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Kaohsiung WOR D S JE RE MY T RE DINNIC K


Take in the cultural sights and waterside attractions of Taiwan’s atmospheric southern port city


1 THE DOME OF LIGHT


Your exploration of Kaohsiung’s scenic points of interest begins in one of the city’s main metro stations. Tis may sound bizarre, but inside Formosa Boulevard station, the transfer interchange for the Red and Orange lines, the main concourse is roofed by a 660 sqm dome constructed from 4,500 individual pieces of stained glass – one of the world’s largest public art installations of its kind. Supported by huge coloured


pillars, it was created by Italian-born US artist Narcissus Quagliata and took nearly four years to complete. A kaleidoscopic panorama that stretches like a vast umbrella over commuters’ heads, the dome presents four themes – Water: the womb of life; Earth: prosperity and growth; Light: the creative spirit; and Fire: destruction and rebirth – meant to bring a message of love and tolerance. At the least, it certainly brings a ray of colourful light into the lives of all of those who pass under it.


MAY/JUNE 20 2 1 2 LOTUS LAKE


Jump on the Red line heading north to Zuoying Metro station (R16). Either walk down Mingtan Road to the northern edge of Lotus Lake, or catch a bus to the southern end, where the lake’s best-known structures are located. Next to a shady park of ancient banyan trees stand the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas – a little gaudy perhaps, but entering the dragon’s mouth and exiting the tiger’s maw is said to bring luck, and proves great entertainment for children. Te man-made Lotus Lake


has been a popular destination since the Qing Dynasty, and on its western side are numerous pavilions and temples, such as the Spring and Autumn Pavilions, where ponds are filled with vibrant carp and long-necked turtles sun themselves on tiny stone bridges. Tere’s also a statue of the Goddess of Mercy riding a dragon within the complex – enter through the


dragon’s fanged mouth and negotiate the ups and downs of its snaking belly, which is painted with colourful scenes of legend. Other sites worth checking out


include the Chi-Ming-Tang temple, an astonishing sensory feast of gold and red, incense smoke, booming gongs and the rattle of much- used fortune sticks; and the huge, intimidating statue of Xuan Tian Shang-di, the Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven. eng.taiwan.net.tw


3 LOVE RIVER


A ten-minute taxi ride south (costing about NT$230/£6) will bring you to the last-mile stretch of Love River, which bisects the city and is its focal point. A decade ago it was a polluted and unsightly waterway but in the intervening years the river was cleaned up and the area underwent renovation and greening. Today it boasts riverside parks and promenades, broad, tree-lined thoroughfares


bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om


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