1 Day Kaohsiung City Tour - Lotus Lake, Pier-2 Art Center & Cijin Island​

Today, you will explore Kaohsiung, the third largest city & the largest port city in Taiwan. Enjoy your time at Lotus Lake, Pier-2 Art Center, and Cijin Island from Cijin Old Street to Cijin Mazu Temple & Cijin Beach.

In the morning, head to Lotus Lake (Lianchitan), one of the must-visit spots in Kaohsiung. Every summer, lotus flowers bloom, filling the air with a delightful fragrance, hence the name Lotus Pond. It is not only a great place to admire lotus flowers but also a destination for experiencing Eastern religious culture due to its pavilions, giant statues, and surrounding city walls. When you visit Lotus Lake, you cannot miss the iconic "Dragon and Tiger Pagodas" by its shores. This pagoda was recommended by CNN, making it one of Kaohsiung's most traditional religious scenic areas.

Built in 1976, the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas stand at seven stories tall and are connected to the Nine-Turn Bridge, reflecting on the lake's surface to create a picturesque scene. It's said that there's a tradition when visiting the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas - you should enter through the dragon's mouth and exit through the tiger's mouth, which brings good luck and wards off evil. The pagoda's interior walls are adorned with exquisite ceramic artwork depicting moral stories, crafted by renowned artists. Additionally, along the shores of Lotus Lake, there are many temples and attractions like the Spring and Autumn Pavilion and the Beiji Xuantian Shangdi Temple. It is a popular spot for locals to stroll, cycle, and relax by the lake.

After that, pay a visit to the Pier-2 Art Center, a must-visit "urban memory container" in Kaohsiung. Located at the junction where Love River meets Kaohsiung Harbor, adjacent to the city landmark Great Harbor Bridge, its predecessor was the Kaohsiung Harbor warehouses built in 1973, which once stored fish meal and sugar. With industrial transformation, the old warehouses fell silent and idle until 2000, when, by chance of a fireworks display, they were transformed into a paradise for artists.

Named "Pier-2" for its location at Kaohsiung Harbor's second pier, the district is now divided into three major warehouse groups: Dayong, Penglai, and Dayi. It integrates exhibitions, music, design, and railway culture, interconnected by a waterside light rail, creating a vibrant artistic space.

Take your time to explore giant Transformers, sculptures symbolizing industry and fishing, oversized suitcases, and container blocks. Railway enthusiasts can also encounter surprises: trains occasionally pass on the tracks, the Hamaxing Pier-2 Miniature Train, Taiwan Railway Museum, Banana Train (Kaohsiung produces bananas), and other distinctive experiences allow you to relive the transport memories of the port. If you visit on weekends, the handcrafted jewelry and design brand booths at the cultural and creative market will allow you to bring back this unique local culture.

Then, transfer to Kaohsiung’s Cijin Old Street of Cijin Island by Cijin Ferry.

Cijin Old Street is located on Cijin Peninsula, the earliest port in Kaohsiung, which was once primarily centered around fishing. Later, due to the construction of Kaohsiung Port, Cijin became an outlying island. As a must-visit tourist spot in Kaohsiung, Cijin Old Street, adjacent to the Cijin Ferry Terminal, is renowned for its fresh seafood and traditional snacks. Here, you can savor grilled squid, swordfish fried cakes, pork soup, oyster omelets, peanut coriander ice cream rolls, sweet potato cakes, pig blood cake, 50 Lan milk tea, and more. The street is lined with traditional old shops and unique vendors, exuding a nostalgic atmosphere.

Near Cijin Old Street, you can find Cijin Mazu Temple (Kaohsiung's first Mazu temple; Since 1673) for Mazu culture and Minnan architecture, or stroll on Cijin Beach for its black sands and sea view, perfect for experiencing the fishing village charm and harbor allure of the port of Kaohsiung!

After the food tour in Cijin Old Street, go back to your hotel in Kaohsiung.

Optional: (Self-pay; Double-check the route & time with your guide; Ferry+Taxi back to Hotel in Kaohsiung on your own):
Hike to Kaohsiung Lighthouse (Cijin Cihou Lighthouse) for Sunset: If time permits, you can quickly hike to the white lighthouse on Mount Cihou (Since 1883; 1 km one way), catching a glimpse of the colorful houses of Gushan Fishing Port nearby, Kaohsiung Harbor, and the landmarks of Kaohsiung City (85 Building) in the distance. It is a favorite spot for locals to take wedding photos, enjoy coffee, and watch the sunset. Here, you'll understand why Cijin Peninsula is known as the "Little Jeju Island."

Free Time Ideas:
1.Love River Night Boat (The Love Boat; Self-pay): Enjoy a romantic boat trip on the Love River, the mother river of Kaohsiung, for the landmarks of Kaohsiung, such as Kaohsiung Music Center (junction between Love River & Kaohsiung Port) & Great Harbor Bridge (longest cross-port rotating bridge in Asia; next to the Pier-2 Art Center).
2.Taiwan Food Tour in Kaohsiung Night Markets: Explore Ruifeng Night Market (瑞丰夜市; More Local; Closed on Mondays & Wednesday) or Liuhe Night Market (六合夜市; Opened Daily) for local food. Double-check with locals for the opening date & time.

It is time to end your Kaohsiung Day Tour. Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel (AOT) for your Asia Tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to Asia. Safe journey!

Extension Ideas:
1.You can extend your Taiwan Tour to other cities in Taiwan, such as Taipei, Nantou, Chiayi, Taitung, Tainan, Taichung, Hualien, Kenting, etc. We can customize your itinerary.