Lotus Pond and Dragon and Tiger Pagodas
Lakeside area with temples and colourful pagodas shaped like a dragon and a tiger. Visitors traditionally enter through the dragon's mouth for luck.
Kaohsiung
In the south, this port city offers harbour views, night markets, the Lotus Pond pagodas and the Pier-2 Art Center.
Attractive locations
Pier-2 Art Center
Old harbour warehouses turned into an arts district, with sculptures, galleries, shops and cafés. Bicycles and a small railway add to its relaxed feel.
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
Large Buddhist complex with a giant seated Buddha, pagodas, gardens and museum halls, about an hour from the city centre. Visitors should dress modestly.
Sizihwan Scenic Area
Bay at the western edge of the city beside the university, with a small beach, old buildings and sea views. It is popular at sunset.
Cihou Fort
Old coastal fort built in the 19th century on a hill at the harbour mouth. Its stone walls, gun positions and views of the port make a short visit.
85 Sky Tower
A tall skyscraper in downtown Kaohsiung with an observation deck near the top. Views stretch across the harbour, Cijin Island and, on clear days, out to the Taiwan Strait.
Cijin Island
A narrow island across the harbour from downtown, reached by a short ferry ride. Visitors come for a seafront strip of seafood stalls, a lighthouse, a beach and bike rides.
Airports
Kaohsiung International Airport KHH
It is about 7 km in a straight line from Kaohsiung.
Tainan International Airport / Tainan Air Base TNN
It is about 38 km in a straight line from Kaohsiung.
Taitung Airport TTT
It is about 84 km in a straight line from Kaohsiung.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan21.3 °C29 mm
- Feb21.9 °C24 mm
- Mar23.1 °C36 mm
- Apr25.2 °C56 mm
- May27.3 °C173 mm
- Jun28.6 °C298 mm
- Jul29.2 °C263 mm
- Aug29.0 °C402 mm
- Sep28.5 °C212 mm
- Oct27.0 °C66 mm
- Nov25.3 °C47 mm
- Dec22.6 °C33 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 110. Fire and ambulance 119. Tourist information hotline 0800-011-765 (English).
local government
National Police Agency (110 emergency line)
Helps with: Taiwan's national police. Call 110 if you need emergency help, see something suspicious or have a matter that needs police handling. The page does not say whether English is offered.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Taiwan, including visitors, who needs police help.
Phone: 110
Address: No.7, Sec. 1, Jhongsiao E. Rd., Jhongjheng District, Taipei City 100009
local government
Tourism Administration travel information hotline
Helps with: Taiwan's tourism authority (Tourism Bureau) toll-free travel information hotline, listed by the Taipei City Government as running 24 hours. It is for visitors needing travel information.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Taiwan who needs travel information or help.
Phone: 0800-011-765
local government
Tourism Administration traveler complaints hotline
Helps with: Toll-free hotline of Taiwan's tourism authority (Tourism Bureau) for travellers to make complaints, as listed by the Taipei City Government.
Who qualifies: Travellers in Taiwan who have a complaint about a tourism service.
Phone: 0800-211-734
local government
National Immigration Agency - Foreigners in Taiwan Hotline
Helps with: Taiwan's immigration agency hotline for foreigners, dialled as 1990 inside Taiwan or +886-800-001990 from overseas. It covers help and information for people from other countries living in or visiting Taiwan.
Who qualifies: Foreign nationals in Taiwan. The page does not list its hours or languages.
Phone: 1990