Kaohsiung Urban Area Public Transportation Network
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In terms of land transportation, Kaohsiung is already served by three national highways, with another to be added in 2017, allowing rapid transfer of cargo from the Port of Kaohsiung to all major cities in Taiwan. Kaohsiung is also served by the conventional railroad and the Taiwan High Speed Rail system, which intersect with the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit system at Zuoying Station. Whether heading south for fun in the sun at Kending in Pingtung County, or north to Taipei for business, the convenient land transportation network makes it possible to visit anywhere in western Taiwan and get back home on the same day.
The MRT system in the main urban area of Kaohsiung forms an X shape. The north-south Red Line stretches 28.3 kilometers, with 24 stations, while the east-west Orange Line is 14.4 kilometers long and has 14 stations. Trains run every six minutes on average and carry 124,000 people a day. Meanwhile the very punctual Ring 168 bus service links together the arms of the MRT system to form a comprehensive travel network. At present the Kaohsiung City Government is seeking private-sector partners to build and operate a circular Light Rail Transit system to replace the Ring 168 bus route.
From the MRT you can link to a dense network of 132 bus lines covering the city—including the #100, known as “the department-store shopper’s friend.” There are also public bicycle rental stations at MRT stations and major scenic spots, and you can rent a bike at one point and return it at another. The low-carbon and environmentally friendly Kaohsiung public transportation network will get you where you want to go—shopping, the office, home—quickly and without hindrances.
Waterborne transport is also an important part of Kaohsiung’s transit network, with ferries linking Cijin Island to the urban center running every four to six minutes on average. This form of transport is much used by residents for their daily commute, and is the best choice for weekend visitors to go to Cijin and experience island living. Finally, smooth and comfortable harbor cruise boats tour all around the harbor, giving visitors a chance to see firsthand the magnificence of a major international port and to get to know the different types of craft that ply Kaohsiung’s waters. Another highly distinctive feature of Kaohsiung is river transport. You can board a solar-powered boat and take a leisurely cruise past the banks of the Love River, one of Taiwan’s top ten attractions. This is considered the city’s greatest “must do” tourist activity. Or you could take a “Duck Tour” on one of the amphibious buses introduced in recent years, and enjoy the novel and entertaining experience of going directly from seeing the sights on land to cruising the waterways. |
| Data from: Urban Development Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government |
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