• Home
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • North & South America
  • Travel Your Way
    • Away with Photos
    • Away with Video
    • Away with Words
  • Travel Tips & Hacks
  • Travel Musings
    • Life
    • Travel Quotes
    • Travel Poetry
  • Contribute
Instagram
Away With Words | Travel Blog from Dubai to the World
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • North & South America
  • Travel Your Way
    • Away with Photos
    • Away with Video
    • Away with Words
  • Travel Tips & Hacks
  • Travel Musings
    • Life
    • Travel Quotes
    • Travel Poetry
  • Contribute
Home  >  Asia • Away with Words • Destinations  >  A Bullet Train to Taiwan’s Coastal Art District
AsiaAway with WordsDestinations

A Bullet Train to Taiwan’s Coastal Art District

Siobháin Spear September 9, 2019 Best things to do in Taiwan
Yellow train line plus grass and art work in Taiwan's coastal city of Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s largest port city and, until recently, that was all it was known for. Now, the country’s third largest city has transformed itself into an artsy, urban metropolis that gives you yet another reason to visit Southern Taiwan.

While in Macau, we met a Kiwi who insisted that Kaohsiung was worth exploring, so we hopped on a bullet train from Taipei one morning and went to check it out.

How to get to Kaohsiung from Taipei

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Taiwan has mastered the art of efficient public transport. The Taipei MRT is a great way to see the capital city, but if you want to explore more of the island nation, the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) is your answer.

  • Take the high-speed train (TSHR) from Taipei Main Station to Kaohsiung City.
  • The tickets cost approx 1450 Taiwanese Dollars, and the journey takes between 1.5 hours and 2 hours (depending on the train time).
  • Once you arrive in Kaohsiung, you can use the KMRT metro system to get around the coastal city.

Formosa Boulevard Station

The colorful art and ceiling of Formosa Boulevard train station

While using the KMRT (metro) to get around Kaohsiung, we stumbled upon Formosa Boulevard Station completely by accident. Only later did I learn that the Dome of Light, as it is known, is the largest glass work in the world. The Dome of Light was created by Italian glass artist Narcissus Quagliata; it’s not something you expect to experience in a metro station.

Kaohsiung Food

Taiwanese noodles in a bowl with chopsticks at Ban Jiushi restaurant in Kaohsiung

The first thing we did when we reached Khaosiung was grab a bite to eat. Ban Juishi, which is just a short walk from Formosa Boulevard in the Xingxing district, was our foodie stop of choice. The teahouse is known for its pan-fried milkfish, but I opted for a bowl of Taiwanese noodles, and they didn’t disappoint.

Pier-2 Art District

Red art feature and yellow train lines in Kaohsiung, the arty city of Taiwan

After lunch, we headed straight for Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Art District for the afternoon. It’s essentially a harbour area that has been transformed into an walking exhibition of street art and cool hangouts.

Warehouse transformations

  • Walkway through converted warehouses at Pier-2 Art District

Imagine 1970s warehouses that have been flipped into cafés, boutiques and trendy bars – that’s what you can expect to find at Pier-2 district. For a long time, the Pier 2 area of Kaohsiung was a graveyard for industrial warehouses, but it has now been revived into a cultural hive of colorful activity that will easily keep you occupied for an afternoon.

Streetcars through the city

Yellow train lines with grass going right through the city

There’s a tram line that runs right through Pier 2, transforming the old railway tracks into a light-rail line that takes you right through the heart of the creative district. We took the streetcar to Fisherman’s Wharf and Banana Pier to once we were finished in Pier-2 district.

Graffiti Art

Girl with umbrella next to graffiti train wall in Kaosiung, Taiwan/

Pier-2 District is alive with color-popping street art. The entire area oozes a revived vibrancy that draws in locals and tourists with eclectic art works that line the streets and give a funked-up feel to a previously abandoned area of the city. It’s worth taking the time to walk the alleyways and boulevards, but make sure you have an umbrella on-hand in case of unexpected downpours.

Craft Beers & Boutiques

Beer Talk menu and craft brew on a bar in Kaohsiung

Pier-2 District in Kaohsiung is full of hidden bars and boutiques. If you like craft beers then check out ‘Beer Talk’; it’s a modern brew house with an industrial interior that serves up more than enough variety to get you tipsy by mid-afternoon. We arrived just as the rain came, which gave as an excuse to stick around. This is just one of many hangouts that you’ll find hidden among the warehouses; you’ll also discover swings in the street and many other unexpected surprises.

There’t plenty more to do in the coastal city of Kaohsiung, but Pier-2 district and the neighboring areas are a good choice for those who are only spending there for a quick day-trip.


Sticking around Taiwan for a while? Check out the top things to do in Taipei. If city life isn’t your thing, take a trip to the neighbouring mountains of Maokong or hot spring of Beitou.

Previous Article 10 Things to do in Taipei
Next Article Oman: Nizwa Market in Photos

About Author

Siobháin Spear

Related Posts

  • The Qingshui Cliffs plunging into the blue and turqoise waters of the Pacific Ocean on Taiwan's East Coast

    East Coast Taiwan: Your Ultimate Guide to Taroko National Park

    December 11, 2019
  • The night light's of Ximending shopping district in Taipei

    10 Things to do in Taipei

    September 7, 2019
  • Blue and green water at the Thermal Valley in Beitou

    Chasing Hot Springs & Spas in Beitou

    September 6, 2019

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Recent Posts

  • Inside Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort
  • East Coast Taiwan: Your Ultimate Guide to Taroko National Park
  • 15 Things to Do in Hong Kong
  • How Not to Fail a 30-Day Challenge
  • Paris is…

Categories

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Away with Photos
  • Away with Words
  • Destinations
  • Europe
  • Life
  • Middle East
  • North & South America
  • Travel Musings
  • Travel Poetry
  • Travel Tips & Hacks
  • Travel Your Way

Travel Tags

Best things to do in Taiwan Dubai to Oman India Travel travel poetry Visit India

Fly Back in Time

  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • January 2019
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018

Subscribe to Away with Words!

Enter your email address to subscribe to the Away With Words travel community! You'll receive notifications of new posts by email.

Facebook Twitter Instagram

About Away With Words

Fusing a love for travel with a passion for storytelling, Away With Words was brought to life by Siobháin Spear in 2018. Siobháin is the Editor-in-Chief & Co-Founder of insydo, a regional lifestyle publisher; she is also a Co-Founder of Brand Ripplr, the region’s largest influencer platform.

Having met many talented globetrotters while clocking up her 56 countries, Siobháin opened up Away With Words to the digital nomads of the Middle East – those worldwide wanderers who take full advantage of living in one of the fastest-growing travel hubs on the map. Born out of a passion for exploring the globe and creating infectious content, Away With Words is a meeting of creative minds from across the World (Wide Web).

Expect a regional community of travel storytellers who venture away with words, photos and videos to bring you travel tales, itineraries and worldly reminders that will only ever inspire you to book your next plane ticket.

Away With Words is your online runway to the world! Get going.

Categories

  • Africa6
  • Asia14
  • Away with Photos6
  • Away with Words30
  • Destinations30
  • Europe5
  • Life3
  • Middle East3
  • North & South America3
  • Travel Musings10
  • Travel Poetry5
  • Travel Tips & Hacks2
  • Travel Your Way4

Archives

  • January 20201
  • December 20191
  • November 20191
  • October 20195
  • September 201916
  • August 20196
  • July 20191
  • June 20191
  • January 20191
  • September 20181
  • August 20185
  • July 20181
  • March 20181
  • January 20181
Away With Words | Travel Blog from Dubai to the World
© Copyright January 2018.