Kaohsiung

Fo Guang Shan Temple

Host to the New Year Festival of Light and Peace every Chinese New Year, Fo Guang Shan is Taiwan’s largest temple in which worship is given a modern twist. Within the temple, eight pagodas stand to symbolize the eight principle teachings of Buddha set forth in The Noble Eightfold Path, and a tall golden statue of Buddha stands at their center. Also housed in the temple is the Buddha Memorial Center, which is notable in how it embraces technology as a medium for religious education. Visitors may pray using touch screens to electronically transmit their messages to Buddha. This is an especially exciting, interactive way for younger children to be involved in the experience of touring the temple. When visiting Fo Guang Shan, it is important to remember that many locals come to the temple in serious religious observance, seeking peace and tranquility, so it is important to tour its spaces and grounds in a respectful manner without creating distractions.

Liuhe Night Market

One of the most popular markets in Taiwan and a hotbed for the nation’s burgeoning culinary culture of small bites and street foods, the Liuhe Night Market’s many vendors offer seafood, handicrafts, clothing, electronic gadgets, live animals, and much more. Local knowledge holds that the area originated when, in the 1950s, the Dagangpu part of Sinsing District was home to numerous food stalls that eventually developed into the modern, larger-scale Liuge Night Market. Local culinary favorites that the market has been known for since its early years include beef steak, papaya milk, and steamed salty shrimp, and many stalls also provide other forms of entertainment and games. The culture of street gaming, which is prevalent in Taiwan, can be seen in the form of both arcade-style games more typically found in train stations and the carnival-style game stalls that tempt crowds in the night markets with tests of strength and coordination.

Lotus Lake

This manmade body of water, which is named for the colorful flowers that adorn its surface, is also home to many other colorful temples and pagodas. Among some of the most notable are the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, the Spring and Autumn Pavilions, the Beiji Pavilion, and the Confucian Temple. The last of these has an interesting history behind it, with the modern temple having been rebuilt in the 1970s after the original, which dated to the Qing Dynasty, was damaged during war. A stroll or bike ride around Lotus Lake is an ideal way to experience the sunrise or sunset, as these structures reminiscent of China’s ancient palaces are especially striking and colorful when viewed at these times of day. The lake is also ringed with vendors selling food and drink during the daytime, and live music performances are often held at night.

Love River Evening Cruise

The Love River runs through urban Kaohsiang and is lined and marked by numerous colorful bridges, landmarks, and attractions. Travelers will find many opportunities to hire boatmen to take them on tranquil gondola rides down the river, and at no time of day is this experience more rewarding than in the evening light or after dark. The city’s many lights – and riverside attractions like the Kaohsiung Bridge and the Holy Rosary Cathedral – are especially dazzling at night. Cafes also line both sides of the river, allowing gondola riders to stop and enjoy a cocktail or meal before the return ride. Couples will be especially interested in an evening float on the aptly named Love River, as the cooler night air and sights of the city foster a romantic ambiance.

Pineapple Farm

The Dashu district ecological area is home to many relatively small, family-owned plots of agricultural land, and pineapples are an important crop for Taiwan’s economy. Many of these small pineapple plantations will allow visitors to enter and walk around the premises – an experience that anyone who appreciates fresh, locally sourced produce and agriculture will not want to pass up. When participating in one of these plantation tours, local farmers typically educate visitors on how to clear and fertilize the land ahead of planting, when to harvest, and how to eventually pluck the fruits. And of course, tour participants will have the chance to sample a fresh pineapple that has just been sliced open by one of the plantation workers.

The Dome of Light

One might not expect the world’s largest public stained glass installation to occupy a Subway station, but this work of art designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata does just that. This glass dome itself is divided into four sections: water, earth, light, and fire, and it takes the form of a yin-yang symbol with 4,500 separate panels. When visiting, travelers may want to time their visits around planned light shows that are put on by the Taiwanese metro system. These specific time slots typically last for five minutes and see numerous travelers stopping in their tracks to admire and shoot photos with their smartphones. There is an art shop located inside the station where visitors may learn even more about the installation and purchase memorabilia.

The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas

The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas number among the classically styled temples that surround Lotus Lake. Standing seven stories and designed with yellow walls, red pillars, orange tilework, and two fearsome likenesses of a dragon and a tiger protruding from their respective sides. The two structures are equally fascinating to behold from the outside as from within. Upon descending the towers’ spiral staircases, visitors will notice artworks displayed on the walls of the pagodas, such as paintings of 12 Magi and the Jade Emperor’s palaces in the Tiger Tower. Along with being a vibrant example of Chinese architecture, the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are representative of Kaohsiang’s culture of art, architecture, and Buddhism.