Kenting 墾丁in Taiwan is known for its blissful beaches, sublime surfing and night-life, not to mention its National Park. The Kenting buses from Kaohsiung / Zuoying HSR station depart regularly and it is less than a 3 hour drive to this tropical paradise.
Given its location in southern Taiwan, trains don’t go all the way here so the Kenting Express bus / tourist shuttle is the best way to get here if you don’t fancy a Kenting tour or car hire.
We got the bus to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station (and back) in February 2025, spending a few days exploring Kenting and nearby Henchung.
From booking tickets to fares and luggage storage, here is our step-by-step guide to getting the Kenting bus from Kaohsiung.
You might like – Things to do in Kenting >
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How to get to Kenting from other Taiwan cities
The closest High Speed Rail train station to Kenting is Zuoying HSR (which is the Kaohsiung High Speed Railway station), and the closest TRA train station is Fangliao station. From both stations you can catch the shuttle bus to Kenting, but you are best to board at Zuoying HSR station for a better chance of getting a seat.
To get to Zuoying HSR station you can take the high speed train from Taipei (and Taoyuan), Hsinchu, Maoli, Taichung, Tainan, Chiayi and a few other stops.
For instance, from Taipei to Kaohsiung on the HSR takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes.
The Kenting Express Shuttle Bus 9189 from Kaohsiung HSR then takes around 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes to reach Kenting. Journeys during peak summer and weekends can be much longer due to traffic.
There is also a direct bus route from Kaohsiung Airport to Kenting (bus route 9117B), but there are only around 7 departures a day.
Book your Taiwan HSR fares with Klook here including buy 1 get 1 free tickets exclusive to foreigners.
You might like – Our first timers guide to Taiwan and Taipei >
How to purchase your Kenting shuttle bus ticket
There are many ways to purchase your Kaohsiung to Kenting 9189 bus journey:
1. Cash (return or one-way ticket) at Zuoying HSR station
2. EasyCard, iPASS or iCash cards on the bus (one-way ticket)
3. Buy tickets via Klook (return-trip ticket)
4. Buy tickets online on fun2tw.com and reserve a seat (return trip or one-way ticket)
5. At 7-Eleven and FamilyMart stores (return trip or one-way ticket)
Below we will explain the different purchasing methods, and in the next section we will compare pricing.
The Kenting Express buses run along a highway so all passengers must be seated, so it is important to reserve your seat.
Cash
Head to Kenting Express Counter at Zuoying HSR exit 2 on the day of travel to purchase your ticket with cash and collect your seat reservation card to show to the driver. You must do this at least 15 minutes before bus departure.
Purchasing a return ticket is cheaper than two one-way tickets.
However it must be used within 7 days of the departure date of the first outbound trip, and the return seat must be reserved when exchanging the ticket at the Kenting Express Counter at Zuoying HSR.
You can reserve seats for the return journey to Kaohsiung if boarding the bus between Xiaowan and Hengchun bus stops in Kenting.
Cash cards such as EasyCard, iPASS or iCash
This option is currently the cheapest way to travel to Kenting (until 31 August 2025).
You can use your pre-loaded cash cards to pay for one-way journeys. The cost of a one-way journey using an EasyCard or equivalent cash card is much cheaper than paying for a regular ticket with cash.
Before you board the bus you must pick up a seat reservation card from Kenting Express Counter at Zuoying HSR entrance 2 on the day of the ride. You then head to the bus with your reservation card and your cash card ready to pay when boarding.
Remember to make sure your EasyCard balance is sufficient before boarding. There is currently a Taiwan Tourism offer running until 31 August 2025, where journeys made by tapping a cash card on the bus are half price.
If you are boarding the bus from any of the stops after Kaohsiung Zuoying HSR station, or returning to Kaohsiung from Kenting, you won’t be able to reserve a seat and you can just board by tapping your EasyCard.
Klook
Tickets can be purchased on Klook. You cannot select a time or date – you need to show your mobile QR code voucher to exchange for a ticket at the Kenting Express Counter at Zuoying HSR on the day of travel (they will also give you a ticket for your return journey).
The return ticket must be used within 7 days of the departure date of the first outbound trip, and the return seat must be reserved when exchanging the ticket at the Kenting Express Counter. A maximum of 5 people can be booked per bus for the return Kenting to Kaohsiung trip.
You can reserve seats for the return journey to Kaohsiung if boarding the bus between Xiaowan and Hengchun bus stops in Kenting.
Online
You can purchase tickets in advance online and reserve a seat, although you might struggle to set up an account to do so (we kept getting error messages and were unsuccessful booking using this method).
Head to fun2tw.com within 30 days of your travel date and before 3pm the day before the ride. Once you receive a QR code you can head straight to the bus to board (you do not need to pick up a seat reservation card from the Kenting Express Counter). The return ticket date must be within 8 days of the departure date of the first outbound trip.
The online booking system only sells one-way and return trip tickets between Zuoying and Kenting, no short distance tickets are sold.
Purchasing tickets using this method is recommended if travelling during busy times such as peak summer season, weekends and public holidays.
7-Eleven and FamilyMart
Finally, according to the Taiwan Tourism website, you can purchase tickets at 7-Eleven iBon machines and FamilyMart FamiPort machines.
We have not used this option but we are guessing you cannot book a specific date or time, as Taiwan Tourism have stated you need to exchange your booking voucher for a seat reservation card at the Kenting Express Counter at Zuoying HSR.
You might like – Our guide to getting the Alishan bus shuttle from Chiayi station >
How much is the Kenting 9189 bus / Kenting Express shuttle in 2025?
The Kaohsiung Zuoying HSR station to Kenting bus stops (and vice versa) pricing is as follows:
Online payments at fun2tw.com and cash payments at the Kenting Express Counter at Zuoying HSR
| Price adult one-way | Price concession* one-way | Price adult return | Price concession* return |
|---|---|---|---|
| NT$401 | NT$200 | NT$600 | NT$400 |
EasyCard, icash 2.0 and iPass card payments
| Price adult one-way | Price concession* one-way |
|---|---|
| NT$352 (NT$176 until 31 August 2025) | NT$176 |
*Concession = Senior citizens at the age of 65 or above, with ROC ID cards or Senior Citizen Cards, Holders of Disabled Cards (must ride with a guardian or a partner) and children below 12 years old at height below 145cm.
If you have a Taiwan EasyCard or other cash card, the current Taiwan Tourism half price offer (on until 31 August 2025), makes the journey NT$176 for adults instead of NT$352. So using a cash card is currently the cheapest way to pay.
If you don’t use EasyCard/cash cards it is NT$401 one way or you can save $NT201 by purchasing a NT$600 return ticket (NT$400 return for people who qualify concession). You must use the return journey within seven days.
Other fares are available like Kaohsiung to Hengchun for NT$317, Fangliao for NT$164 and Checheng for NT$288 (one way with an EasyCard or other cash card).
Kenting bus and shuttle fares are correct as of March 2025.
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Kaohsiung to Kenting Bus 9189 Timetable 2025
The buses to Kenting regularly depart Zuoying HSR station – there are around 30 buses to Kenting a day usually departing in 15 minute or 30 minute intervals.
The first Kenting bus 9189 to depart Zuoying HSR to Kenting is 8:15am
The last Kenting bus 9189 to depart Zuoying HSR is 7:30pm
The first shuttle bus 9189 to leave Kenting for Kaohsiung departs at 8am
The last shuttle bus 9189 to leave Kenting for Kaohsiung is 7:30pm
The full timetable for bus 9189 can be seen below:
| Kaohsiung Zuoying HSR to Kenting | Kenting to Kaohsiung Zuoying HSR |
|---|---|
| 08.15 | 08.00 |
| 08.30 | 08.30 |
| 08.45 | 08.45 |
| 09.00 | 09.00 |
| 09.30 | 09.30 |
| 09.45 | 10.00 |
| 10.00 | 10.30 |
| 10.30 | 11.00 |
| 11.00 | 11.30 |
| 11.30 | 11.45 |
| 11.45 | 12.00 |
| 12.00 | 12.30 |
| 12.30 | 12.45 |
| 13.00 | 13.00 |
| 13.30 | 13.30 |
| 14.00 | 14.00 |
| 14.30 | 14.30 |
| 14.45 | 14.45 |
| 15.00 | 15.00 |
| 15.30 | 15.30 |
| 15.45 (Sundays) | 16.00 |
| 16.00 | 16.30 |
| 16.30 | 17.00 |
| 17.00 | 17.30 |
| 17.30 | 17.45 |
| 17.45 | 18.00 |
| 18.00 | 18.30 |
| 18.30 | 18.45 (Sundays) |
| 19.00 | 19.00 |
| 19.30 | 19.30 |
There are multiple bus stops in Kenting including Kending Arch, Kending Police Substation and the final stop Xiaowan.
There is another route called Kenting Airport Express Bus 9117B that departs from Kaohsiung Airport at 9:40am, 11am, 2pm, 3:20pm, 4:20pm, and 6pm, and returns from Kenting at 7.30am. 9.50am, 12.20pm, 3.20pm, 5pm and 6.40pm.
You might like – 40+ things to do in Kaohsiung including Pier 2 Arts Center and Cijin Island
How to find the Kenting bus stop at Kaohsiung HSR
The bus stop for the Kenting shuttle from Kaohsiung can be found just outside Xinzuoying Kaohsiung Metro Station exit 1 (up the escalator to the outside level) and outside Zuoying HSR station.
There are around four bus stops and the Kenting shuttle / express bus usually departs from stand 2. However, the stand can sometimes change so double check the electronic destination signs by each bus stop which alternate between Mandarin and English.
Search for bus number 9189 that terminates at Xiaowan in Kenting.
Before you board the bus you must visit the ticket counter to pick up a seat reservation card which you will show to the driver (unless you booked a seat online on fun2tw.com).
Incidentally, from here you can also get the shuttle bus to the famous Fo Guang Shan temple, one of our top things to do in Kaohsiung.
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Kenting Express from Kaohsiung – bus luggage space & onboard experience
We joined a small queue outside and were able to put our luggage below the bus in a large compartment.
We used the bus on a weekday morning in February and the bus wasn’t too busy and was around half full when it left Kaohsiung.
As the bus stops at many towns and districts along the way, it soon fills up – on the way back from Kenting, a LOT of people got on at Hengchun bus station so the journey back to Kaohsiung was packed after that stop.
The Kenting Express buses we got were basic but comfy and on the way there, we were given free water and tissues branded with the Taiwan Tourism bear – however, we didn’t seem to get that on the way back a few days later.
The bus journey from Kaohsiung to Kenting can take anything from 2.5 hours to 3 hours one way and it isn’t too windy (very different from the Alishan bus journey)!
There are no toilets onboard the bus and there didn’t appear to be any official toilet stops on the way – so in an ‘emergency’, you may need to ask the driver or wait until Hengchun Bus Station to ask to alight there.
Always remember to use the buzzer if you are getting off at earlier stops otherwise the bus driver will likely just continue. Kenting beach has several stops to be sure to work out which one is closest to your hotel.
For instance, we stayed at Chateau Beach Resort so got off at Kending Arch bus stop, whilst the Caesars and Howard Beach Resorts are located near to the final bus stop.
Kenting Accommodation
If you are getting the bus to Kenting and staying a few days, some recommended Kenting accommodation and hotels include:
Kenting Chateau Beach Resort 墾丁夏都沙灘酒店
After much research, we stayed at Chateau Beach Resort for several days as it is one of the few Kenting hotels with direct beach access plus it is about a 5 minute walk from the nearest Kenting shuttle bus stop.
The resort has several pools, sun loungers on the beach plus a beachside bar – it is about a 10 minute walk to the start of the famous Kenting Night Market.
Check rates and availability on booking.com | Agoda.com | Expedia.com | Hotels.com
Caesar Park Kenting 墾丁凱撒大飯店
A 5* Kenting hotel, Caesars is a sprawling resort with many food and drink options including an even buffet which we highly rated (plus you can use your Lucky Land accommodation vouchers).
Caesar Park Resort also has its own section on the small beach in front exclusive to their guests.
Check rates and availability on booking.com | Agoda.com | Expedia.com | Hotels.com
Howard Beach Resort Kenting 墾丁福華渡假飯店
This is another beachfront resort in Kenting next door to Caesar Park with its own shopping center, underground karaoke center plus swimming pool and a Starbucks outfront.
It is also a couple of minutes walk from the final Kenting shuttle stop (Xiaowan).
Check rates and availability on booking.com | Agoda.com | Expedia.com | Hotels.com
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