Kaohsiung has enjoyed a much awaited rejuvenation in recent years. It wasn't considered a tourist city in Taiwan, but now a days, there is a lot changing. There is a lot of new investment into infrastructure, places of culture, viewing platforms and natural scenery to keep any visitor entertained. The city, the people, the artistic vibe, it is something Kaohsiung is known for! We invite you to explore it by yourself, as you travel to Taiwan! So, when making plans to visit Isla Formosa (Taiwan), don’t overlook this city! It won't  disappoint you! 

Below are some of the best activities and sites to keep you busy during your stay!

• Cijin Island is a small island of Kaohsiung, located near the port, is still considered as one of the districts in Kaohsiung. To get to Cijin, you need to take the ferry from Gushan. They depart every 15 min and the price per adult is 20 NTD, which you can also pay with the transport e-card. (easycard). Cijin Island itself has numerous sites, such as the Cihou Lighthouse, Cihou Fort, Tianhou Temple, Cijin or the Wind Turbine Park. Cijin Beach is also a good place to relax, stroll along the sand, or swim! Remember to bring sun-lotion as the when the sun shines it can be really hot in Southern Taiwan! If you go after sun set the place is ideal for tasting seafood, dining and experiencing the food night market along it's Old Street. Beware the ferry coming back usually gets very crowded particularly at weekends. 

• The Kaohsiung Tower also known as the 85 Skytower, it is the 2nd tallest skyscraper in Taiwan. At 378 m it has a mixture of office space, shopping, restaurants and a hotel. The 75th floor is an observation deck where you can get the best views of Kaohsiung. Price is 100 NT per adult. Admire the great views of Kaohsiung City and its harbour. There are also displays of art, classical music, souvenir shop and a small cafe at the top. To get there take the Red Line and get off at R8 (Sanduo Shopping District). 

• The Love River is a very iconic spot in Kaohsiung, it circles the city for 12 kilometres right to the harbour. It plays a very important role for both tourism and economical reasons. There are boats that take tourists along the river, or take a walk along the river banks, local people usually run or cycle here. Outdoor cafes and a small night market also operate at the riverside; people usually enjoy the evening and night view of the Love River after a long day. The best location to see the Love River is close to the harbour, closest metro station is Yanchengpu (Orange Line).

• Lotus Pond is an artificial lake and a popular destination also located at Zuoying District. Established in 1951, Lotus Pond is well known for its many lotus plants and temples, including the Spring and Autumn Pavilions, Dragon Tiger Pagodas and the Confucian Temple. This tourist site was also known to be the place of sporting events, such as water ski and dragon boat, in the 2009 World Games. Lotus Pond is one of the most famous sunrise spots in Kaohsiung, so it is quite normal to see photographers standing by at 5 AM. To get there take the metro to Zuoying / THSR station (Red Line), head towards the HRS station, cross the station via a shopping mall inside the HRS station and use West exit to walk towards the park. 

• Shoushan, is a mountain in Gushan District, is also widely known as Monkey Mountain as there are usually many monkeys around! This mountain is a favorite among the locals since it offers more than just a good hike and beautiful nature; you can also visit the Shoushan Zoo, the Love Observatory or the Martyr’s Shrine Temple. At the foot of the mountain are other sites that you can visit, such as Sizihwan, the Former British Consulate at Takao, and the National Sun Yat San University. To get there take the Metro to Sizihwan (Orange Line). The base of the mountain is 5 min walk, but the walk itself can be harder, uphill for one hour!
• Pier 2 Art Centre  has been a favourite for the locals since the last few years. The art centre has become a place for friends, families and couples. This place in Yancheng District was originally a warehouse site, built in 1973. Because of the persistence of local artists, this abandoned site was finally remade as an art centre.
  Most of the art at Pier 2 Art Centre can be enjoyed for free, but there are certain seasonal exhibition that would require an entrance ticket. To get there take the LRT (light rail metro) to Penglai Pier-2. 

• Fo Guang Shan, is an attraction that combines travelling and a learning experience. This is a cultural site for travellers to learn and experience the Buddhist traditions, values and history while enjoying beautiful landscapes and architecture. Built in 1967, Fo Guang Shan is the biggest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan and was founded by Hsing Yun, a Chinese Buddhist monk.
  
  There are 3 main areas to visit at the site: 

• The Monastery: Here you will find the headquarters of a prominent Buddhist order, established by Master Hsing Yun and his disciples. The architecture of the buildings within the monastery complex is characteristic of the traditional Buddhist monastery. Fo Guang Shan covers an area of more than 30 hectares, which includes shrines, university buildings, and also a cemetery. The highlight of this place is the Great Buddha Land, which is home to a standing Buddha image of 48 metres in height, and 480 smaller Buddha images that surround it. The area is free to walk around and visit some of it's buildings. However note that this is an active Buddhist monastery and University so some places are closed to visitors. However, its allowed to take pictures as you walk around and can even see the monks in their traditional tunic clothes. 
• The Buddha Memorial Centre, is a 100 Hectare complex built to enshrine the Buddha’s tooth relic, now housed in the Main Hall. The Fo Guang Big Buddha, which sits atop the Fo Guang Building behind the Main Hall at 108 metres, is the landmark of the site. Within the complex, there are art galleries, an auditorium, a children gallery,  souvenir stores and restaurants. In addition, visitors can get to experience Tea Chan, sutra transcription, or join in festive celebrations at the Five Harmonies Pagoda. There are 8 Chinese style built Pagoda, each giving information or activities for visitors and those interested in Buddhist culture. In short, its a Buddhist Museum. Note that visiting the entire complex can take easily 2 hours. 
• Sutra Repository, it's the home of the Institute of Humanistic Buddhism and library of over 50 editions of Buddhist canons.The building is very beautiful to walk around, admire the wall murals and it's a good viewing platform over the Buddha Memorial Centre. 
  

✔️Tip: Fo Guang Shan can easily be reached by public transportation. You can hop on a direct bus at Zuoying Station (Red Line MRT). Once outside the station, wait at the bus stop and take bus number 8501. trip costs 35 NT, can be paid by the e-card. The return is also from the same bus stop.