A beautiful southern city in Taiwan

Facing Taiwan Strait on the west and Barshi Channel on the south, Kaohsiung is a beautiful and modern metropolis located in southern Taiwan as well as the second largest city of this island. Looking down form an airplane, one will see the abundant landscapes of Kaohsiung. the lush Chai Mountain and Banping Mountain, the clear and serene Lotus Pond, and Love River flowing across the city. This subtropical city boasts its brilliant sunshine and gentle breeze from the passionate sea. Sitting between Cijin Island and downtown, Port of Kaohsiung is the world-class port in Taiwan as well as hub for international trade. The ceaseless ships and containers from around the world represenr the energy and vitality of the business in Kaoshiung. Kaohsiung, a city of glamour, not only has unique features of mountain, sea, river and port, but alse possesses a rich culture and beautiful cityscape. The city sincerely welcoms your visit.

• Population: Approx. 2770000
• Area: Approx. 2947.6159 km^2
• Population density: 941 people / km^2
• Climate: Tropical Monsoon climate
• The average month temperatur: 25.1 ºC
• The average annual rainfall: 2549.4 mm
• C0-ordinate: 120º10'29" ~ 121º02'55" East longitude and 22º28'32" ~ 23º28"17" N latitude

Climate and Demographics

Kaohsiung city is located in the southwestern part of the island of Taiwan. The city, which lies almost entirely south of the Tropic of Cancer, has tropical monsoon climate, dry in the winter, hot and wet in the summer and autumn. Because Kaohsiung is next to the Taiwan Strait, climatic changes are not dramatic, thanks to the moderating effect of the ocean. Temperatures are generally lowest in January and Feburary, with averages ranging from 19.9 to 21.5ºC, and hottest from June to August, with averages of 28.3 to 29.5 ºC. The average tmeperature for the whole of 2010 was 25.1ºC. For 11 months out of every year the average temperature exceeds 20ºC.  The lowest temperature in January of 2011 in low-elevation area of Kaohsiung was 10.9ºC, which is exceptionally cold for the area. Kaohsiung city gets more sunshine than any other place in Taiwan, with an annual average of nearly 200 hours per month. Due to the effects of the southwest monsoon, the rainy season is concentrated in the period drom May to September. From Octover though March, because the northeast monsoon is blocked by mountains, there is a dry season that lasts six months. There are typhoons each year in summer and sutumn. According to Central Weather Bureau statistics, an average of three to four typhoons hit brought heavy rains, but with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in recent years, precipitations exceeding 500 millimeters in a single day have been recorded. For example, during both Typhoon Morakot in 2009 and Typhoon Fanapi in 2010, Kaohsiung city experienced record-breaking rainfall.

Transportation Map

In terms of land transportation, Kaohsiung is already served by three national highways, with another to be added in 2017, allowing rapid transfer of cargo from the Port of Kaohsiung to all major cities in Taiwan. Kaohsiung is also served by the conventional railroad and the Taiwan High Speed Rail system, which intersect with the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit system at Zuoying Station. Whether heading south for fun in the sun at Kending in Pingtung County, or north to Taipei for business, the convenient land transportation network makes it possible to visit anywhere in western Taiwan and get back home on the same day.

The MRT system in the main urban area of Kaohsiung forms an X shape. The north-south Red Line stretches 28.3 kilometers, with 24 stations, while the east-west Orange Line is 14.4 kilometers long and has 14 stations. Trains run every six minutes on average and carry 124,000 people a day. Meanwhile the very punctual Ring 168 bus service links together the arms of the MRT system to form a comprehensive travel network. At present the Kaohsiung City Government is seeking private-sector partners to build and operate a circularLight Rail Transit system to replace the Ring 168 bus route.

From the MRT you can link to a dense network of 132 bus lines covering the city—including the #100, known as “the department-store shopper’s friend.” There are also public bicycle rental stations at MRT stations and major scenic spots, and you can rent a bike at one point and return it at another. The low-carbon and environmentally friendly Kaohsiung public transportation network will get you where you want to go—shopping, the office, home—quickly and without hindrances.

Waterborne transport is also an important part of Kaohsiung’s transit network, with ferries linking Cijin Island to the urban center running every four to six minutes on average. This form of transport is much used by residents for their daily commute, and is the best choice for weekend visitors to go to Cijin and experience island living. Finally, smooth and comfortable harbor cruise boats tour all around the harbor, giving visitors a chance to see firsthand the magnificence of a major international port and to get to know the different types of craft that ply Kaohsiung’s waters. Another highly distinctive feature of Kaohsiung is river transport. You can board a solar-powered boat and take a leisurely cruise past the banks of the Love River, one of Taiwan’s top ten attractions. This is considered the city’s greatest “must do” tourist activity. Or you could take a “Duck Tour” on one of the amphibious buses introduced in recent years, and enjoy the novel and entertaining experience of going directly from seeing the sights on land to cruising the waterways.

Date source: Urban Development Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government
For more information about Kaohsiung, please visit the website of Kaohsiung City Government
Pictures credits of Kaohsiung City Government website