| The Love River, which wanders through the city of Kaohsiung, carries the memories of many Kaohsiung residents as they grow.
To people in their 50s or 60s, the river was the best place for lovers to go for a walk or row in the years when people were rather conservative about romantic relationship. For people in their 30s and 40s, the river symbolizes the prosperity of Yencheng District and underground shopping arcade. And for the Y-generation, a greater part of their memories is about the annual dragon-boat race and lantern festival. Today, the lights glow at nightfall on Chihsien Bridge, Chungcheng Bridge, and Wufu Bridge, attracting many couples back to the Love River.
Presently, Kaohsiung City Government is working to improve the landscape alongside the riverbank. Water resource and vegetation is the main focus of the stretch from Chungcheng Bridge to Kaohsiung Bridge. Perpendicular embankments will be replaced by gentle slopes or terracing bank revetment to bring visitors closer to the river.
A total of 30 fountains will be set in the vicinity of Jenai Park and Kaohsiung District Court, which use filtered water from the river to carve out a new urban image. The fountains can reach a height of 25~30 meters and colorful lights will be added when night falls.
Across Taiwan, only people in Kaohsiung call the major river of their city the Love River. The river is well-known not only in Kaohsiung, but also all over the island. It is a romantic logo of Kaoshiung as a new destination for people to resettle themselves. The river passes the city's seven prosperous districts, and a small part of Kaohsiung County: Jenwu Township , Niaosung Township, and Fengshan City. Although it is not a long river, it bears a close bond with Kaohsiung residents. It is unique in that it started out as a canal and thus became a chief waterway. Today, it has taken on a different role as Kaohsiung 's major drainage system.
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