Travel Information

About Kaohsiung

Located in southwestern Taiwan, Kaohsiung is a city of a longish shape. It is cast in sunshine throughout a year and its weather is amiable. Mountains, oceans, rivers and ports make the city’s geology and culture highly diverse. Kaohsiung used to enjoy a thriving economy for its steel and petrochemical industries, but now it is gearing towards cultural tourism, touting its history, nature and hospitality. An oceanic tourist capital it is!

Free 4WCWS shuttle buses to KEC

Other ways to get to KEC

See here for other travel options to the venue.

Get to your hotel from Kaohsiung International Airport

Recommended conference hotels are all easily accessible from Kaohsiung International Airport by taxi or metro. If you are staying at the Howard Plaza Kaohsiung, a taxi will cost between NT$195-250 (US$6-8) and take about 20 minutes depending on the traffic. The metro will also take 20 minutes to get to Formosa Boulevard Station, which is another 10 minutes walk from the hotel, and cost NT$35 (US$1).

Taxis/Uber

Ask at your hotel or the KEC information counter to get a taxi. Kaohsiung also has Uber.

Restaurants

Here are some suggestions for nice restaurants around the Howard Plaza Hotel area:

Hotel Dua is an elegant restaurant that serves Cantonese dimsum, average meals are NT$800-1000 per person, it is 750m from the Howard Plaza (9-min walk). Groups can book a private room.
Smokey Joe's is a Tex-Mex restaurant, average meals are NT$600-700 per person, 850m (10-min walk) from the Howard Plaza. There are no private rooms, but the relaxed atmosphere makes it a good choice for a farewell meal with friends you made at 4WCWS.
Chef Teng (鄧師傅) is a popular local Taiwanese chain, specializing in marinated beef, fatty pork, and pig knuckles. The average meal is NT$300-500 per person. The second floor has seating for 26 people. 40m (5-min walk) from the Howard Plaza.

About Taiwan

Map

Area: 36,000 square kilometers / Population: 23 million

Map of Taiwan

Time Zone

Taiwan is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Electricity

Taiwan uses electric current of 110 volts at 60 cycles, appliances from Europe, Australia or South-East Asia will need an adaptor or transformer. Many buildings have sockets with 220 volts especially for the use of air conditioners.

Weather

Taiwan enjoys warm weather all year round. Weather conditions fluctuate during spring and winter, while in summer and autumn the weather is relatively stable. Taiwan is extremely suitable for traveling, as the annual average temperature is a comfortable 22 degrees Celsius with the lowest temperatures on the lowlands generally ranging from 12 to 17 degrees Celsius (54-63 Fahrenheit).

Currency

The Republic of China's unit of currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$), which has five denominations in paper money and five in coins.

Foreign currencies can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange unused NT dollars before departure.

Major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa, and Diners Club are accepted and traveler's checks may be cashed at foreign-exchange banks, some tourist-oriented businesses, and (by room guests) most international tourist hotels.

Tipping

l Service charge is customary charge 10% in hotel or restaurant.

l Tipping is not customary in Taipei

Tax / VAT

Foreign travelers, with the entry document, who make purchases of at least NT$2,000 on the same day from the same designated stores with the "Taiwan Tax Refund"-label are eligible to request the "Application Form for VAT Refund." To claim the refund, they must apply at the port of their departure from the R.O.C. within 90 days following the date of purchase, and they must take the purchased goods out of the country with them.

For more tax refund details.

VISA

F or visa application

Nationals from many countries are eligible for visa exemption or landing visa. Please see Bureau of Consular Affairs Website to check what visa you need to enter Taiwan.

Transpotation

Airlines

Kaohsiung International Airport, Taiwan’s second largest international airport, is the main airport in southern Taiwan with international links. Due to its location in Siaogang (Xiaogang) District, Kaohsiung, it was previously known as Siaogang (Xiaogang) Airport. The first floor houses the visitor information center, which provides information about sightseeing tours, a guide to airport facilities, flight inquiries, complaints processing, and emergency announcement services.

Kaohsiung International Airport

Taiwan High Speed Rail

Taipei Main Station / Taoyuan Airport→ Zuoying Station( Kaohsiung ) 90 mins

Taiwan High Speed Rail

Kaohsiung MRT

At this moment, Kaohsiung has two KRT lines, the red and the orange, as well as light-rail transits, which makes a convenient transport system for residents and visitors alike.

Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation

Tourist Taxi

In order to help tourists to make the most of their time in Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung City Government has specially planned a tourist taxi service, allowing visitors to enjoy service from dedicated taxis and even a high-quality local guided tour. By chatting to real Kaohsiungers, you will truly experience the real Kaohsiung. The list of legally-recognized tourist taxis licensed by Kaohsiung City Government ensures that you can enjoy visiting Kaohsiung with no worries.

City Center Ferry

Kaohsiung’s historic ferries offer visitors a rare experience.
Ferries have long been the main transportation method used by locals to get to and from Cijin; today a ferry ride has become of the distinctive experiences the city offers tourists. Ferries don’t just carry people to and from Cijin(Qijin), they also carry motor bikes and bicycles.

More travel information

Travel Service Centers

Tourist Service Center

Office Hours

Address

Tel

Kaohsiung Railway Station

10:00-19:00

No.318, Jianguo 2nd Rd., Sanmin Dist., Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

+886-7-2362710

THSR Zuoying Station

08:30-20:30

Exit 3, No.105, Gaotie Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

+886-7-8629110

Kaohsiung International Airport (Domestic Travel)

09:00-21:00

No.2, Zhongshan 4th Rd., Xiaogang Dist., Kaohsiung City , Taiwan (R.O.C.)

+886-7-8019206

Local Cuisine

Where are Kaohsiung's culinary characteristics? The many peoples which are dispersed among Kaohsiung, be they Hoklo, Hakka, or military families (military dependents' village) as well as indigenous, have given rise to Kaohsiung's varied, unique and charming culinary culture; delicacies from the mountains and sea and agricultural and fishery specialties are transformed into the best seasonal selection for sampling.

Attractions

Kaohsiung Port

Kaohsiung Port, located on the southern extremity of Kaohsiung City, spans six administrative districts. Its large hinterland and natural bay have made it Taiwan's largest port, and also the thirteenth-largest port in the world. Up to 116 wharfs are in operation at any time, and as Taiwan's most important shipping hub, it could be called the economic heart and symbol of Kaohsiung. Under the deft management of the Kaohsiung City Government, not only is its business flourishing, and not only has the facilities in the port been upgraded to the best available, its variety of sights has made it into a panorama of Kaohsiung's beautiful present.

The Pier-2 Art Center

Situated in the basin No. 3 of Kaohsiung Port, it has been made into a unique open art space, providing artists and students with an environment in which to express themselves, and has already become Kaohsiung's most popular cultural spot. All kinds of art activities are held irregularly in the District, bringing a rich artistic air to the port metropolis of Kaohsiung, and also bringing a new tide of southern art in Kaohsiung. The western railway line, which previously brought goods to the docks, has now become Kaohsiung's busiest cycling trail, and amazing works of art await discovery in the District's public spaces. Visitors can also go to the Hamasen Railway Cultural Park and witness how the passage of time has affected Kaohsiung's first railway station.

Sizihwan Bay

Sizihwan Bay is known for its beautiful sunset and natural reefs, and the area includes scenic spots like the Siziwan Beach, Seaside Park, and the former British Consulate at Takao. You can enjoy the view of the sea, or gaze over Kaohsiung Port. The inscription on the gate of the Shaochuan artillery position, currently classes as a third-grade national heritage site reads “Kaohsiung Town North Gate”. It was built at the same time as Cihou (Qihou) Fort, to cover different fields of fire. Today, the cannons are gone- only 3 gun emplacements remain for people of the future to wonder about.

Love River

Love River begins at Bagualiao in Kaohsiung City's Renwu District. It divides Kaohsiung City, into two. The Jianguo, Cisian and Jhongjheng Bridges connect the two sections and the river flows directly into the sea. Love River had originally been a shallow creek, which could only be crossed by ferry. During the Japanese Colonial era it was dredged into a canal and named The Kaohsiung River. This was the first time the river had been given an official name. It was formally referred to as The Kaohsiung Waterway or The Kaohsiung Canal. In 1948, Love River Boat Company was opened near the Jhongjheng Bridge. This gave people the opportunity to row up and down the river. This became a particularly popular past for local couples and therefore acquiring the name - Love River. Love River is a very distinct river in Kaohsiung. It was previously used for shipping, transportation and leisure.