Kaohsiung.
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Overview

Kaohsiung (; Ko-hiông in Taiwanese, Gāoxióng in Mandarin), with 2.73 million inhabitants in October 2023, is the third most populated city in Taiwan after New Taipei and Taichung. It is located in the south of the island on the west coast. Kaohsiung is known for its harbor, although more for commercial than tourism reasons.

Understand

Kaohsiung has got Taiwan's largest port. Although the ranking has declined, Kaohsiung is still the world's 14th largest cargo-container seaport as of 2018. The city has high concentrations of heavy industry, including steel production, shipbuilding, and other exports that have led to Kaohsiung's relatively high levels of air pollution (though the situation has improved substantially). Unlike Taipei, Kaohsiung is a planned city with wide streets and slightly less traffic congestion than the capital. The city has made great strides in transforming itself from a primarily industrial city into a modern Asian metropolis, and several areas of the city, such as along the banks of the Love River (Ai He, ), have benefited from major beautification projects under the tenure of former mayor Frank Hsieh. The city is often known as Taiwan's Harbor Capital because of its close connection and heavy reliance on the ocean and maritime transportation.

Kaohsiung began in the 17th century as a small fishing village named "Takao" , derived from the local aboriginal name meaning "bamboo forest". The name was changed to "" (meaning: "high hero") by the Japanese in 1895, also pronounced "Takao" in Japanese, as they found the original name of ("beating the dog") to be vulgar. After the island was incorporated into the Republic of China following World War II, the Nationalist government kept the Chinese characters but adopted their Mandarin pronunciation of Gāoxióng.

Like the rest of southern Taiwan, Kaohsiung is a stronghold of the Taiwan independence movement.

Tipping is not customary here. Excellent service is the norm, and service charges are often already included in the bill.

Orientation Many visitors coming from the north will arrive by high-speed train at the Zuoying High Speed Train Station, which is far to the north of the city. The city center around the Central Train Station and the Formosa Boulevard Subway Station can be accessed via the MRT's red line.

Another common point of entry is the Kaohsiung International Airport, which is comparatively close to the city. The airport is on the MRT's red line, and the central area of town is a 20 minutes MRT ride away. There is a tourist information office on the ground floor of the international terminal.

Kaohsiung enjoys a mild tropical climate, comparatively milder and drier than northern Taiwan. The weather however remains hot and sticky in the summer, with June, July and August seeing the most rainfall. Still, the proximity of the city to the sea makes the summer heat much more bearable than in other cities at a similar latitude.

Talk

Mandarin is the lingua franca of Taiwan, so most locals in Kaohsiung speak it. However, like the rest of southern Taiwan, Kaohsiung is part of the traditional Taiwanese-speaking heartland, and you will encounter Taiwanese here more often than in Taipei. If you do not understand Mandarin or Taiwanese, it is worth learning at least the basics of either of them, and to recognize at least some common traditional Chinese characters, as most signage in Taiwan, save for public transport signage, road signage, house number signs, etc., do not have a transcription in Latin script.

Some elderly people and people working in the tourism industry may speak Japanese, but it is not widely spoken among the general population.

English is compulsory in schools, and younger locals may speak basic conversational English. Bus and taxi drivers usually do not speak English, so make sure you have your destination written in Chinese to show the taxi driver, or pronounce the destinations in Mandarin correctly. Other European languages are not widespread.

Get in

Kaohsiung International Airport. International flights from Asia arrive daily. The airport is on the red Metro (MRT) Line and is also easily accessible by scooter, car or taxi. Kaohsiung is also well-served by domestic flights from Taiwan's outlying islands. However, the popularity of Taiwan High Speed Rail has resulted in the cancellation of all flights to other cities on the island except once daily service to Hualien.

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport – 40 km west of Taipei, but connected to the country's High Speed Rail (HSR) network. Although Kaohsiung has an international airport, its service is more limited compared to Taoyuan. Taoyuan Airport serves Taipei and the north of Taiwan. It may be a better option to arrive there and use the HSR to Zuoying station in Kaohsiung (2 hr).

Traveling by train is a viable option for getting to Kaohsiung, as the fastest high speed trains from Taipei cover the distance in just 1½ hr on the Taiwan High Speed Rail line (THSR). There are 3 types of tickets: Business Reserved, General Reserved, and Non-Reserved. Reserved are approx.

The stations and platforms are wheelchair-friendly and all trains include a wheelchair-accessible car (wider doors, ample space, accessible bathroom).

The MRT Red Line now extends to Kaohsiung Main Station (#R11) and the HSR Station (#R16) and beyond (see system map). Kaohsiung is also served by the Taiwan Railway Administration's Western Line and Pingtung Line. The city is roughly 4 to 5 hours away from Taipei by normal express train.

By bus Buses run the length of the island, with stops in major towns. They feature fully reclining seats, baggage transportation and, on most, video game consoles or televisions for each seat.

Most major bus companies have their office and stops close to the train station. They are located on the same road as the train station, about half a block down the street.

By boat Because Kaohsiung is also a harbor, transportation by boat will bring you directly into the city.

Get around

A great way of getting around is to use the cheap city bicycles – see below.

On foot As the sidewalks double as scooter parking areas, caution and awareness are a must when walking through unfamiliar areas off of main streets. Generally, it is best to walk between the scooter parking row and store fronts, rather than between parked scooters and the road. Pedestrians should be especially aware when crossing a road as cars and motorbikes often run red lights. Exploring Kaohsiung on foot is highly recommended, as many of the distances between sites of interest are not far.

Kaohsiung Metro operates both the MRT and LRT. For the MRT, the Red Line runs from north to south, offering a handy route from the THSR Zuoying station and the airport into the downtown core, while Orange Line runs across the city from the Port of Kaohsiung in the west to the eastern suburb of Daliao, with Formosa Boulevard Station acting as an interchange between the two. The Metro Line is very clean and offers a convenient way to quickly move within the city. However, as the metro is rather young the network is yet not very dense and often you have to walk a few minutes to the next station. Operation of the MRT stops at about 23:30 for the orange line and as late as 00:30 for the red line. Ask at the information desk to be sure.

Feeder buses are available to bridge network gaps and provide better access to the metro lines. The MRT stations are all well connected to the city bus lines for further transfers. Stations and trains are wheelchair-friendly, but note that when there are multiple exits from a single station, usually only one of these is equipped with a lift.

Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail (marked by a green line) connects 38 LRT stations across the city in a loop, running through tourist hotspots, shopping districts as well as residential areas. It runs both clockwise and anti-clockwise, and it is based on the ground, so sometimes it will stop for traffic. To use the LRT system, simply tap your card on the scanner installed outside the station or inside the train. When getting off the train, you need to tap the card again.

The K-MRT's ticket gates accept iPass, EasyCard, contactless MasterCard debit and credit cards, UnionPay credit cards, and QR codes from LINE Pay (if you set up your LINE Pay account outside Taiwan, make sure to set the QR code screen to Taiwan to generate a code valid for local use). An ongoing promotion means that MasterCard cardholders get 30% off weekend rides when paying with any contactless MasterCard. There are two separate contactless readers: the lower one is for iPass and EasyCard and the new upper one is for bank cards.

Students enjoy discounted rides on all Kaohsiung Metro lines (MRT & LRT), therefore, if you're studying in Taiwan or are an exchange student, using your student card (which doubles as an EasyCard) automatically gives you a discount.

By taxi Taxis can be an easy way to get to somewhere unfamiliar, and are fairly common in the city. If you have the business card of a location, or the Chinese characters written down, they can easily get you there far faster than most other means.

Few taxi drivers speak English, and the majority ignore many rules of the road. Do not be surprised if they drive the wrong way, up a hill, through heavy traffic, although this behavior of cab drivers is more rare nowadays in the cities at least.

Do not be surprised if they open the door and spit what looks like blood. In actuality, the taxi driver is chewing betel nut (binlang). This commercially available product is a mild stimulant and is used by many taxi drivers.

Bikes are also common in Kaohsiung, and the large number of locally produced bikes (often rebranded and sold overseas) means purchasing a new bike will often be cheaper relative to its counterpart in other countries (primarily Europe and America).

As Kaohsiung is predominantly flat, a great way to see the city is by bike. There are many bicycle paths across the city, most of which are clearly marked. The city government's website has recommended paths for visitors, together with maps: Sightseeing in Kaohsiung. Riding along the Love River north towards the Art Museum area offers a pleasant ride and some scenery of the old Kaohsiung that is fast disappearing. Pleasant bike routes can also be found around National Sun Yet-Sen University and on the coastal side of Shoushan mountain, but expect a few hills to climb. It is best to avoid this place on the weekends when hordes of young Kaohsiung couples head to the mountain for some romantic sunset views of the city and ocean at one of the countless coffee shops. Cijin Island also offers some nice riding around the streets at the northern end of the island. However, it is not yet legally possible to bicycle to and from Cijin as the underwater Kaohsiung Harbor Tunnel to and from Cianjhen District is officially closed to bicycles around the clock, even during late nights when ferries stop running.

By scooter Scooters are the primary means of transportation within Kaohsiung. With a dedicated two-wheel vehicle lane on most major roads, and with frequent and varied scooter shops around town, renting or purchasing a scooter is very easy; however, see the Taiwan article for legal issues including licenses.

Scooters come in several engine sizes from below 50cc to more than 250cc. Most common are the 4-stroke 100 and 125cc models, which are also suitable to explore the surroundings of the city. The larger scooters, 150cc and more, often include a greater subset of amenities for a second passenger, including a backrest, wider seat, full windshield and footholds and can rival a motorcycle overall size, weight and fuel consumption. Often, they come with larger wheels as well.

All passengers on a scooter must wear helmets by law. A helmet with visor is strongly suggested.

Legal issues Scooters with an engine size of 50cc require a light motorcycle license to drive, and should be insured and registered in the owner's name. If you have a Taiwanese automobile driver's license or a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) you do not need an additional license for these small scooters. Motorcycles with an engine displacement of 51–250cc require a heavy motorcycle driving license. However, foreigners often drive scooters up to 250cc with no license, insurance or registration. Due to a loophole in Taiwanese law, scooters registered to foreigners who have left the country cannot be bought by Taiwanese citizens because the registration cannot change hands, legally. An underground market in "foreigner scooters" allows visitors to purchase scooters without insurance or registration.

City police are often more lenient on foreigners. Short of being towed for parking in a red zone (a stripe of red paint on the edge of a sidewalk or road), foreigners are usually waved through stops, or, at best, ticketed. If the scooter is not registered to you however, it's hard to say what exactly happens when the ticket is sent out. Often the best idea is to speak a language other than English or Chinese, play dumb and hope the officer will get flustered and let you go - that is, if you're the type who likes to break laws in foreign countries.

Rentals are available in various locations across town, but obtaining a license within the city can be a problem. It is recommended you call ahead if you have an IDP, to ensure it will allow you to drive. In addition, license laws in Taiwan fluctuate from year to year for foreigners. You must have an Alien Residence Card for more than a year to take the license examination (2006).

Parking is scarce, but available. The city recognizes this problem, and attempts to make the city more car-friendly by building parking garages and painting designated parking spaces alongside streets. However, for travel within the city itself, or only locally, it is recommended you get a scooter.

An inexpensive ferry service connects various areas of Kaohsiung City, including Taiwan's nearest island, Xiao Liuqiu - Little Ryukyu - which is a coral island located just south of Kaohsiung and is reachable by ferry from Dong Gang , which is only a 15-minute scooter or taxi ride from Kaohsiung International Airport.

Kaohsiung has a well-developed bus network, with services generally running frequently.

If you want to get to Cijin District:

Take bus No. 1 at the Kaohsiung Train Station or take bus No. 31 at the Zhuo Iing Bus Station to the Ferry Pier. Take bus No. 35 at the Ciang Zhen Bus Station to Cijin Peninsula. Take Bus No. 12 at the Kaohsiung International Airport to Shiaugang and take Bus No. 14 to ChiangZhen Ferry Station.

Or, you may take a ferry: Gushan ferry terminal (from which one can take the ferry to Cijin island) is an easy 10 min walk from Hamasen MRT station (you may have to ask for directions though as the route is not that straightforward, but signboards are pretty clear nowadays)

See

The Cijin District (; Qijin) is a slender island in front of Kaohsiung which serves as a natural breakwater for the harbor. The district is filled with seafood restaurants selling freshly caught seafood which can be prepared right after you pick it. If you have only a brief period in Kaohsiung, skip Cijin. If you have more than a day, you will find the island to be a pleasant and relaxing place to take a break. Most of the major sites can be seen within two hours. Cijin is connected to the rest of Kaohsiung City by tunnels, but the transportation of choice is one of the many ferries that traverse the harbor. Bikes and scooters can be brought aboard, but the fee is higher with a scooter (no extra fee for bicycles). Make sure you use Gushan ferry pier and not the one in front of Warehouse No. 2, as that one is less frequently served and is only for pedestrians. The ferries are wheelchair accessible.

Upon exiting the ferry, turn right and head for the lighthouse and the fort, which are on a hill with great views of the city, the harbor, and the ocean. From there, continue south towards the beach (maybe visit the Star Tunnel) until you get to the plaza with a fountain. Here you can decide: either go into the street that goes back to the ferry and has about two blocks of snack stands, as well as some good seafood restaurants. Or (especially if you rent a bike, either from Youbike or a rental from a shop in Lisyong Street next to Hamasen station), there is a nice coastal path that goes south along the beach through Cijin Coast Park.

Chihou Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built by English technicians during the rule of the Ching Dynasty (1883). In 1916, the Japanese remodeled it into Baroque style and painted it white. This renovation was made as part of the expansion of Dagao port. The lighthouse has played a crucial role in guiding ships since 1918 during night sailing.

Chihou Fort. Chihou Fort is a battery which was designed by an English engineer. It was after the Ching (Qing) government took over Taiwan that the fort became a military base. The fort stationed a naval commander and one hundred soldiers. The battery was also armored with four British-made Armstrong breechloaders weighing 6.5 tons each. The fort was occupied by the Japanese army in 1895. Subsequently, the cannons in the fort were dismantled and melted. Meanwhile, the battery was abandoned. In 1988, Kaohsiung city government started to restore the battery and it was completed in 1992.

Cijin Coast Park. The Cijin Seaside Park is a long area of picturesque terrain along the west coast of Cijin Island. Take a leisurely stroll or cycle past intriguing architectural designs with a constant view of the Taiwan Strait. The park incorporates a long path for walking and cycling as well as an ecological area and Cijin Beach.

TianHou Temple. Chihou area is the area in Kaohsiung where many fishermen live. This temple was built about three hundreds years ago and dedicated to the Goddess of Sailors, Matzu. People believe that Matzu can protect every fisherman who is going to sea. The temple is crafted with charming yet authentic folk art. TianHou temple is also regarded as the oldest temple in Kaohsiung.

Lotus Lake. Take a walk or bike around Lotus Lake. The lake is surrounded by temples, some of which have built out onto the lake. Of note are the Dragon-Tiger Pavilion and Spring Autumn Pavilion, as well as Taiwan's largest Confucius temple. During the day the lake is surrounded with stalls selling food, drinks and trinkets. Across the street from the Dragon-Tiger Pavilion is a Taiwanese puppet shop that's worth checking out. Just south of the lake is one of the restored gates of the Old Wall of Fongshan, built in 1826. A few blocks down on Shengli Road is the North Gate, the best-preserved of the three. On the other side of the gate is a new park and the Military Dependents' Museum, which features many vintage Taiwanese household items.

Pei Chi Pavilion. This large statue of Beiji sits on Lotus Lake. The plank connecting the statue to the shore is lined with a series of beautiful sculptures of animals. The statue is hollow and contains a temple within. Although relatively modern, this statue is colorful, colossal, and well worth a visit.

Spring & Autumn Pavilions. This Taoist temple complex contains a large dragon that you can enter. The inside of the dragon is beautifully painted with murals. Once you are done sightseeing within the dragon, you can exit out its opposite end. The nearby Dragon-Tiger Pavilion is also worth seeing, and features two pagodas you can visit as well.

The area to the west of the Love River (; pinyin: Ài Hé) includes the Gushan and Yancheng districts.

The British Consulate. 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.

Syongjhen North Gate. 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.

The Takao Railway Museum. 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 Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. The museum hosts a permanent collection and temporary exhibits, mainly of paintings and sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Shoushan. Also known as Chaishan , 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.

Sihzihwan Beach. 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.

While all attractions are within Gushan, the Museum of Fine Arts is located at the Northern end of the district. All other attractions are better visited together with the Yancheng district.

Yancheng, once a largely sodden, marshy land, was drained in imperial times for salt production. It became part of the modern harbor front. Many of the warehouses there, long abandoned, have been renovated and refurbished as part of the Pier-2 Art Center.

The Pier-2 Art Center. 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.

Sinle Street . Located in the heart of Yancheng, it is a street formerly lined up with jewelry shops, but now it is best known for its milk tea outlets. Locals call this street the 'Milk Tea Street' . See the Drinks section for more detail.

The Dome of Light. 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. Don't miss the audiovisual show at 11:00, 15:00 or 20:00.

Central Park. 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.

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

Republic of China Air Force Museum. 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.

Kaohsiung Mosque. The 2nd mosque to be built in Taiwan.

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

Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and Memorial Building. One of Taiwan's largest and most impressive Buddhist monasteries, founded in 1967. Arrive early (09:00) before the hordes of tourists.

Do

Pier 2 Art Center. 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.

Fishermen's Wharf / Banana Pier. 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.

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

Kaohsiung Lantern Festival. 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.

Urban Spotlight. 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.

Night Markets. 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.

Take a nighttime stroll along the promenade of the Love River and enjoy the live music, a coffee or an ice cream in one of the cafes. Go to the top of the 85 Tower, the second tallest building in Taiwan.

Work

For foreigners, work in Kaohsiung usually falls into two branches. The majority of employment involves English as a Second Language (ESL) work in buxibans (, cram schools), kindergartens and schools (public, private or university). Most of the others are businessmen and women in the employ of multinational corporations here to manage, oversee or deploy production in Taiwan for their home company abroad.

Substitute work is easily available for native English speakers and can be obtained through internet groups such as Taiwan Teaching Jobs or through local postings in expatriate hangouts. More permanent teaching work is also available, especially in the summer and around Chinese New Year. Most buxibans require teachers to sign a 1-year contract and provide a work permit and ARC (Alien Residence Card). ARC holders are also covered under national health insurance. Without the proper paperwork - including a 4-year university degree - you cannot get an ARC and will need to leave the country every 2–4 months to renew your visa. It is also highly illegal for foreigner to work as teachers in kindergartens few provide work permits.

Buy

Hello Market. A big, old-fashioned outdoor market selling all manner of food, plus clothing and household goods. See the fish flopping out of their bins and frogs trying to escape from their bags.

Eat

It is a great idea to go in a small group and order a few dishes to try, probably one more dish than the number of people in your group. In the evening, a night bazaar goes into full swing. There are lots of little eats to eat as per Taiwan's night markets, BBQ squid, mochi to name a few are particularly good.

Flavor of the Sea Seafood Restaurant.

Night markets are a great place to pick up cheap local foods, including stinky tofu, barbecued squid, red bean pancakes and the like.

Liouhe Night Market. The most popular and touristy night market, full of Japanese and Korean tourists. Lots of seafood, some local dishes but more stuff for tourists, from Turkish doner to "Thai" banana pancakes. Don't expect the food to be particularly good—the practice seems to be to display a tank of live prawns to prove how fresh they are, all the while sticking frozen ones on the grill. Open pretty much every day after 17:00/18:00. It's fun if you've never experienced a Taiwanese night market before, but in the end it's basically a tourist trap. For real local eats, turn right at the western end of the market and head north up Zili Road .

A more local, food-oriented night market is Rueifong Night Market , straight outside exit 1 of MRT Kaohsiung Arena. It is open Tuesday and Thursday to Sunday, but if you are uncomfortable in crowds you should avoid the weekends. A similar night market is near MRT Da-Dong.

The food is typically fried, with a mix of vegetables and meats.

The ubiquitous 7-Eleven stores have tea eggs, hot dogs, packaged beverages and junk food. Lunchbox style microwavables are also available, including dumplings, spaghetti and curry rice.

Jiu Pin Xiang Vegetarian. A chain of small vegetarian buffet restaurants with a delicious variety of mock meats, tofu, and vegetables. Tell the cashier if you want rice.

Michino Diner. Serves popular breakfast and brunch. You can choose between burgers, sandwiches, salads, omelettes and real American breakfast and brunch.

Sushi Express. Sushi train with good variety including healthy vegetarian options.

Smokey Joes. The menu is in English and the staff usually understands some English as well. This includes Mama Mia's, an Italian restaurant located downtown.

The Pantheon. Serves traditional Greek and Mediterranean food at good prices.

Cosplay Cafe. Offers a cosplay themed restaurant. 161, ChangMing St, SanMin District.

Escape 41. Great views at sunset. Serves western food.

There is also a Ruth's Chris, an Outback and several steak houses in town.

Drink

Two local beer companies, Tsingtao and Taiwan Beer, are ubiquitous throughout the island and can be purchased by visitors cheaply with little hassle about age restrictions. Most major soft drinks are available, and tea stands on almost every corner offer concoctions of fruit, yogurt, green tea, the Taiwanese specialty "bubble tea," and a variety of other flavors.

While tap water is most certainly not potable, good reverse osmosis filtration will remove bacteria and heavy metals, and is considered safe for consumption. Water dispensers, which resemble gas stations, are present throughout the city. However, they, along with many of the bottled water brands, are suspect. Both have been found, in the past, to simply bottle or distribute tap water. To avoid ingesting non-potable water, only purchase bottles that are sealed with an expiration date clearly printed on the bottle. Often, it is easier to simply purchase green tea at a stand or a convenience store, or a soft drink. Restaurant water is safe, with the exception of some lunchbox eateries and stands on the street.

2 Coins Bar. 2 Coins Bar is a small bar down the street from the Lees Hotel. The bar owner is quite nice, but doesn't speak English. Good music and decent prices are standard for this relaxing bar.

Milk Tea Sinle Street is known for its milk tea outlets. Most of them are located in the eastern portion. As with restaurants in the Yancheng district, competition is fierce, as such shops that stood around for a long time tend to be already well-known.

Shuang Fei Milk Tea. This outlet specializes in milk tea, and is a favorite shop for tourists to Kaohsiung. They have an English menu.

Ou-jia Yin-pin. Located on the intersection, it is the first shop you see if you come out from Yanchengpu MRT Station Exit #2. They specialize in lotus tea, lotus milk tea, and milk tea made with lotus boba. Menu in Chinese only, but the owner is friendly and helpful, and will let you try out his drinks.

Jiu-jiu Tea Shop. Milk tea shop specializes in white fungus flavored-drinks. Menu available in Chinese and English.

Tianchi Donggua Tea. A traditional Taiwanese-style tea shop, specializing in winter melon (, donggua) tea. Menu in Chinese only.

Hua-da Milk Tea. Another famous milk tea shop which has operated for over 40 years. Since then it has expanded into a franchise with outlets all across Taiwan, but the Sinle Street shop remains its HQ. Menu available in Chinese, English, and Japanese. You can try out their signature milk tea, Pu-er milk tea, or Oolong milk tea.

Sleep

Backpacker 41 Hostel. Pretty and clean hostel with large beds and a kitchen.

Takaobay Hostel. Newly furnished with a very friendly and helpful proprietor. Close to the Pier-2 Art Center.

Trip GG Hostel. Friendly hostel with a kitchen, a lounge with a view, curtains on the bunks for privacy, an outlet beside each bunk, lockers big enough for a regular-sized backpack, decent Wi-Fi, and a free, simple breakfast. Free towel rental.

Hotel Holiday Garden. Clean and modern tourist guest house. Around 4-star service and rooms. Staff speak English and are very forthcoming in helping you in anyway. All rooms have free high speed WLAN-connections. Taxi drivers recognize the hotel by the Chinese hotel name "". Close to Love River and behind hotel there is an orange-line K-MRT station.

Venus Hotel. (website is in Traditional Chinese). Clean and affordable hotel near the city center and shopping centers (Far Eastern 21 shopping mall, night markets) and minutes from KMRT stations (between R8 and R9 stations)right across the street from Brickyard. The hotel offers free internet and the front staff speaks enough English to get you what you need or to get you where you need to go.

The Lees Hotel Kaohsiung. The staff can all speak English and they are extremely helpful in every way. The hotel is well maintained and in a nice district.

Jòhō Hotel. A stylish hotel with a restaurant, lounge and gym, free Wi-Fi.