Qijin - Kaohsiung, Taiwan
I overestimated how well I could handle heat. I had planned to go hiking, but the moment I stepped out of my air-conditioned hotel, I changed my mind. The forecast predicted over 33°C, and by 9 a.m., it was already a scorching 27°C. For some reason, I chose to walk across town instead of taking the train to the ferry terminal for Qijin Island (旗津). The streets had little shade, and by the time I arrived, I was already overheated.
The terminal was crowded and uncomfortable, but ferries came often, so I didn’t wait long. The ferry to Qijin only took five minutes, but the view of Kaohsiung was stunning. Once there, I cooled off at a nearby 7-11, bought another sports drink, and took a short break.
I then explored the old streets of Qijin, which were lined with food stalls and restaurants offering dishes I hadn’t tried before. It was hard to choose, but I settled on a squid skewer and a fish cake—both delicious.
Next, I hiked up to the Kaohsiung Lighthouse for a beautiful panoramic view. From there, I followed a trail to Cihou Fort, built in the 19th century to guard the harbor. Most shaded spots were already taken—either by people or stray dogs.
After admiring the fort, I headed to Qijin Beach, but it was too hot to stay long. I continued on to Qijin Tunnel, a former military site from the Japanese colonial era that's now a scenic walkway. With the heat wearing me down, I made my way back to the ferry and then took the train back to the hotel this time—no more walking.
Route Overview
Distance: 13.8 km (Formosa Boulevard Station → Hamasen Station)
Total elevation gain: 75 m
Duration: 3 hr 11 min (with breaks 4 hr 1 min)
Difficulty: Easy
Cost Breakdown
Ferry: Gushan Ferry Pier → Qijin Ferry (RT) — NT$60
Food: NT$244
