Cijing, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

travelasia

Nov 17

Written By Anne

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 Cijin Island. 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 Cijin 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 Cijin, 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 Cijin Beach, but it was too hot to stay long. I continued on to Cijin 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.