After fully exploring Pier 2 and Cijin Island, I decided to spend my 2nd day in Kaohsiung seeing some of the major landmarks. Since I rented a bike for 24 hours, I biked 8 km from where I was staying at the pier to reach the famed Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. It was a little scary biking on the highway for the first time in Taiwan, but I managed to survive and catch some neat sights on the way there. The pagodas are surrounded by a lotus pond and are seven stories high, so visiting them is quite the experience. Once you climb all the stairs, you will get the perfect view of the Zuoying District of the city:
The symbolism of the dragon and tiger is a bit ambiguous, but they both represent a balance of power although they have contrasting characteristics. According to Shaozhi, in Chinese culture dragons are said to control water and have great strength, whereas tigers symbolize righteousness and harmony. I was amazed at how both entrances were designed to fit their appearances. Here is some footage I took from atop the Dragon Pagoda:
According to a sign outside, if you walk through the dragon’s mouth and walk out the tiger’s, it is said to bring good luck. So that’s exactly what I did! It still has yet to come, but it’s only the beginning of the year. Inside you will find illustrations of various Buddhist and Taoist characters:
Surrounding the pagodas are other temples and Buddhist statues that you can easily reach on foot. I didn’t stop to see them all, but you could easily spend a few hours in this district of the city seeing them all. People are very laid-back and friendly too.
Next, I biked to Formosa Boulevard Station so I could see its famous murals. From what I read online, it’s one of the most beautiful stations in Taiwan. It did not fall short of my expectations:
The Dome of Light within the station is the largest glass work in the world and was designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata. I was amazed by how beautiful it was! Various astrological figures are depicted in this glass (some human-like and some creature-like), as well as very intriguing patterns. To me it looks like a galaxy riddled with the mysteries of our origin:
Another amazing part of Kaohsiung City is its hyper-realistic dog ice cream:
I made a separate post on Aesthetic Food Finds in Taiwan, so please check it out if you are interested! This is my last article in my Taiwan series, but I will be writing a bonus article on the nightlife I experienced here.
From what I’ve experienced, most cities in Taiwan only require 2-3 days of time to see all the major sightseeing spots. I spent around 5 days total in Taipei doing day trips and other activities, but 2 days of full activity worked for me in all the other areas I visited. I hope that everyone can visit this beautiful country and have the same wonderful adventures that I did!