Kaohsiung is Taiwan's second-largest metropolitan city, with a population of approximately 2.77 million. Historically, it was centered on the steel, petrochemical, and port warehouse industries. Since the 2000s, the Kaohsiung City Government has promoted urban transformation, repurposing industrial heritage sites into cultural and creative spaces. The successful remediation of the Love River has become a benchmark case for urban renewal across Asia. This southern Taiwan port city has transformed from a heavy industrial base into a livable city and Asian arts hub, with tourist visits exceeding 8 million in 2024, making it Taiwan's second-largest tourist destination after Taipei.
The Pier-2 Art Center is Kaohsiung's most successful case of repurposing old warehouses. The complex is located beside the Sizihwan Tunnel in Yancheng District, originally converted from the warehouse complex of the Taiwan Salt Company. The first Kaohsiung Design Festival was held in 2006, and it officially opened to visitors. Currently, it is divided into three main areas: Dayong Warehouse Cluster, Penglai Warehouse Cluster, and the Bicycle Warehouse. Permanent exhibitions are free, while special themed exhibition tickets range from TWD 50-100, and outdoor art installations are open to visitors free of charge all day. The Pier-2 hosts a creative market every weekend, with over 80 local handmade craft vendors, making it the largest permanent cultural creative park in southern Taiwan.
The Dayong Warehouse Cluster focuses on visual arts and cross-disciplinary performances, while the Penglai Warehouse Cluster emphasizes digital technology and new media creations. The "Design Store" inside the park curates Taiwan's emerging design brands, with individual items priced from TWD 200-2000.
Featured merchants: The "in89 Pier-2 Cinema" inside The Pier-2 Art Center is Taiwan's first cinema to be located within a cultural creative park, specializing in artistic films; "Zheng Gang Youth" offers local cultural creative products, with design T-shirts starting at TWD 399; "MLD Taiwan Aluminum" is a lifestyle mall combining dining and reading, featuring Kaohsiung's only aquarium-view restaurant.
To learn more about the development history of Kaohsiung's cultural creative parks and the characteristics of each park, you can refer to the comprehensive urban transformation special reports and the Pier-2 surrounding merchant information.
Liuhe Night Market: Kaohsiung's Most Important Night Market—Seafood Porridge/Fried Eel Noodles/Papaya Milk代表的 Kaohsiung Signature Food Expenses (TWD 50-200)
Liuhe Night Market is located at the intersection of Zhongshan Road and Zili Road in Qianjin District, spanning approximately 400 meters. It is one of Kaohsiung's oldest tourist night markets. The market originated in the 1950s, initially serving as a public market for daily shopping by local residents.
…
