Kaohsiung

Sitting atop a hill, the red brick building offers beautiful views over the Kaohsiung harbor and the sea. While a nice structure representative of the era in which it was built, it is now thought to have been the official residence of the British Consul, and not the consulate proper.

This fort is built by the Qing dynasty to protect the harbor. It underwent renovation during 2018 and re-opened to the public in 2022. A small and quiet place to enjoy views of the sea and Cijin lighthouse. Nearby is the Former British Consulate, which sits right in front of the bus stop. From here, you can descend to the observatory deck of Sizihwan beach.

Turned into a museum in 2010, this was Kaohsiung's first railway station. There are exhibition rooms, a railway document archive and a platform and track area.

The museum hosts a permanent collection and temporary exhibits, mainly of paintings and sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Also known as Chaishan (柴山), this mountain sits at the westernmost point of Gushan, and boasts scenic view of the sea, the city, or both, depending on your location. It is full of macaque monkeys that is very sneaky and cheeky, so make sure to keep your food and drinks away. As a side note, try not to store them in plastic bags because the sound of plastic bags reminds them of food. There are hiking trails across the mountains, and plenty of rest stations. There is a small hillside village overlooking the sea, with plenty of cafes to choose from.

A curved beach south of Shoushan, developed as a tourist attraction since Japanese colonial times. You can get beautiful views of Shoushan and the red-brick university buildings that perched right next to it. The beach comes with a parking space for bikes, scooters and cars (parking fees apply per use), and on the other side of the carpark is a concrete barrier that has become a ledge for people to sit down and enjoy views of Cijin, over snacks and beers with friends. Best visited during sunset because of its location, when tourists, locals and nearby university students come to wind down. During non-winter days, you can see people windsurfing, partly because the university offer such courses and has a club for it. Alternatively, there is an observation deck just outside of the university entrance, complete with benches, and a busking performance if you're lucky.

The centre occupies several warehouses that were artfully converted into exhibition space and cafes. Many contemporary art exhibitions are held there, as well as occasional live music events. It is on the bicycle path that borders the harbor front.

A public artwork in the concourse area of Formosa Boulevard station. Created by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata, it is the world's largest stained glass installation. The dome is divided into four sections: water, earth, light and fire. It also takes the form of a yin and yang symbol. An audio guide (available in several languages) can be borrowed from the KRTC Art Shop inside the station. It costs NT$30 and gives a half-hour narration of the key features of the artwork. Don't miss the audiovisual show at 11:00, 15:00 or 20:00.

The park has a small hedge maze in the middle, a pond with some bridges and fish, clay tennis courts, and "Urban Spotlight," a café with a stage to display local talent.

A large mall that is a bit out of the way, but worth it to visit the Hello Kitty Ferris Wheel on the roof.

The overall exhibition area of the museum spans over an area of 3 hectares, which consists of various collections of artifacts, archives, weapons and airplanes.

The 2nd mosque to be built in Taiwan.

An enormous science museum, one of Asia's largest. It can easily keep kids entertained for a day.

One of Taiwan's largest and most impressive Buddhist monasteries, founded in 1967. Arrive early (09:00) before the hordes of tourists.

This former warehouse district has been converted into a series of contemporary art galleries. As these are commercial galleries and not museums, admission tends to be free. Between the warehouses there are numerous outdoor sculptures. The district is near Fishermen's Wharf, which can serve as a great place to grab a meal after a day looking at art.

This tourist area features a number of restaurants with live performers and seaside seating. There is also a free exhibit within Banana Pier about Taiwan's banana industry.

Panoramic flying attraction in Kaohsiung Software Technology Park. The ride brings you an amazing soaring experience across the Kaohsiung skyline with immersive 4D effect.

At the end of Chinese New Year, near the Kaohsiung harbour and along the Love River, the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival is filled with a variety traditional lanterns and more modern light sculptures, nightly fireworks shows, Taiwanese food stands and other art programs and live concerts.

Located at the corner of Central Park, Urban Spotlight is a cafe with a stage where local live bands perform in the evening. Take a walk around Central Park then stop at the cafe to cool off.

Food, games, and shopping. Try the Liuho Night Market, which is a tourist market. Ruifeng night market, at the corner of YuCheng and Nanping, heaves with locals. Closed Mondays and Wednesdays.