A Pleasant Day in Kaohsiung

2019 Summer Trip to Asia

August 6, 2019 -- Kaohsiung 

Spending a day in Kaohsiung sounded wonderful after staying in the 'village' for a bit. Kaohsiung is the biggest city in Southern Taiwan and it is also a cruise port for some cruises sailing the Asia route. At least it was before COVID-19. SC was our guide for the day and with him taking us I was ready for a day of fun. SC lived and had his business in Kaohsiung for many years before he retired so he knows this city very well. 

Qijin

Kaohsiung is a little over an hour drive from the village taking the freeway (well, not really free.) The first place we stopped at was the town called Qijin. Actually, Qijin is an island, a long strip of land off the city of Kaohsiung. It is the second smallest district in Kaohsiung after Yancheng District. I have never been here before and I believe it used to be that one would have to take a ferry to get there. Now, they have a cross-harbor tunnel which made it a convenient way to get there by cars. 

Qijin Beach, quite tropical like.

All the ships out there lining up to get into the harbor. Kaohsiung is a busy and important port.

Many cute sand sculptures built along the beach.

From the beach, we walked through the indoor Qihou Market and then on to the main street of Qijin (Qijin Old Street).

Where we came upon this huge Presbyterian Church.

History of the church posted in front, "Blessings of Five Fish and Two Loaves".

Kaohsiung Harbor, with the city of Kaohsiung on the other side.

Ferries that go between Qijin and Kaohsiung.

Ships sailing into the harbor one by one.

Qijin Ferry Station

For lunch, we just randomly picked a restaurant called Hai Zhong Bao (Treasures at Sea) on Old Street.

Good, simple lunch.

Back to Kaohsiung, we parked the car and boarded one of the light rails in town.

I don't remember exactly which line we took, it could very be the green line from what we saw on the ride.

Inside of the light rail.

I believe that's the Grand Han Lai Hotel.

A photo of the exterior of the light rail cars at the end of the route, Hamasen Station.

Some interesting sculptures around town. There are art centers, galleries, rail museum, and other interesting shops in this surrounding area if you want to spend time here. I believe this is also near the cruise terminal, but I am not definitely sure.

Kaohsiung Exhibition Center. Now I remember we did past by the new cruise terminal which was still under construction not too far from here. I could be wrong but I think the old cruise terminal was close to the final stop on the light rail (Hamasen Station) and they are building the new one here.

After picking up the car, we drove up to Shou Shan, where we would visit the Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine. Here we could see the island of Qijin from up high.

Climbing the steps up to the shrine.

Unlike the Martyrs' Shrine in Taipei, this one is less visited and not as formal.

Main shrine

What a view!

Ships sailing into the harbor.

Observation deck in front of the shrine called Shoushan Love Lookout.

Cute!

The Love River (Ai He) used to be a stinky waterway in town, it is now turned into a nice, pretty canal where tourists can enjoy a boat ride along the clean and scenic river.

HOHO bus in Kaohsiung, with a stop right near the Love River, Love Boat dock.

Boarding the tour boat here.

Ticket booth for the Love Boat.

Promenade

On the "Love Boat".

Hotels and office buildings nearby.

I think that's called the Glory Pier.

Love Pier Light Rail Station

Time for a cold drink. But, we did not expect to pay so much for these papaya milkshake here at a riverbank cafe.

On our way home, instead of taking the freeway, we decided to just drive along the local highway so we could see the towns. Then it started to rain, heavily at times. As we were looking for dinner while going through Gangshan, which is famous for their mutton cuisine, we stopped at a restaurant by the roadside for a quick dinner.

Mutton soup and noodle with lamb oil.

Stir-fried lamb meat.

We had a wonderful day in Kaohsiung and I could even stay for a couple of days here. There are still so many places that I would like to visit in this beautiful city. Next time!

"But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head."   --Psalms 3:3