware stores under one roof, Ziyou has to be seen to be believed – a warren of wonderful Taiwanese food, here you can also see the wet markets alongside fresh fruit and vegetables.
An authentic local experience in Kaohsiung, Ziyou Traditional Evening Market is open from 2pm to 8pm daily and is busiest around 5pm to 6pm when workers and families descend.
38. E Sky Mall
Kaohsiung’s newest major shopping mall, E Sky Mall opened in 2021 and for our money, is actually a bit better than the larger Miramar Mall.
As you arrive, a huge immersive 3D screen with a weird monster character beckons you in – this sets the tone for an epic and modern shopping experience with major brands plus local favourite, Eslite bookstores.
With seven storeys of shopping and over 300 shops, there are also lots of international restaurants and a food court to dine in
You might like – Our guide to NET, Taiwan’s affordable fashion chain with over 150 stores >
39. Kaohsiung 85 Observatory
One of the most striking looking buildings in Kaohsiung if not the whole of Taiwan.
The 85 Sky Tower is the tallest building in Southern Taiwan and once had an observatory but this has closed down in recent years (it is mainly offices and accommodation now).
Spoiler alert, it is also only 83 floors high so they rounded it up to 85 to make it sound better!
40. 7-Eleven Fantasea Underwater themed store and Starbucks at Dream Mall
Taiwan is famous for its themed 7-Elevens (there are over 100), and Kaohsiung is no different – swim down to the basement level of Dream Mall and find an underwater themed 7-Eleven.
You can drink your coffee in an aquatic themed seating area (complete with jellyfish lights) and Open chan characters diving from the room – there are even seating booths with portals, which makes it look to passersby that you are eating underwater.
Also, there is a special themed Starbucks upstairs at Dream Mall which is themed like a ship – the decor is dandy and it is one of the more unusual themed Starbucks we’ve been to in Kaohsiung.
You might like – Guide to the newly opened Taiwan National Museum of Comics in Taichung >
41. Kaohsiung Museums and Factory Tours
There are several museums to enjoy in Kaohsiung including
- The National Science and Technology Museum >
- Wooderful Life wooden game zone and museum >
- FLOMO Stationery Museum; one of Taiwan’s most famous and historic stationery brands >
- Yuga Beef tourist factory ticket >
- Puhu Taiwan shoes factory tours admission ticket and DIY experience in Kaohsiung >
42. Go on a guided tour or visit attractions in Kaohsiung
If you fancy a local to show you around, Kaohsiung tours and activities include:
- Visit the biggest VR experience theme park in Asia – E-Da Theme Park >
- Experience the newest multi-sensory and most extraordinary theater showcasing the beauty of Kaohsiung >
- The Japanese style Senya Village Restaurant >
- Kids will love Austin Land in Kaohsiung >
- Hot spring glamping in Kaohsiung >
- Feet Massage in Kaohsiung >
Our final thing to do in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
43. Kaohsiung Lantern Festival
Kaohsiung is renowned for its annual Lantern Festival, which usually takes place in late January / early February every year.
We were fortunate enough to visit Kaohsiung during Chinese New Year when the banks of the Lover River played host to the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival.
Note the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival in 2023 and 2024 took place at Lotus Lake but in 2025, it was back at Love River.
You might like our guide to the national Taiwan Lantern Festival held every year >
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