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Guide to Kaohsiung, China (Peoples Republic)
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Kaohsiung
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KaohsiungKaohsiung
Taiwan, possibly the most controversy-laden island in the China Sea, has, since it was settled, evolved into a massive visitor center for those with a desire for things Asian minus the unhealthy effects of the Chinese market boom. It's capital sits within its northern tip, likely an arrangement which keeps the most influential of society close to the "mainland." On the island's southern coast sits a city known as Kaohsiung (Once Dagou/Daghu), a less traveled but no less intriguing alternative to the popular metropolis of Taipei. Kaohsiung is similar to many Taiwanese cities in that it incorporates much of itself into the natural landscape - not vice versa. You can enjoy the common practice of an avenue stroll here, with nothing out of the ordinary to whisk your attention away from the life and activity present among the pavement and stone, but the prevalence of city parks is simply too great to ignore. Having debuted as a seaport in the late 19th century, Kaohsiung spent most of its existence as the largest commercial port on the island's southern sector; it's a rather normal assumption that for some time Kaohsiung may have surpassed its rival in the north in quantities and monies generated from the waterborne industry. Today, though it's pier is still very much open for business, the city is the home of a more balanced series of public and private divisions, thus enabling it the well-rounded imagery which has attracted so many in the last quarter of the past century, effects still seen at the start of the new millennium.
When to go:
About 1,000 miles south of the Tropic of Cancer, Kaohsiung is bathed in warm air for 3/4 of the year, throughout which a multitude of weather patterns emerge, some of which are indeed quite difficult to predict. If you're headed to Taiwan's southern coast in summer, you can all but guarantee yourself an uncomfortably hot stay; the region is more forgiving in the shoulder seasons, though heavy storms are more rampant, particularly at and around the New Year's commencement.
Getting there and around:
Most visitors to Kaohsiung are here for business, arriving in greater numbers by air than by sea, a trend begun roughly in synchronicity with China's nationwide migration to technological convenience. You still may have to stop by Taipei before making your way to Kaohsiung International if you're departing from a distant international location; a connection between the island's two major terminals often requires less than an hour's time. Journeying on the path Taipei "cleared" for the Taiwanese, Kaohsiung has equipped itself with a reputable public transportation system - one with few kinks, we might add. If the city's outskirts amuse you, a personal vehicle provides unbeatable and unrestrained access to nearby towns and villages. A rental is also time and cost effective.
Attractions:
The South China Sea is quite a spectacle if you've never experienced a tropical climate prior to your visit to Kaohsiung, but if you're capable of prying your eyes away from the trillions of gallons of saltwater for a bit, a natural land ornament known as the Banping Mountain might also prove to be a sight worth a few snapshots. Sites within Kaohsiung's limits, such as Longevity Hill Park, Zuoying Lotus Pond, Seawater Outdoor Bathing in Xizi Bay, are also great vacationer delights.
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