KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN
SHARE THIS ARTICLE:Kaohsiung is the second largest city in Taiwan (next to Taipei) with eleven districts and is located on the Southwestern region. It is also known as the "Harbor Capital" of Taiwan.
As we arrived at the arrivals hall of Kaohsiung International airport, passengers soon claimed the remaining checked-in baggage from the conveyor, while we noticed this security dog randomly sniffing every suitcase. Anyway, there was nothing unusual about it except that I'm just accustomed with the sight of German shepherd dogs as one of the most widely-used breeds and regular patrols in airport terminals.
If you just so happen to be looking for money exchange counter, it is located in the Arrival Hall next to the customs x-ray machines.
Since Kaohsiung boasts of plethora of hotels, we decided to book a room at Kingship Hotel Kaohsiung and the famous Grand Hi-Lai Hotel during our stay. On this trip, we visited only some of the main attractions in the city such as the gorgeous Love River, Fo Guang Shan Monastery and Lotus Lake. We tried some good dishes at Liouhe Tourist night market, R9, Bite 2 Eat, in food courts and some no frills eatery. For shopping pleasure, we stumbled upon the Sinkujiang Shopping Circle, Muji boutique, Daiso Japan and Hanshin Department store. And as for vibrant night out we had a good time at Urban Spotlight Arcade and Happy Theme Park.
Somehow I like Kaohsiung because it's less crowded and the traffic is less congested than in Taipei. It's a compact city and everything is easily accessible. A subway train which is reliable and efficient provides the most convenient way for us to get around. While for most locals, motor scooters and motorcycles are the most common modes of transportation.
There's also plenty of quirky cute stuff from cars to food and to Hello Kitty extravaganza. I must say a real eye candy galore! Fantabulicious!
Kaohsiung may not be as big as Taipei but it still has plenty to offer for tourists and travelers. It's a well planned modern metropolis with wide avenues but managed to retain its age-old charm.
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