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Pier-2 Artwork Heart (駁二藝術特區) is my private favourite of the various issues to do in Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s largest port metropolis.
The middle options a number of assortment of deserted transport warehouses on the Kaohsiung Port, close to the doorway to the port and reverse the northern finish of Qijin Island. A lot of the present warehouses date to the Nineteen Seventies.
After being deserted, they had been transformed to an arts district in 2006. Since then, the district retains getting bigger and extra superior yearly. Pier-2 is however one among 122 piers in Kaohsiung Port, however since increasing, the world we now name “Pier 2” really encompasses piers 1 by means of 10.
As we speak, the warehouses home a whole bunch of retailers, cafes, artist studios, music venues, bars, and extra. The realm has a number of the finest avenue artwork not simply in Kaohsiung however all of Taiwan.
The addition of the Kaohsiung Mild Rail in 2015, which runs alongside the waterfront, and the attractive Kaohsiung Music Heart in 2021, have solely added to the revitalization efforts.
There’s rather a lot to see and do at Pier 2, so it may be exhausting to even know the place to start. I’ve written this information to introduce the assorted sections of Pier 2 and the neighboring piers, which positively deserve at the least half a day in your Kaohsiung itinerary (as does Cijin Island close by!) The pier is very atmospheric at evening.
For extra genera data about your go to, see my information to Kaohsiung metropolis.
Attending to Pier 2 & The place to Keep
In the event you’re coming from Zuoying Excessive Velocity Rail Station or wherever in central Kaohsiung, hop on the KMRT and get off at Yanchengpu station, from the place it’s a 5-minute stroll to Pier 2. (Word: you may get discounted HSR tickets right here on Klook – discover out the way to e book and use the tickets right here).
The Kaohsiung Mild Rail (LRT) will get you even nearer, because it runs proper alongside Pier 2. Dayi Pier 2 Station is on the japanese finish, whereas Penglai Pier 2 Station is on the western finish. Nonetheless, the LRT is slightly gradual, so it solely is sensible to trip it when you’re coming from someplace close to an LRT station.
Watch out for LRTs cruising by means of Pier 2, as there’s no barricade. Crossing the barricade at a non-designated spot can lead to an enormous wonderful.
It’s also possible to hire a scooter right here in Kaohsiung.
In the event you’d like to remain within the space, see my information to the finest accommodations in Kaohsiung, together with an entire part for Yangcheng district and Pier 2.
Pier 2 Artwork Heart: Predominant Part
The part labeled “Pier 2 Arts Heart” on GoogleMaps is the unique core of Pier 2. It’s roughly midway between Penglai Pier 2 station and Dayi Pier 2 stations on the LRT. The warehouses listed below are numbered C1-5.
Among the finest murals and artwork installations will be seen on the major part of Pier 2 (Associated: for nice avenue artwork in Taipei, see my information to Ximending!)
These artworks embrace a big transformer robotic statue and a powerful mural of Kaohsiung Practice Station. Down by the water, there’s a big rainbow with the phrase “Kaohsiung” painted on the sidewalk, in addition to a big artwork set up made from brilliant crimson transport containers.
Housed within the warehouses, yow will discover as Eslite Bookstore, Starbucks, and a small cinema (in89駁二電影院).
Love public artwork? Don’t miss my information to Rainbow Village in Taichung and 321 Artwork Alley Settlement in Tainan!
Pier 2 Warehouses
On the japanese finish of Pier 2, proper subsequent to Dayi Pier 2 LRT station, is one other assortment of warehouses. They’re numbered C6–11.
These warehouses include a number of the coolest smaller/unbiased retailers within the space, overlaying ceramics, jewellery, arts & crafts, bakeries, cafés, and extra. There’s additionally a kids’s playcenter referred to as Great Life.
A few of Pier 2’s finest artwork installations are on this part, together with Taiwan Dream (台灣夢), Chair Sheet Music (椅子樂譜), Large Tree Universe (大樹宇宙-愛河森林慢板), Absorbed by Mild (手機人生), and Peeing Boy Portray.
The most effective craft beer bars in Kaohsiung, Beer Speak Café & Bar, will be present in C11. It options an enormous vary of beers, 1 liter-sized mugs, and 2-for-1 offers. A lit up glass mosaic of Jesus & the Disciples presides over the bar.
Stay Warehouse, top-of-the-line reside music venues in Kaohsiung, can also be right here in C10. Examine their web site for the most recent live performance listings.
In the event you hold strolling east to the tip of Pier 2, Kaohsiung Music Heart (高雄流行音樂中心/音浪塔) is a beautiful, sprawling new complicated simply opened in 2021. It’s particularly gorgeous when lit up at evening.
In the event you occur to be within the space on a Saturday, don’t miss the small Yanchengpu Evening Market close to Pier 2 Artwork Heart! Discover extra data in my information to Kaohsiung’s evening markets.
Penglai Space and Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway
The gathering of warehouses on the western finish of Pier 2 is known as Penglai Space of Pier 2 Arts Heart (駁二蓬萊倉庫群). Right here you’ll discover warehouses B3–10.
Apart from a number of murals, statues, and a performing arts theater (駁二正港小劇場), the principle motive to go to the Penglai space is the wonderful Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway (哈瑪星台灣鐵道館).
The museum is just some steps away from Hamasan Railway Cultural Park (see beneath), the previous terminus for trains touring to Kaohsiung Port. To be trustworthy, I didn’t anticipate a lot after I first entered this small museum.
The principle room of the museum homes probably the most unimaginable miniature prepare mannequin show I’ve ever seen. A wide range of trains (HSR, TRA, MRT, and so forth) journey all through the room, which traverses Taiwan from Kaohsiung Port within the south to the northern tip of Taiwan.
The scenes of varied cities and counties in Taiwan mix parts from 1902 proper as much as the current. As you gaze upon them, simulated sunsets and sunrises darken and brighten the room, with the scenes coming alive with lights at evening.
I’ve by no means been massive on prepare fashions, nor do I like spending a lot time in museums, however I spent practically an hour observing the show. It’s positively one among Kaohsiung’s hidden gems!
Entrance to the museum is NT149, plus 100 for the youngsters to take a trip on the small prepare exterior. You possibly can e book your tickets on-line right here. Word that the museum is closed on Tuesdays.
Banana Pier, Port Warehouse #2, and HOLO Park
Proper on the waterfront dealing with Qijin island, and simply south of Penglai space, is Banana Pier (香蕉碼頭海景宴會館). Look ahead to the massive yellow coloured warehouse, which homes a number of seafood eating places, ice cream retailers, and extra.
Throughout from (west of) the yellow constructing is one more enormous warehouse referred to as KW2 or Kaohsiung Port Warehouse #2 (棧貳庫KW2). This constructing homes an artsy division retailer, leaning in direction of high-end merchandise, with a number of eating places, meals stalls, gelato, macaroons, and so forth.
For one thing enjoyable, I like to recommend Nook Cone (酷礦美式手作霜淇淋), which has wild ice cream designs, though they’re extra in regards to the look than style. For beer, attempt Zhang Males craft brewery (掌門精釀啤酒餐廳-棧貳庫店).
On the far western finish of the constructing, there’s a white carousel (棧貳庫旋轉木馬) proper on the pier.
Strolling east from Banana Pier, there’s a small, sudden backyard with a pond and waterfall referred to as Kaohsiung Water Backyard (高港水花園).
Behind the backyard on Penglai Street is a small, free museum referred to as Kaohsiung Harbor Museum (高雄港港史館). After I visited, there was only some images and mannequin of Kaohsiung on show, however the museum is housed in a good-looking 1917 constructing that was once used for amassing sugar taxes, and later taxes for the entire port.
Persevering with east brings you to the ultimate focal point at Pier 2, HOLO Park (光禹浮空劇院生活廣場). This was my least favourite space of Pier 2. It looks as if a failed try and create an old-timey avenue, full with pretend grass. One other assortment of warehouses right here (K7–10, referred to as Large Harbor Warehouse 410 or 大港倉410) include primarily massive model names. It’s the most commercialized part of Pier 2.
The picturesque, pedestrian solely Kaohsiung Large Port Bridge (高雄港大港橋) connects the warehouses again to Pier 2 Warehouses and Dayi Pier 2 station.
Hamasen Railway Cultural Park & Sky Balcony
Hamasen Railway Cultural Park (鐵道文化園區) is a big park simply west of Penglai space of Pier 2, the place the Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway is positioned. I’m together with it since it’s just some steps away from Pier 2.
This park was once the placement of Kaohsiung Port Station, the primary railway station in Taiwan, the place trains would choose up cargo from ships.
As we speak, the park is a big, open house, with decommissioned railway traces operating by means of it (though the brand new LRT now passes by means of). There are a number of outdated trains on show within the park.
Sky Balcony (鐵道園區天空雲台) is on the northern finish of the park. It gives and glorious view wanting down on the railway traces in each instructions.
The park is open 24 hours.
Takao Railway Museum
Takao Railway Museum (舊打狗驛故事館) is housed within the unique 1930 wood prepare station at Kaohsiung Port Station, proper on the sting of Hamasen Railway Cultural Park.
There are only a few, however very fascinating, issues to see on this small, free museum. First, observe the unique schedule nonetheless written in chalk on the blackboard. It’s the timetable from December 20, 2008, the final time a prepare pulled into the station.
Additionally take a look at the 1935 Japanese portray of Taiwan. To not scale, the portray reveals Kaohsiung seen from the south, with Yu Shan (Jade Mountain, Taiwan’s tallest peak) towering behind it, and Mt. Fuji within the distance.
Final however not least, don’t miss the spectacular unique timetable charts within the facet room, which present the instances of each prepare and station in Taiwan. The stations are listed on the vertical and 24 hour clock on the horizontal. Practice spotters used to make use of such charts to determine attainable assembly factors of various trains.
Word that the museum is closed on Mondays.
Properly, that brings us to the tip of my Pier 2 Artwork Heart information! Let me know what you assume within the feedback beneath.