Kaohsiung itineraries

Harbour to harbour in a day

Start with the 11 o'clock Dome of Light show, then follow the waterfront: Pier-2 warehouses, the Cijin ferry, sunset at the old British consulate. One line through the city and Kaohsiung makes sense.

River to Lotus Pond

Day one along the Love River and a night market, day two the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas and Weiwuying. Built for people stepping off the HSR at Zuoying.

City, Buddha, Monkey Mountain

Day one the library rooftop and the ferris wheel, day two the Buddha Museum and a sunset lookout, day three monkeys on Shoushan before breakfast. Three faces of Kaohsiung, one per day.

Festivals & seasons

• 1 — Meinong flower fields
• 2 — Fo Guang Shan New Year lanterns
• 2 — Kaohsiung Lantern Festival
• 2 — Kaohsiung Marathon
• 6 — Dragon boat races on the Love River
• 7 — Rainy and typhoon season: June to September
• 7 — Cijin summer beach festival
• 10 — Zuoying Wannian Folklore Festival
• 10 — Kaohsiung Film Festival
• 11 — Pier-2 weekend craft market
• 12 — Best season: December to March
• 12 — New Year countdown fireworks

Souvenirs

• A cup of Hua Da milk tea
• Pineapple cakes and nougat crackers
• Cijin fish floss and dried seafood
• Pier-2 design goods
• Fo Guang Shan prayer beads, incense, vegetarian snacks
• Meinong oil-paper umbrella
• Seasonal fruit: jujube (Dec–Feb), guava, lychee (June)