Kaohsiung cycling routes offer more than just Cijin and Love River. As Taiwan's heavy industry capital, this city hides many corners forgotten by time—weathered door plates of old military villages, the working lives of fishermen in coastal towns, and the wild natural beauty beneath the old railway bridge in Kaoping. Stepping away from the typical tourist paths, these routes get closer to the daily life of Kaohsiung residents and let you feel the city's true warmth.
This route is especially suitable for travelers who have already explored downtown Kaohsiung and want to discover deeper stories. No professional cycling gear is needed—a regular women's bike or YouBike can easily handle it. It is recommended to plan two days and one night, starting from the city center and heading south, rediscovering this port city at a leisurely pace.
Zuoying: Time Capsule of Military Village Life
Rent a YouBike from the Zuoying High Speed Rail Station, ride along Linhua Road toward Lotus Pond for about fifteen minutes, and you'll arrive at the "Zuoying Military Village Preservation Area." This is not a touristy military village cultural and creative park, but a real historical site. Three generations of old residents still live here, and faint slogans like "Confidentiality and Espionage Prevention, Everyone's Responsibility" can still be seen on the walls. The corner grocery store sells mainland-style noodles and local herbal tea.
The best time to visit is between 6 AM and 8 AM, when the military village mothers hang blankets to dry and chat at the alleyways. You can hear everyday conversations mixed with Sichuan-accented Mandarin and Minnanyu. "Liu's Knife-Shaved Noodles" is highly recommended—the owner is the third generation inheriting the handcraft technique, and the beef noodles at NT$130 are worth every penny. Heading north, you can also see the "Navy Mingde New Village," one of the most completely preserved officer quarters in all of Taiwan. If you're lucky, you might catch old residents offering voluntary guided tours.
Gangshan: Lamb and Air Force Culture
Heading south from Zuoying along Provincial Highway 17 for about forty minutes, you'll arrive in Gangshan. This city is famous for "Gangshan lamb," but most people don't know it was once an important air force base.
The "Aviation Education Exhibition Hall" in the city center offers free admission and displays actual IDF Ching-Kuo fighters, F-5E fighter jets, and other aircraft. The aircraft bunker building itself is a sturdy structure left from the Japanese colonial era. Volunteer guides are available at scheduled times, and it is recommended to book the morning session to avoid tour groups.
After the exhibition, walk three minutes to "Gangshan Old Street"—no tourist packaging here, only authentic local businesses. "Yunli Syrup Shop" offers old-fashioned shaved ice with generous portions, where you can stuff yourself for under NT$50. The mango and taro combo is recommended. After 4 PM, fish vendors on the old street start calling out their catches, filling the air with local life.
Accommodation is recommended at "Gangshan Grand Hotel," double rooms at NT$1200-1800, convenient location for continuing south the next day.
Qieding and Yong'an: Ecology and Human Touch of the Coastline
On the third morning, continue south along Provincial Highway 17 for about thirty minutes to reach Qieding District. There are no well-developed bike lanes here, but this raw feeling makes the journey more adventurous.
"Qieding Coast" is a secret sunset spot, with more locals than tourists. You can often see old fishermen mending nets on the beach, or grandparents bringing grandchildren to play in the sand. When the weather is good, looking west you can see the outline of the coastal mountains—a view that often makes me stop my bike to watch longer. There are several nameless seafood restaurants nearby, where you order by what's displayed in the freezer—budget about NT$200-400 per person, and the freshness of ingredients beats any seafood restaurant.
Continuing south for about fifteen minutes brings you to "Yong'an Wetland." This is one of the habitats for the Black-faced Spoonbill, with the best bird-watching season from October to March. The wetland has observation pavilions where you can see migratory birds without professional equipment. The walkway along the salt field canals is flat and comfortable for cycling. Most residents here make a living from aquaculture—you can often smell the fish ponds and see piles of oyster shells along the road.
Practical Information
For transportation, it is recommended to take the high-speed rail to Zuoying Station, where the YouBike station is right outside. The entire route is about forty kilometers, and splitting it over three days won't be too exhausting. YouBike stations are dense along the way, but it is recommended to fully charge in Gangshan before continuing south, as there are fewer stations around Qieding.
The main cost is the rental fee—YouBike is NT$10 for the first 30 minutes, then NT$20 for each additional 30 minutes. If you want to rent an e-bike, "Kaohsiung Cycling Strategy Alliance" has multiple partner shops, with daily rentals around NT$400-600 including a helmet.
The best season is October to March the following year, when the weather is cool and it's migratory bird season. In summer, it is hot, so it is recommended to start early in the morning or evening and bring plenty of water. There is no shade on coastal sections, so sun protection is essential.
This route is not suitable for travelers seeking "Instagram-worthy" photo ops. However, if you want to know the real Kaohsiung—one with industry, military villages, ocean, and life—this direction will reward you with much more.
