There’s a reason why Kaohsiung made Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel list as one of the top 10 cities to travel to in 2018. As the second largest city in Taiwan (with a population of 2.7 million), located near the southern tip of the country, it is often overshadowed by the sprawling capital, Taipei. This up-and-coming city boasts a vibrant arts scene, unique and flavourful local cuisine, seamless blends of historic and contemporary landmarks, and, rich traditions and customs that can’t be found anywhere else in the country.
Kaohsiung has been my home now for 9 blissful months and each day I fall in love with it a little more. To celebrate these past 9 months, I want to share 9 awesome things for you to do and experience here!
1. Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond
No trip to Kaohsiung is complete without paying a visit to the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond. These two, vibrant, 7-storey pagodas seemingly float on the calm pond blanketed with bobbing, bright pink lotus flowers.
A zigzagging bridge leads to the pagodas, which locals say was strategically designed to confuse the direction of evil spirits that follow you. Be warned! Make sure to enter the pagodas through the dragon’s mouth and exit through the lion’s mouth, or prepare to suffer the plague of bad luck coming your way!
Climb up the winding, spiral staircases of either of the pagodas for an awesome view of Lotus Pond and the other towering, floating pagodas and temples scattered in the backdrop.
2. Secret Beach
A not so “secret” Beach as the name suggests, Secret Beach is probably one of Kaohsiung’s worst kept secrets. And, you can blame the people like me, who can’t resist divulging the prettiest spot in the city for soaking up sunsets.
This long stretch of soft sand is surrounded by a lush green cliffside, covered with unusual cacti and trees overflowing with delicate pink flowers. The water is warm and great for swimming, but not the most pristine, as Kaohsiung’s large port lies just down the coastline. If you’re looking for crystal clear waters, boogey board up the coast. If you’re desperate for a dip, Secret Beach won’t set you back. But beware. There might be something in the water.
Pack snacks and bring your own beer, as the closest 7-Eleven is a bit of a vertical hike away, and you wouldn’t want to miss a second of the cotton candy skies at sunset.
3. Fo Guang Shan
Temples and shrines can be found everywhere in Taiwan, and I mean everywhere. But, there is one religious site that quite literally towers over them all.
Fo Guang Shan is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan and features the highest bronze statue of a seated Buddha in the world. This Buddha complex is a pretty big deal for smaller-city Kaohsiung, as it is home to one of eight relics of Buddha’s tooth. The Tibetan Lama kept this sacred tooth safe for 30 years, before this permanent home was finally chosen for it.
Don’t come on a Tuesday! Buddha is sleeping and the complex is not open to the public.
4. Cijin Island
A speedy 5-minute ferry ride from Kaohsiung’s mainland will bring you to Cijin Island – a mini getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Although tiny in size, Cijin merits its very own day trip, with loads to explore and a beautiful, black sand beach to laze at during the day. In the summer time, you can be sure to find volleyball games in action and beach parties with live music hosted by Cijin Sunset Bar.
One of Kaohsiung’s most Instragrammable spots can be found here, the Rainbow Church. Which, in fact, is not a church at all, but rather a brightly-coloured art installation with an awesome backdrop of the ocean.
Walk, or ride an electric 4-seater bike, up and down the strip, while stopping to fill your belly with fresh seafood from the street vendors. If you’re feeling adventurous and looking to try a local delicacy, grab yourself crispy BBQ squid on a stick or a steaming cup full of snails.
Head to Cijin Sunset Bar to grab a drink and watch the sunset.
5. Pier-2 Art Center
New life was given to the deteriorating and abandoned warehouses near Kaohsiung’s harbour. These buildings were restored as an extensive indoor and outdoor art museum complex, crisscrossing across train tracks, known as the Pier-2 Art Center. Now, this vibrant art district hosts a wide range of festivals, constantly changing art exhibitions, and has a permanent collection of artisanal craft shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Click here for all of their current and upcoming exhibitions and events.
6. Ruifeng Night Market
Ruifeng Night Market is every self-proclaimed foodie’s dream. This 3,000 square-metre maze of street food is made up of narrow alleys, bustling with hungry patrons and bursting with intoxicating smells of fried street foods. After paying weekly visits to the market, I have barely scratched the surface of foods to try.
My go-to vendor is the Lee-Chi Green Onion Pancake. These Taiwanese pancakes are fluffy, crispy and loaded with flavour. I always get a basil pancake (sometimes two) smothered with a whole lot of sweet soy sauce.
Make your way to the back of the market for an interesting combination of Taiwanese midway games, cheap foot massages, and mystical fortune telling.
Don’t head here on a Monday or Wednesday, or you’ll be disappointed to find that most shops are closed.
7. Shrimping
This is definitely one of the most “unique” local Kaohsiung experiences. Step into one of these shabby, warehouse-like establishments, rent a rod, claim your turf, and start catching shrimp!
Huge pools swarm with shrimp and are replenished frequently. Locals eagerly bait their hooks with a pungent paste that looks like cat food, staining their fingers and clothes red.
The shrimp here are monstrous! Nothing like the ones you see carefully placed around a decorative frozen, shrimp ring at Christmas time.
After you’ve shrimped to your heart’s content, remove the net from the pool and carry it over to the industrial grills, where you can barbecue, season, and eat ’em right there.
Shrimping venues are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and attract a broad crowd from the solo, highly-concentrated shrimpermen, to couples on a romantic date night, to families that make a whole outing out of it.
