Taiwan’s largest port city, Kaohsiung, is gradually gaining popularity among tourists. But time seems to move more slowly here, especially if it’s your second stop after coming from the busy capital of Taipei. I picked a hotel in Pier 2, where the neighborhood felt eerily quiet. It was only on day 2 of my solo Kaohsiung trip that I started to settle in, accepting that slow travel would be my trip’s vibe—and it was all thanks to Pier 2 Art Center.

Located in basin no. 3 of Kaohsiung Port, this area was once a bustling harbor that dwindled when the global shipping industry shifted. In the mid-2000s, artists stepped in to transform the abandoned warehouses into exhibition halls and dilapidated concrete walls into murals. Art installations started popping up, while businesses such as cafés, bookstores, and bars started setting up shop in the area. Slowly, this harbor transformed into Pier 2 Art Center, Kaohsiung’s vibrant cultural spot.

You may book the Kaohsiung Day Tour that makes a pit stop at Pier 2, but if, like me, you love taking your sweet time and getting wonderfully lost, then allot a whole day walking around and discovering spots as you go along.

For those who like to plan ahead, here are things you can see and do in Pier 2 Art Center:

Find your favorite art installation

There’s an abundance of murals and art installations in the Pier 2 main section, where Google Maps pins the location. The popular ones that you’ve probably seen on social media include a replica of Bumblebee, a huge mural of Kaohsiung Train Station, and an installation of red shipping containers that locals call Red Container Art.

But wherever you walk around in Pier 2, you’ll find a lot of art—from in-your-face giant installations to more subtle floor tile art. Note that the art may be removed, painted over, or replaced by the artists at any time, so don’t expect to run into everything you spotted online.
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Shop at Eslite Bookstore

One of the largest retail bookstore chains in Taiwan, Eslite has several stores, each with its own look and personality. The one in Pier 2 Art Center is housed in a once-abandoned warehouse. You can’t miss it along Dayong Road as there’s a giant slinky-inspired installation at the entrance. There’s also a hidden Starbucks inside, and the in89 Cinemax and inBooks next door. Eslite Bookstore shares the Eslite Spectrum Pier 2 space with other souvenir shops, toy stores, and boutiques.

Get a ticket to the Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway

Train enthusiasts will love this museum that showcases the history of Hamasen (the urban area of Kaohsiung) and the century-long development of Taiwan’s railway civilization. A ticket (via Klook or in person for NT$150) grants you access to the interactive exhibits and the popular HO scale (1:87) railway scenes, tracks, and train models.

There’s a miniature electric train ride that circles around the museum. Kiddie train tickets are sold separately at NT$150 for adults and NT$100 for kids under 12. Come during weekdays so that it’s not crowded.

Klook.com

Explore Hamasen Railway Cultural Park

A short walk from the museum is this railroad corner that will make you feel like you’re part of a time-traveling adventure. Also called the Railway Art District, it’s an open-air display of locomotives and carriages, showcasing Taiwan’s railway history. You’ll find plenty of interactive art installations begging to be Instagrammed. See if you can go up to the Sky Balcony for a panoramic view of the railway lines.

Hop on the Kaohsiung Light Rail

Though it’s operated by the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation, the Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail (green loop) moves at a much slower speed. This street-level tram system is the perfect glimpse into the slow life of Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 as it runs on existing city streets, sharing space with cars and requiring traffic lights for safety. The locals find the slowness frustrating, but for tourists, it’s a scenic way to get from one historical spot to another.

In Pier 2, you can catch the LRT stops in C10 Glory Pier, C11 Love Pier, C12 Dayi Pier-2, C13 Penglai Pier-2, and C14 Hamasen.

Cross the rotating Harbor Bridge

Taiwan’s iconic Great Harbor Bridge, also known as Dagang Bridge, is a rotating bridge or swing bridge connecting Pier-2 Art Center to Penglai Commercial Harbor. It’s the longest swing bridge in Asia and Taiwan’s first. The bridge resembles a yacht and serves as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge with an observation deck at its center.

The bridge rotates 90 degrees daily at 3pm and on weekends/holidays at 7pm. The rotation takes about 30 minutes, and nobody is allowed to cross during that time. The rotating bridge was originally intended to allow ships to cross, but these days the rotation is mostly a tourist attraction.

Eat and shop at Penglai Commercial Harbor

After crossing the Great Harbor Bridge, you’ll find yourself in a commercial area full of shops, restaurants, and cafés—albeit pricier than average. The place comes alive at night with music and bars. I particularly enjoyed shopping and snacking at the Kaohsiung Port Depot.

Eat and shop at KW2

Kaohsiung Port Warehouse #2, also known as KW2, was my sweet refuge after hours of walking around. This large air-conditioned warehouse on Penglai Road houses many outlet shops, boutiques, dining options, and souvenir shops, including a branch of Yoyogi Peanuts, where I happily browsed through racks of Snoopy merch.

This was where I came across the hip and minimalist KW2 Hostel, which I regret not booking. KW2 Hostel, designed by Muji Renovation, has a private room with a harbor view and is directly connected to the cute shops. I had already booked a stay in the Legend Hotel Pier 2, which looks better in photos and has seen better days, so I don’t highly recommend it. I wish I had stayed in KW2 Hostel.

KW2 Hostel’s minimalist look by Muji

Go warehouse-hopping

The decades-old warehouses of Pier 2 are full of cafés, restaurants, ice cream shops, bars, art galleries and studios, music venues, and boutiques—each with its own distinct indie vibe. Popular ones include Dayi Warehouse and Live Warehouse. I won’t recommend any particular bar, café, or restaurant, because I feel it’s best you just walk around and go where the energy suits your vibe—or as I like to do, eat where I end up hungry.

Rent a bicycle

As I learned the hard way, the bus schedules and stops in Kaohsiung are often inaccurate, so an alternative is to rent a bike. Try YouBike. Using an electronic managerial system, YouBike lets you rent one bike in one place and return it in another. Download the app and use the map to find YouBike stations all over Kaohsiung. Use your EasyCard to pay.

Shop for wooden souvenirs at Wooderful Life

If you haven’t seen other branches of Wonderful Life in Taipei, then don’t skip their flagship store at Pier 2. They use non-toxic and eco-friendly wood materials from a sustainable forest to create their unique wooden toys, home decor, and souvenirs.

In Wooderful Life, you’ll feel like a kid entering Santa’s toy workshop. Once you rotate the knob of one of the magical music boxes, you’re hooked! Sign up for a crafts workshop if you’d like to take your wood experience a notch higher.

Go on a food trip at Pier 2 Night Market

Also known as Yanchengpu Night Market, the Pier 2 Night Market operates only on Saturdays. Located on Jianguo 4th Road, this small market offers a diverse variety of food stalls. For other days, you can always go to Kaohsiung’s bigger and more popular night markets—Liuhe and Ruifeng.

Take the ferry to Cijin Island

Also known as Qijini Island, Cijin is a popular nearby destination, just a 10-minute ferry ride from the KW2 Ferry Station. The ferry is also called a sea bus, and if you’re lucky, you’ll catch the ones painted with colorful marine characters. The short cruise gives you a sea view of Chai Mountain, Qihou Mountain, and, at times, large ships entering the port. Sea bus tickets range from NT$40-80.

Cijin Island is known for its black sand beaches, seafood restaurants, and art installations. I’ve heard mixed reviews about this place, and was talked out of it by the expats I met during my trip. But it’s worth a try, even just for the scenic sea bus ride.

Kaohsiung Music Center

At the east end of Pier 2 is this architecturally pleasing music complex that opened in 2021. It’s a hub for music performances, exhibitions, and events. When there are no events to catch, just admiring the landmark’s modern design from the outside while strolling along the waterfront plaza—especially at night when the neon LED lights go up—makes a great pit stop.

@replikate Slow travel in Pier 2 Art Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. KateWasHere.com Klook discount code: REPLIKATEKLOOK #KateWasHere #Kaohsiung ♬ original sound – Kate Was Here

If you’re visiting Kaohsiung for the first time, a whole day or two in Pier 2 Art Center is a worthwhile itinerary. It’s a refreshing change from the louder, busier cities of Taiwan.