View source for Kaohsiung

{{Short description|City in southern Taiwan}}
{{Redirect|Dagao|the ethnic group|Dagaaba people|the former county|Kaohsiung County}}{{redirect|Takau|other uses|Takau (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox political division
| name                    = Kaohsiung City
| official_name           = 
| native_name             = {{lang|zh-hant-TW|高雄市}}{{efn native lang|tw|name=word1
 |t=高雄市
 |p=Gāoxióng Shì
 |m=Ko-hiông Tshī
 |s=Gó-hiǔng Sii
 |h=Gò-hiung Shi<sup>+</sup>
 }}
| other_name              = Takau, Takao, Takow
| settlement_type         = [[Special municipality (Taiwan)|Special municipality]]
| image_skyline           = {{multiple image
| border                  = infobox
| total_width             = 300
| perrow                  = 1/3/2
| image1                  = Kaohsiung Skyline 2020 (cropped).jpg
| alt1                    = Kaohsiung skyline at night
| caption1            = Kaohsiung skyline
| image2                  = WorkdGame2009 Stadium completed.jpg
| alt2                    = World Game 2009 stadium
| caption2            = [[Kaohsiung National Stadium]]    
| image3                  = Kaohsiung Museum of History face 20070106 (cropped).jpg
| alt3                    = Kaohsiung Museum of History
| caption3               = [[Kaohsiung Museum of History]]
| image4                  = Dragon and Tiger Pagodas on Lotus Lake (cropped).jpg
| alt4                    = Dragon and Tiger Pagodas on Lotus Lake
| caption4             = [[Lotus Pond, Kaohsiung|Lotus Pond]]
| image5                  = Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts 01.jpg
| alt5                    = National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts
| caption5              = [[National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts]]
| image6                  = Kaohsiung Music Center and Great Tiger Bridge during 2022 Taiwan Lantern Festival.jpg
| alt6                    = Kaohsiung Music Center
| caption6            = [[Kaohsiung Music Center]]
}}
| imagesize               = 300px
| image_caption           = 
| image_flag              = Flag of Kaohsiung City.svg
| image_seal              = Emblem of Kaohsiung City.svg
| seal_type               = Logo (stylized form of {{linktext|lang=zh-tw|高}})
| etymology               = [[Takao Prefecture]]
| nickname                = The Harbor City (''Gǎngdū''), The Maritime Capital, The Waterfront City
| image_map               = {{Infobox mapframe|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=7|frame-lat=22.97|frame-long=120.66}}
| image_map2              = Taiwan ROC political division map Kaohsiung City (2010).svg
| coordinates             = {{Coord|22|36|54|N|120|17|51|E|region:TW-KHH_type:city|display=it}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{ROC-TW}}
| iso_code                = TW-KHH
| established_title       = Fongshan County
| established_date        = 1683
| established_title1      = [[Takao Prefecture]]
| established_date1       = September 1920
| established_title2      = Kaohsiung City
| established_date2       = 25 October 1945
| established_title3      = [[Kaohsiung County]]
| established_date3       = 6 December 1945
| established_title4      = Upgraded to Yuan-controlled municipality 
| established_date4       = 1 July 1979
| established_title5      = Merger with Kaohsiung County
| established_date5       = 25 December 2010
| capital_type = City seat
| capital                    = [[Lingya District]] {{nowrap|(mayor's office)}}<br/>[[Fongshan District]] {{nowrap|(City Council)}}
| largest_settlement = [[Sanmin District]]
| largest_settlement_type = district 
| admin_center_type               = [[District (Taiwan)|Districts]]
| admin_center                    = 38
| legislature           = [[Kaohsiung City Council]] 
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title1           = [[List of mayors of Kaohsiung|Mayor]]
| leader_name1            = [[Chen Chi-mai]] ([[Democratic Progressive Party|DPP]])
| leader_title2           = Deputy Mayors
| leader_name2            = 
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{cite web |script-title=zh:《中華民國統計資訊網》縣市重要統計指標查詢系統網 |url=http://statdb.dgbas.gov.tw/pxweb/Dialog/statfile9.asp |website=Statdb.dgbas.gov.tw |access-date=11 June 2016 |language=zh-hant |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612002357/http://statdb.dgbas.gov.tw/pxweb/Dialog/statfile9.asp |archive-date=12 June 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Demographia World Urban Areas PDF |url=http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf |publisher=Demographia |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503021711/http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf |archive-date=3 May 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| national_representation = National representation 
| national_representation_type1 = [[Legislative Yuan]]
| national_representation1 = 8 of 113 constituencies 
| area_km2          = 2951.85
| area_urban_km2          = 363
| area_rank               = 4th
| area_rank_link = List of administrative divisions of Taiwan
| elevation_m             = 9
| population_estimate        = 2,722,984 ([[List of administrative divisions of Taiwan|3rd]])<hr> 2,565,000 (urban)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dbaskmg.kcg.gov.tw/ |script-title=zh:高雄市政府主計處全球資訊網 – 首頁 |website=dbaskmg.kcg.gov.tw |access-date=9 September 2018 |language=zh-TW |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511065203/http://dbaskmg.kcg.gov.tw/ |archive-date=11 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year      = Aug 2025
| population_density_km2  =
| population_estimate_rank = 3rd
| population_rank_link = List of administrative divisions of Taiwan
| GDP_PPP             = US$45,285
| GDP_PPP_year        = 2016
| GDP_PPP_rank        = 12th
| GDP_nominal         = NT$684,260
| GDP_nominal_year    = 2016
| GDP_nominal_rank    = 12th
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = 
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 
| GDP_nominal_rank_link = Economy of Taiwan#Economy by region
| timezone                = [[National Standard Time]]
| utc_offset              = +8
| postal_code_type        = Postal code
| postal_code             = 800–852
| calling_code               = 07
| website                 = {{official url}} {{in lang|en}}
{{Infobox place symbols
|embedded=yes
| flower      = [[Chinese hibiscus]] (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
| tree       = [[Bombacaceae|Cotton Tree]] (Bombax ceiba)
}}
}}
<!-- South China Sea -->
{{Location map+| South China Sea |width=300 |float=right 
|caption= Location of [[Pratas Island]] and [[Taiping Island]] (administered by [[Cijin District, Kaohsiung]]) relative to the city of Kaohsiung<br/>
Legend： [[File:Red_pog.svg|8px]] {{color|red|red: Pratas Island}} [[File:Blue_pog.svg|8px]] {{color|blue|blue: Taiping Island}} [[File:Green_pog.svg|8px]] {{color|green|green: Kaohsiung}}
|places= 
{{Location map~ | South China Sea |lat=20.7036 |long=116.7275 |label= [[Pratas Island]] | mark= Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |position=left }}
{{Location map~ | South China Sea |lat=10.3772 |long=114.3664 |label= [[Taiping Island]] | mark= Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |position=left }}
{{Location map~ | South China Sea |lat=22.6333 |long=120.2667 |label= Kaohsiung | mark= Green pog.svg |marksize=6 |position=left }}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Kaohsiung City
| pic = Kaohsiung Chinese Characters.png
| piccap = "Kaohsiung" in [[Chinese characters]]
| picupright = 0.5
| c = {{linktext|lang=zh|高雄|市}}
| bpmf = ㄍㄠ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄒㄩㄥˊ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄕˋ
| w = {{tone superscript|Kao1-hsiung2 Shih4}}
| p = Gāoxióng Shì
| tp = Gaosyóng Shìh
| mps = Gāushiúng Shr̀
| gr = Gaushyong Shyh
| myr = Gāusyúng Shr̀
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|g|ao|1|.|x|iong|2|-|shi|4}}
| poj = Ko-hiông-chhī
| tl = Ko-hiông-tshī
| phfs = Kô-hiùng-sṳ
| j = gou1 hung4 si5
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|g|ou|1|-|h|ung|4|-|s|i|5}}
| showflag = wppojphfs
| l = ''Japanese transcription of an old [[Siraya language|Siraya]] name''<!--See #Name-->
| kanji = 高雄市
| hiragana = たかおし
| katakana = タカオシ
| revhep = Takao-shi
| kunrei = Takao-si
}}

'''Kaohsiung''',{{efn|[[Standard Chinese|Standard Mandarin]]: {{IPAc-cmn|AUD|Zh-gāoxióng.wav|g|ao|1|x|iong|2}}; {{Lang-zh|c=高雄|p=Gāoxióng|w=Kao1-hsiung2}}}} officially '''Kaohsiung City''',{{efn native lang|tw|name=word1}} is a [[Special municipality (Taiwan)|special municipality]] located in southern [[Taiwan]]. It ranges from the coastal urban center to the rural [[Yushan Range]] with an area of {{cvt|2952|km2|mi2}} making It the largest city in Taiwan by area.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Society |first=Kenneth Kimutai too in |date=2017-04-25 |title=Biggest Cities In Taiwan |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/biggest-cities-in-taiwan.html |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=WorldAtlas |language=en-US}}</ref> Kaohsiung City has a population of approximately 2.72 million people and is Taiwan's third most populous city and the largest city in [[southern Taiwan]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://cabu.kcg.gov.tw/Stat/StatRpts/StatRpt1.aspx |script-title=zh:人口統計查詢：本市各區里戶口數月統計 |publisher=Kaoshiung City Government |access-date=4 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014193816/http://cabu.kcg.gov.tw/Stat/StatRpts/StatRpt1.aspx |archive-date=14 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Founded in the [[17th century]] as a small trading village named '''Tancoia''', a name of uncertain origins,{{Efn|also spelled '''Takao''', '''Takau''', '''Takow'''}} the city has since grown into the economic center of [[southern Taiwan]], with key industries such as manufacturing, [[steel-making]], [[oil refining]], [[freight transport]] and [[shipbuilding]]. It is classified as a "Sufficiency" level [[global city]] by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network]],<ref>{{cite web |title=World Cities 2024 |url=https://gawc.lboro.ac.uk/gawc-worlds/the-world-according-to-gawc/world-cities-2024/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703071437/https://gawc.lboro.ac.uk/gawc-worlds/the-world-according-to-gawc/world-cities-2024/ |archive-date=3 July 2025 |access-date=7 July 2025 |publisher=Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Research Network}}</ref> with some of the most prominent infrastructures in Taiwan. 

Kaohsiung is of strategic importance to the nation as the city is the main port city of Taiwan; the [[Port of Kaohsiung]] is the largest and busiest harbor in Taiwan and more than 67% of the nation's exports and imports container throughput goes through Kaohsiung.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-08 |title=Kaohsiung Harbor volume down 1.9 percent last year |author-last1=Chen|author-first1=Cheng-hui|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2018/01/08/2003685365 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231110529/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2018/01/08/2003685365 |archive-date=31 December 2020 |access-date=2021-02-09 |website=Taipei Times}}</ref> [[Kaohsiung International Airport]] is the second busiest airport in number of passengers in Taiwan. The city is well-connected to other major cities by [[Taiwan High Speed Rail|high speed]] and [[Taiwan Railways Administration|conventional]] rail, as well as several [[Highway system in Taiwan|national freeways]]. It also hosts the [[Republic of China Navy]] (ROCN) fleet headquarters and its [[Republic of China Naval Academy|naval academy]]. More recent public works such as [[Pier-2 Art Center]], [[National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts]] and [[Kaohsiung Music Center]] have been aimed at growing the tourism and [[cultural industries]] of the city.

==Etymology<span class="anchor" id="Names"></span><span class="anchor" id="Toponymy"></span>==
[[File:Map of Taiwan (Formosa) in 1880, from- Stanford's map of the empires of China and Japan with the adjacent parts of the Russian Empire, India, Burma etc. LOC 2006458442 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Map of Taiwan including Takau (Kaohsiung) (1880)]]
[[Hoklo people|Hoklo]] immigrants to the area during the 16th and 17th centuries called the region ''Takau'' ({{zh|c=打狗 |poj=Táⁿ-káu|links=no}}). The surface meaning of the associated [[Chinese characters]] was "beat the dog". According to one theory, the name "Takau" originates from the indigenous [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] [[Siraya language]] and translates as "[[bamboo forest]]". According to another theory, the name evolved via [[metathesis (linguistics)|metathesis]] from the name of the [[Makatao people|Makatao]] tribe, who inhabited the area at the time of European and Hoklo settlement. The Makatao is considered by some to be part of the [[Siraya people|Siraya]] tribe.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-04-23 |title=Siraya activists slam ministry over letter - Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/04/23/2003441794 |access-date=2021-02-09 |website=www.taipeitimes.com |archive-date=12 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412200101/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/04/23/2003441794 |url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[Dutch Formosa|Dutch colonization]] of southern Taiwan, the area was known as ''Tancoia'' to Europeans for a period of about three decades.{{Specify|reason=Which three decades?|date=January 2019}} In 1662, the Dutch were expelled by the [[Kingdom of Tungning]], founded by Ming loyalists of [[Koxinga]]. His son, [[Zheng Jing]], renamed the village ''Banlian-chiu'' ({{zh|t=萬年州|poj=Bān-liân-chiu|links=no|l=ten-thousand-year state (''[[Zhou (country subdivision)|zhou]]'')}}) in 1664.

The name of "Takau" was restored in the late 1670s, when the town expanded drastically with immigrants from [[mainland China]] and was kept through Taiwan's cession to the Japanese Empire in 1895. In his 1903 general history of Taiwan, US Consul to Formosa [[James W. Davidson]] relates that "Takow" was already a well-known name in English.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davidson |first1=James W. |author-link=James W. Davidson |year=1903 |title=The Island of Formosa, Past and Present: History, People, Resources, and Commercial Prospects: Tea, Camphor, Sugar, Gold, Coal, Sulphur, Economical Plants, and Other Productions |publisher=Macmillan |url=https://archive.org/details/islandofformosap00davi |location=London and New York |ol=6931635M |oclc=1887893 |page=iii |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108025015/https://archive.org/details/islandofformosap00davi |archive-date=8 January 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1920, the name was changed to {{nihongo||高雄|Takao|after {{ill|Takao (Kyoto)|ja|高雄 (京都市)}}, a place in [[Ukyō-ku, Kyoto|Ukyō Ward, Kyoto]]|lead=yes}} and administered the area under [[Takao Prefecture]]. While the new name had quite a different surface meaning, its pronunciation in Japanese sounded more or less the same as the old name spoken in [[Hokkien]].

After Taiwan was ceded to the Republic of China, the Chinese characters did not change, but adapted to Mandarin pronunciation, thus the official romanization became Kaohsiung ({{zh|w=Kao¹-hsiung²|p=Gāoxióng}}), derived from the [[Wade–Giles]] romanization of the [[Mandarin Chinese]] pronunciation for {{lang|zh|高雄}}.

The name ''Takau'' remains the official name of the city in [[Formosan languages|Austronesian languages]] of Taiwan such as [[Rukai language|Rukai]], although these are not widely spoken in the city. The name also remains popular locally in the naming of businesses, associations, and events.

==History==
{{Main|History of Kaohsiung}}
{{See also|History of Taiwan|North-South divide in Taiwan#Kaohsiung}}
[[File:Harbor Takao.jpg|thumb|Port of Ta-kau (1893)]]
The written history of Kaohsiung can be traced back to the early 17th century, through archaeological studies have found signs of human activity in the region from as long as 7,000 years ago. Prior to the 17th century, the region was inhabited by the [[Makatao people|Makatao]] people of the [[Siraya people|Siraya]] tribe, who settled on what they named Takau Isle (translated to 打狗嶼 by Ming Chinese explorers); "Takau" meaning "bamboo forest" in the aboriginal language.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-04 |title=Kaohsiung Celebrates 100th Anniversary - A Personal Take |url=https://thetaiwantimes.com/kaohsiung-celebrates-100th-anniversary-a-personal-take/ |access-date=2021-02-09 |website=The Taiwan Times |language=en-US |archive-date=4 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104085102/https://thetaiwantimes.com/kaohsiung-celebrates-100th-anniversary-a-personal-take/ |url-status=live |author-first1=Joyce|author-last1=Kuo}}</ref>

===Early history===
[[File:Makatao.jpg|thumb|Sketch of the Makatao people during the [[Qing empire]]]]
The earliest evidence of human activity in the Kaohsiung area dates back to roughly 4,700–5,200 years ago. Most of the discovered remnants were located in the hills surrounding [[Port of Kaohsiung|Kaohsiung Harbor]]. Artifacts were found at [[Shoushan (Kaohsiung)|Shoushan]], Longquan Temple, Taoziyuan, [[Zuoying District|Zuoying]], Houjing, Fudingjin and [[Fengbitou Archaeological Site|Fengbitou]]. The prehistoric [[Dabenkeng culture|Dapenkeng]], [[Niuchouzi Culture|Niuchouzi]], [[Tahu Culture|Dahu]], and [[Niaosung Culture|Niaosong]] civilizations were known to inhabit the region. Studies of the prehistoric ruins at Longquan Temple have shown that that civilization occurred at roughly the same times as the beginnings of the aboriginal [[Makatao people|Makatao]] civilization, suggesting a possible origin for the latter. Unlike some other archaeological sites in the area, the Longquan Temple ruins are relatively well preserved. Prehistoric artifacts discovered have suggested that the ancient Kaohsiung Harbor was originally a lagoon, with early civilizations functioning primarily as [[Hunter-gatherer]] societies. Some [[Agriculture|agricultural]] tools have also been discovered, suggesting that some agricultural activity was also present. The pronunciation of Kaohsiung (Takao) in Japanese is similar to Takau (Takau), so the local flavor of Takao was renamed Kaohsiung.

The first Chinese records of the region were written in 1603 by [[Chen Di]], a member of [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] admiral Shen You-rong's expedition to rid the waters around Taiwan and [[Penghu]] of pirates. In his report on the "Eastern Barbarian Lands" (Dong Fan Ji), Chen Di referred to a Ta-kau Isle:

{{blockquote|It is unknown when the barbarians ([[Taiwanese aborigines]]) arose on this island in the ocean beyond [[Penghu]], but they are present at Keeong Harbor (nowaday's [[Budai, Chiayi]]), the bay of Galaw ([[Anping, Tainan]]), Laydwawan ([[Tainan City]]), Yaw Harbor ([[Cheting District|Cheting, Kaohsiung]]), Takau Isle (Kaohsiung City), Little Tamsui ([[Donggang, Pingtung]]), Siangkeykaw ([[Puzi]], Chiayi), Gali forest ([[Jiali District]], Tainan), the village of Sabah ([[Tamsui, Taipei]]), and Dwabangkang ([[Bali District|Bali, New Taipei City]]).}}

===Dutch Formosa===
Taiwan became a [[Dutch Formosa|Dutch colony]] in 1624, after the [[Dutch East India Company]] was ejected from [[Penghu]] by [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] forces. At the time, Takau was already one of the most important fishing ports in southern Taiwan. The Dutch named the place ''Tankoya'', and the harbor ''Tancoia''. The Dutch missionary [[François Valentyn|François Valentijn]] named Takau Mountain "Ape Berg", a name that would find its way onto European navigational charts well into the 18th century. ''Tankoia'' was located north of Ape's Hill and a few hours south from Tayouan (modern-day [[Anping District|Anping, Tainan]]) by sail.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=William |author-link=William Campbell (missionary) |title=Formosa under the Dutch: described from contemporary records, with explanatory notes and a bibliography of the island |year=1903 |publisher=Kegan Paul |location=London |oclc=644323041 |chapter=Explanatory Notes |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/formosaunderdut01campgoog#page/n554/mode/2up |page=548|isbn=9789576380839 }}</ref> At the time, a wide shallow bay existed there, sufficient for small vessels. However, constant [[Siltation|silting]] changed the coastline.

During this time, Taiwan was divided into five administrative districts, with Takau belonging to the southernmost district. In 1630, the first large scale immigration of [[Han Chinese]] to Taiwan began due to famine in [[Fujian]], with merchants and traders from China seeking to purchase hunting licenses from the Dutch or hide out in aboriginal villages to escape authorities in China.
[[File:Takow harbour, Formosa by John Thomson Wellcome L0056431 (cropped).jpg|thumb|1871 photo of Takow harbour (by [[John Thomson (photographer)|John Thomson]])]]

===Qing dynasty===
[[File:2010 07 鳳山縣舊城南門圓環.jpg|thumb|South Gate of Fongshan County]]
In 1684, the [[Qing dynasty]] annexed [[Taiwan under Qing rule|Taiwan]] and renamed the town Fongshan County ({{zh|c=鳳山縣|p=Fèngshān Xiàn}}), considering it a part of [[Taiwan Prefecture]]. It was first opened as a port during the 1680s and subsequently prospered fairly for generations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hoteltravel.com/taiwan/kaohsiung/history-of-kaohsiung.htm |publisher=HotelTravel.com |year=1999 |title=History of Kaohsiung |access-date=2 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053547/http://www.hoteltravel.com/taiwan/kaohsiung/history-of-kaohsiung.htm |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Japanese rule===
{{main|Takao Prefecture}}
[[File:Kaohsiung Station and the city 2017-10-30.jpg|thumb|[[Kaohsiung Vision Museum|Old Kaohsiung Train Station]], built during Japanese rule of Taiwan]]
In 1895, Taiwan was ceded to [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] as part of the [[Treaty of Shimonoseki]]. Administrative control of the city was moved from New Fongshan Castle to the Fongshan Sub-District of {{nihongo||臺南廳|Tainan Chō}}. In November 1901, twenty ''chō'' were established in total; {{nihongo4||鳳山廳|Hōzan Chō}} was established nearby. In 1909, Hōzan Chō was abolished, and Takow was merged into Tainan Chō.

In 1920, during the tenure of 8th Governor-General [[Den Kenjirō]], districts were abolished in favor of prefectures. Thus the city was administered as {{nihongo4|Takao City|高雄市|Takao-shi}} under [[Takao Prefecture]].

The Japanese developed Takao, especially the harbor that became the foundation of Kaohsiung to be a port city. Takao was then systematically modernized and connected to the end of [[West Coast line (Taiwan)|North-South Railway]]. Forming a north–south regional economic corridor from Taipei to Kaohsiung in the 1930s, Japan's Southward Policy set Kaohsiung to become an industrial center.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://taiwaninsight.org/2019/02/09/taiwans-cultural-plurality-and-immigration-policy/ |title=Taiwan's Cultural Plurality and Immigration Policy |last1=Lin |first1=Ji-ping |date=2019-02-09 |website=Taiwan Insight |language=en |access-date=2020-02-26 |archive-date=26 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226195149/https://taiwaninsight.org/2019/02/09/taiwans-cultural-plurality-and-immigration-policy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Port of Kaohsiung|Kaohsiung Harbor]] was also developed starting from 1894. The city center was relocated several times during the period due to the government's development strategy.<ref>{{cite web |website=Welcome to Kaohsiung City |url=http://www.kcg.gov.tw/EN/CP.aspx?n=9A2970292D8243CC&s=BD218B3E5B7A05C8 |title=Discover Kaohsiung > History |year=2013 |access-date=2 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703172959/http://www.kcg.gov.tw/EN/CP.aspx?n=9A2970292D8243CC&s=BD218B3E5B7A05C8 |archive-date=3 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Development was initially centered on ''Ki-au'' ({{zh|c=[[:zh:旗後|旗後]]|poj=Kî-āu}}) region but the government began laying railways, upgrading the harbor, and passing new urban plans. New industries such as refinery, machinery, shipbuilding and cementing were also introduced.

Before and during [[World War II]] it handled a growing share of Taiwan's agricultural exports to Japan, and was also a major base for Japan's campaigns in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Extremely ambitious plans for the construction of a massive modern port were drawn up. Toward the end of the war, the Japanese promoted some industrial development at Kaohsiung, establishing an aluminum industry based on the abundant [[Hydroelectricity|hydroelectric power]] produced by the [[Sun Moon Lake]] project in the mountains.

The city was heavily bombed by [[Task Force 38]] and [[Far East Air Force (United States)|FEAF]] during World War II between 1944 and 1945.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-12 |title=US bombing of Taiwan and Han's ignorance |work=Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2019/11/12/2003725674 |access-date=2021-02-09 |author-last1=Shih|author-first1=Ming-hsiung|translator=Julian Clegg|archive-date=12 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212234122/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2019/11/12/2003725674 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Republic of China===
After control of Taiwan was [[History of Taiwan since 1945|handed over from Japan]] to the government of the [[Republic of China]] on 25 October 1945, Kaohsiung City and [[Kaohsiung County]] were established as a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial city]] and a [[County (Taiwan)|county]] of [[Taiwan Province]] respectively on 25 December 1945. The official romanization of the name came to be "Kaohsiung", based on the [[Wade–Giles]] romanization of the [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] reading of the [[kanji]] name.<ref>[http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=23064&CtNode=122 What's in changing a name?] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20070630101000/http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=23064&CtNode=122 |date=30 June 2007 }} Taiwan Journal Vol. XXVI No. 19 May 15, 2009 "...while name Kaohsiung is technically the Mandarin pronunciation of the Japanese written version of a Holo Taiwanese rendition of an old aboriginal name..."</ref> Kaohsiung City then consisted of 10 [[District (Taiwan)|districts]], which were [[Gushan District|Gushan]], [[Lingya District|Lianya]] (renamed "Lingya" in 1952), [[Nanzih District|Nanzih]], [[Qianjin District, Kaohsiung|Cianjin]], [[Cianjhen District|Cianjhen]], [[Cijin District, Kaohsiung|Cijin]], [[Sanmin District|Sanmin]], [[Sinsing District, Kaohsiung|Sinsing]], [[Yancheng District, Kaohsiung|Yancheng]], and [[Zuoying District|Zuoying]].

During this time, Kaohsiung developed rapidly. The port, badly damaged in [[World War II]], was restored. It also became a fishing port for boats sailing to Filipino and Indonesian waters. Largely because of its climate, Kaohsiung overtook [[Keelung]] as Taiwan's major port. Kaohsiung also surpassed Tainan to become the second largest city of Taiwan in the late 1970s and Kaohsiung City was upgraded from a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial city]] to [[special municipality (Taiwan)|special municipality]] on 1 July 1979, by the [[Executive Yuan]] with a total of 11 districts.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 February 2011 |url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=4,29,31,45&post=6187 |title=Rezoning Taiwan |publisher=Taiwan Today |access-date=9 December 2020 |archive-date=12 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112165942/https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=4,29,31,45&post=6187 |url-status=live }}</ref> The additional district is [[Siaogang District]], which was annexed from Siaogang Township of [[Kaohsiung County]].

The [[Kaohsiung Incident]], where the government suppressed a commemoration of International [[Human Rights Day]], occurred on 10 December 1979. Since then, Kaohsiung gradually grew into a political center of the [[Pan-Green Coalition|Pan-Green]] population of Taiwan, in opposition to [[Taipei]] where the majority population is [[Kuomintang]] supporters.

[[File:Kaohsiung-Tainan before and after 2010.svg|thumb|Map of Kaohsiung City before and after 25 December 2010]]
On 25 December 2010, Kaohsiung City merged with [[Kaohsiung County]] to form a larger [[Special municipality (Taiwan)|special municipality]] with administrative centers in [[Lingya District]] and [[Fongshan District]].<ref>{{Cite web |author=''Taiwan News'' Staff Writer |date=29 June 2009 |title=Taiwan government approves merger and upgrade of Tainan City and County |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/989390 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122140014/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/989390 |archive-date=22 January 2022 |website=[[Taiwan News]] |access-date=5 October 2022}}</ref>

On 31 July 2014, a series of [[2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions|gas explosions]] occurred in the [[Cianjhen District|Cianjhen]] and [[Lingya District]]s of the city, killing 31 and injuring more than 300. Five roads were destroyed in an area of nearly {{cvt|20|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}} near the city center. It was the largest gas explosion in Taiwan's modern history.<ref name="KaohsiungExplosions">{{cite news |title=Many dead in Taiwan city gas blasts |url=http://www.taiwansnews.net/index.php/sid/224358099/scat/0dd057261bcc461b/ht/Many-dead-in-Taiwan-city-gas-blasts |access-date=2 August 2014 |publisher=Taiwan's News.Net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043517/http://www.taiwansnews.net/index.php/sid/224358099/scat/0dd057261bcc461b/ht/Many-dead-in-Taiwan-city-gas-blasts |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{See also|Geography of Taiwan}}
[[File:JadeMountainSouthernPeak.jpg|thumb|[[Yu Shan|Jade Mountain]] South Peak]]
The city sits on the southwestern coast of Taiwan facing the [[Taiwan Strait]], bordering [[Tainan City]] to the northwest, [[Chiayi]] and [[Nantou County]] to the north, [[Taitung County]] to its east and [[Pingtung County]] to the south and southeast. The downtown areas are centered on Kaohsiung Harbor with [[Cijin District, Kaohsiung|Cijin Island]] on the other side of the harbor acting as a natural [[Breakwater (structure)|breakwater]]. The [[Love River]] (Ai River) flows into the harbor through the Old City and downtown. Zuoying Military Harbor lies to the north of Kaohsiung Harbor and the city center. Kaohsiung's natural landmarks include [[Shoushan (Kaohsiung)|Ape Hill]] and [[Mount Banping]].

===Climate===
{{climate chart
|Kaohsiung
|16.2 |24.2 |19.1
|17.2 |25.0 |17.7
|19.7 |27.0 |32.3
|22.8 |29.3 |68.4
|25.2 |31.0 |202.2
|26.3 |32.1 |416.2
|26.7 |32.7 |377.2
|26.3 |32.1 |512.4
|25.9 |31.8 |224.5
|24.2 |30.1 |53.4
|21.6 |28.1 |25.6
|17.9 |25.3 |19.2
|units=metric
|float=right
|clear=both}}
Located about a degree south of the [[Tropic of Cancer]], Kaohsiung has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Aw''), near to a [[tropical monsoon climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Am'')<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate Kaohsiung City (Republic of China (Taiwan)) |url=https://en.climate-data.org/asia/republic-of-china/kaohsiung-city/kaohsiung-city-1054/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221000525/https://en.climate-data.org/asia/republic-of-china/kaohsiung-city/kaohsiung-city-1054/ |archive-date=21 February 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref> with monthly mean temperatures between {{cvt|20|and|29|°C|°F}} and relative humidity ranging between 71 and 81%.

Kaohsiung's warm climate is very much dictated by its low latitude and its exposure to warm sea temperatures year-round, with the [[Kuroshio Current]] passing by the coast of southern Taiwan,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yXHISDkQ0DA/T1NR7IQM8UI/AAAAAAAABY8/oxDvX83yHpQ/s400/%E6%B0%B4%E6%BA%AB.jpg |title=Taiwan sea temperatures of February 2012 |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |access-date=20 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326052323/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yXHISDkQ0DA/T1NR7IQM8UI/AAAAAAAABY8/oxDvX83yHpQ/s400/%E6%B0%B4%E6%BA%AB.jpg |archive-date=26 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Central Mountain Range]] on the northeast blocking out the cool northeastern winds during the winter. The city, therefore, has a noticeably warmer climate than nearby cities located at similar latitudes such as [[Hong Kong]], [[Guangzhou]] as well as various cities further south in northern [[Vietnam]], such as [[Hanoi]]. Although the climate is classified as tropical, Kaohsiung has a defined cooler season unlike most other cities in Asia classified with this climate but located closer to the equator such as [[Singapore]] or [[Manila]]. Daily maximum temperature typically exceeds {{cvt|30|C}} during the warmer season (April to November) and {{cvt|25|C}} during the cooler season (December to March), with the exception when cold fronts strike during the winter months, when the daily mean temperature of the city can drop between 10 and 12&nbsp;°C depending on the strength of the cold front. Also, besides the high temperatures occurring during the usual summer months, daytime temperatures of inland districts of the city can often exceed {{cvt|33|C}} from mid-March to late April before the onset of the [[monsoon season]], with clear skies and southwesterly airflows. Average annual rainfall is around {{cvt|1885|mm}}, focused primarily from June to August. At more than 2,210 hours of bright sunshine, the city is one of the sunniest areas in Taiwan.<ref name=CWB/>

The sea temperature of [[Kaohsiung Harbor]] remains above {{cvt|22|C}} year-round,<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaohsiung Average Sea Temperatures |url=http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7/marine/stat/cht/sst/1486.html |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |access-date=26 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326043217/http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7/marine/stat/cht/sst/1486.html |archive-date=26 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> the second highest of Southern Taiwan after [[Liuqiu Island]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Liuqiu island Average Sea Temperatures |url=http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7/marine/stat/cht/sst/46714D.html |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |access-date=26 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326042550/http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7/marine/stat/cht/sst/46714D.html |archive-date=26 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to recent records, the average temperature of the city has risen around 1 degree Celsius over the past three decades, from about {{cvt|24.2|C|F|1}} in 1983 to around {{cvt|25.2|C|F|1}} by 2012.
{{Weather box
|width=auto 
|collapsed=Y
|location=Kaohsiung City (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1931–present）
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|Jan record high C=31.6
|Feb record high C=32.5
|Mar record high C=33.2
|Apr record high C=35.4
|May record high C=36.4
|Jun record high C=37.2
|Jul record high C=37.1
|Aug record high C=36.1
|Sep record high C=37.6
|Oct record high C=34.8
|Nov record high C=33.0
|Dec record high C=34.4
|year record high C=37.6
|Jan high C=24.2
|Feb high C=25.0
|Mar high C=27.0
|Apr high C=29.3
|May high C=31.0
|Jun high C=32.1
|Jul high C=32.7
|Aug high C=32.1
|Sep high C=31.8
|Oct high C=30.1
|Nov high C=28.1
|Dec high C=25.3
|year high C=

|Jan mean C=19.7
|Feb mean C=20.7
|Mar mean C=23.0
|Apr mean C=25.7
|May mean C=27.8
|Jun mean C=28.9
|Jul mean C=29.4
|Aug mean C=28.9
|Sep mean C=28.5
|Oct mean C=26.9
|Nov mean C=24.5
|Dec mean C=21.2

|Jan low C=16.2
|Feb low C=17.2
|Mar low C=19.7
|Apr low C=22.8
|May low C=25.2
|Jun low C=26.3
|Jul low C=26.7
|Aug low C=26.3
|Sep low C=25.9
|Oct low C=24.4
|Nov low C=21.6
|Dec low C=17.9
|year low C=

|Jan record low C=5.7
|Feb record low C=6.6
|Mar record low C=6.8
|Apr record low C=10.3
|May record low C=17.3
|Jun record low C=19.0
|Jul record low C=20.0
|Aug record low C=20.7
|Sep record low C=19.5
|Oct record low C=14.7
|Nov record low C=10.2
|Dec record low C=4.4
|year record low C=4.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm=19.1
|Feb precipitation mm=17.7
|Mar precipitation mm=32.3
|Apr precipitation mm=68.4
|May precipitation mm=202.2
|Jun precipitation mm=416.2
|Jul precipitation mm=377.2
|Aug precipitation mm=512.4
|Sep precipitation mm=224.5
|Oct precipitation mm=53.4
|Nov precipitation mm=25.6
|Dec precipitation mm=19.2

|Jan humidity=71.6
|Feb humidity=71.8
|Mar humidity=71.9
|Apr humidity=74.2
|May humidity=76.6
|Jun humidity=79.0
|Jul humidity=78.0
|Aug humidity=79.9
|Sep humidity=77.5
|Oct humidity=74.2
|Nov humidity=73.1
|Dec humidity=71.6
|year humidity=
|unit precipitation days=0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days=3.2
|Feb precipitation days=3.2
|Mar precipitation days=3.6
|Apr precipitation days=5.4
|May precipitation days=6.2
|Jun precipitation days=12.9
|Jul precipitation days=13.2
|Aug precipitation days=16.7
|Sep precipitation days=10.1
|Oct precipitation days=4.2
|Nov precipitation days=2.8
|Dec precipitation days=2.8
|Jan sun=177.0
|Feb sun=176.0
|Mar sun=194.7
|Apr sun=197.2
|May sun=207.7
|Jun sun=215.0
|Jul sun=220.7
|Aug sun=189.3
|Sep sun=188.6
|Oct sun=191.9
|Nov sun=166.5
|Dec sun=157.2
|source 1 = Central Weather Bureau<ref name= CWB>{{cite web |url = https://www.cwb.gov.tw/V8/C/C/Statistics/monthlymean.html |title = Monthly Mean |publisher = [[Central Weather Bureau]] |access-date = 29 November 2022 |archive-date = 9 December 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221209115926/https://www.cwb.gov.tw/V8/C/C/Statistics/monthlymean.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordhighs1>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_18.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計 |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017235559/https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_18.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordhighs2>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_19.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計(續) |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017235603/https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_19.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordlows1>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_20.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計 |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=19 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219233031/https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_20.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordlow2>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_21.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計(續) |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=19 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219055306/https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_21.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

===Cityscape===
{{Panorama
|image = 
|height = 300px
|caption = {{center|Kaohsiung's skyline at day.}}}}
{{Panorama
|image = File:Kaohsiung_banner.jpg
|height = 230px
|caption = {{center|Kaohsiung's skyline viewed from [[Kaohsiung Lighthouse]] in [[Cijin District, Kaohsiung|Cijin District]], with the [[85 Sky Tower]] right of center.}}}}

==Demographics==
{{see also|Demographics of Taiwan}}
{{Historical populations
|1990|2512858|2000|2756775|2010|2777384|2020|2734275|source=National Statistics, Republic of China (Taiwan)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eng.stat.gov.tw/News.aspx?n=2401&sms=10889|title=Statistical Tables|publisher=National Statistics, Republic of China (Taiwan)}}</ref>}}

As of August 2025, Kaohsiung has a population of 2,722,984 people, making it the third-largest city after [[New Taipei]] and [[Taichung]], and a population density of 922.47 people per square kilometer.<ref name=":0" /> Within the city, [[Fongshan District]] is the most populated district with a population of 354,455 people, while [[Sinsing District, Kaohsiung|Sinsing District]] is the most densely populated district with a population density of 25,052 people per square kilometer.

===Ethnic composition===
{{see also|Taiwanese people|}}
{{more citations needed|section|date=August 2020}}

====Han Chinese====
As in most Taiwanese cities or counties, the majority of the population are [[Han Chinese]]. The Chinese are divided into 3 subgroups: [[Hoklo people|Hoklo]], [[Hakka]], and [[Waishengren]]. The Hoklo and Waishengren mostly live in flatland townships and the city centre, while the majority of the Hakka population lives in the suburbs or rural townships of the northeastern hills.

====Indigenous peoples====
The [[Taiwanese indigenous peoples|indigenous peoples]] of Kaohsiung, who belong to various ethnic groups that speak languages belonging to the [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] language family, live mostly in the [[District (Taiwan)|mountain indigenous district]] such as [[Taoyuan District, Kaohsiung|Taoyuan]] or [[Namasia]]. The main indigenous groups in the city include the [[Bunun people|Bunun]], [[Rukai people|Rukai]], [[Saaroa people|Saaroa]] and the [[Kanakanavu people|Kanakanavu]].

====Other ethnicities====
As of December 2010, Kaohsiung hosts around 21,000 foreign spouses. Around 12,353 are Mainland Chinese, 4,244 are Vietnamese, around 800 are Japanese and Indonesians, and around 4,000 are other Asians or foreigners from Europe or America.

As of April 2013, Kaohsiung hosts 35,074 [[foreign workers]] who mainly work as factory workers or foreign maids (not including foreign specialists such as teachers and other professionals). About half of them are [[Overseas Indonesian|Indonesians]], with the other half being workers from other [[Southeast Asian]] countries, mainly from [[Vietnam]], the [[Philippines]] or [[Thailand]].

==Economy==
[[File:高雄港_Kaohsiung_Harbor_全貌_(62571253).jpeg|thumb|[[Kaohsiung Harbor]]]]
[[File:Downtown Kaohsiung Skyline 20211017.jpg|thumb|The skyline of downtown Kaohsiung]]

Kaohsiung is a major international port and industrial city in the southwest of Taiwan. As an exporting center, Kaohsiung serves the agricultural interior of southern Taiwan, as well as the mountains of the southeast. Major [[raw material]] exports include rice, sugar, bananas, [[pineapple]]s, peanuts (groundnuts) and [[citrus fruit]]s. The {{cvt|2200|ha|adj=on|abbr=off}} [[Linhai Industrial Park]], on the waterfront, was completed in the mid-1970s and includes a [[steel mill]], [[shipyard]], [[petrochemical]] complex, and other industries. The city has an [[oil refinery]], aluminum and cement works, [[fertilizer]] factories, sugar refineries, brick and tile works, canning factories, salt-manufacturing factories, and [[papermaking]] plants. Designated an [[export-processing zone]] in the late 1970s, Kaohsiung also attracted foreign investment to process locally purchased raw materials for export.

In 2020, Kaohsiung's [[land reclamation]] project in the Port of Kaohsiung was completed, equivalent to 16 of [[Daan Forest Park|Taipei's Daan Forest Parks]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-09 |title=Kaohsiung port project completed - Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/03/09/2003732354 |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=www.taipeitimes.com |archive-date=12 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712131628/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/03/09/2003732354 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau plans to buy 49 hectares of the reclaimed land to establish a solar energy industrial district that would be in the harbor's free trade zone.<ref name="nansing">{{cite web |date=27 June 2010 |title=Kaohsiung City to open solar energy industrial zone |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201006190006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725172550/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201006190006 |archive-date=25 July 2011 |access-date=9 July 2010 |publisher=Focus Taiwan News Channel}}</ref>

The gross domestic product (GDP) in nominal terms of Kaohsiung City is estimated to be around US$45&nbsp;billion, and US$90&nbsp;billion for the metropolitan region. {{As of|2008}}, the GDP per capita in nominal terms was approximately US$24,000.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

Despite early success and heavy governmental investment, the city suffers from the economic [[North–South divide in Taiwan]], which continues to be the center of political debate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Major Kaohsiung mayoral candidates face off in TV debate|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3579295 |website=Taiwan News |date=20 November 2018 |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212070602/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3579295 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |url-status=dead|language=en}}</ref> There has been public aims to shift the local economy towards tourism and [[cultural industry|cultural industries]], with projects such as [[Pier-2 Art Center]], [[National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts]] and [[Kaohsiung Music Center]].

===Agriculture===
The main agricultural crops in Kaohsiung are vegetables, fruits and rice with a total [[arable land]] of 473&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, which accounts to 16% of the total area of the municipality. Kaohsiung has the highest production of [[guava]], [[jujube]] and [[lychee]] in Taiwan. The main [[livestock]] are chicken, [[dairy cattle]], [[deer]], duck, goose, pigs and sheep. The total annual agricultural income in Kaohsiung is NT$24.15&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://agri-en.kcg.gov.tw/ |title=Current Conditions and Theme for Agriculture |website=Agriculture Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government |access-date=29 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329063403/https://agri-en.kcg.gov.tw/ |archive-date=29 March 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Future investment===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|+ Investment inflow of returned-Taiwanese merchandisers from China due to [[US-China trade war]]. 
!  !! Numbers of merchants !! Investment amounts of money in billions NTD !! Jobs-created
|-
|[[Taoyuan City]] ||39 ||154.0 ||15000
|-
|[[Taichung City]] ||35 ||133.8 ||10000
|-
|Kaohsiung City ||20 ||146.0 ||10000
|-
|[[Tainan City]] ||23 ||123.0 ||7500
|-
|[[New Taipei City]] ||9 ||21.0 ||2650
|-
|[[Taipei City]] ||3 ||4.0 ||600
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan="4" |'''Source:'''<ref name="經濟日報 2019">{{cite web |author=鄭鴻達 |script-title=zh:台商回台投資真假？蘇貞昌秀一張圖揭六都受益高低 – 政經大事 – 產業 |publisher=Universal Daily News |date=21 November 2019 |url=https://money.udn.com/money/story/7307/4179463 |language=zh-Hant |access-date=21 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121185220/https://money.udn.com/money/story/7307/4179463 |archive-date=21 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

==Culture==
===Tourism===
[[File:Kaohsiung Tuntex Sky Tower.jpg|thumb|The [[85 Sky Tower]] seen from the [[Love River]]]]

Main landmarks of Kaohsiung city include the [[85 Sky Tower]], the [[Ferris wheel]] of the Kaohsiung [[Dream Mall]], the [[Kaohsiung Arena]] and [[Port of Kaohsiung]]. The newly developed city is also known for having a large number of [[shopping streets]], organized [[night markets]] and newly developed leisure parks such as the [[Pier-2 Art Center]], [[E-DA Theme Park]], [[Kaohsiung Metropolitan Park|Metropolitan Park]], the [[Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts]], the [[National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts]], and [[Taroko Park]].

Natural attractions of the city include [[Shoushan (Kaohsiung)|Shoushan]] (Monkey mountain), the [[Love River]], [[Cijin Island]], [[Sizihwan]], the [[Dapingding Tropical Botanical Garden]] and [[Yushan National Park]] at the northeastern tip of the city. The city also features various historical attractions such as the [[Old City of Zuoying]], a historical town built during the early 17th century, the [[Former British Consulate at Takao]] built during the late 19th century, and various sugar and crop factories built under [[Taiwan under Japanese rule|Japanese rule]].
====Natural attractions====
Kaohsiung city includes a wide range of different natural attractions due to its large size and geographical variation, as it is bordered by the [[Central Mountain Range]] in the northeast and the warm [[South China Sea]] to the west and southwest. The year-round warm climate allows [[coral reefs]] to grow along the coasts around [[Kaohsiung Harbor]], with [[Shoushan (Kaohsiung)|Shoushan Mountain]] being a small mountain completely made up of coral reefs and [[calcium carbonate]], while the mountainous districts in the northeast include Taiwan's highest mountain, [[Yushan (mountain)|Yushan]]. Other notable natural attractions include the [[Mount Banping]], [[Lotus Pond, Kaohsiung|Lotus Pond]], and [[Dongsha Atoll National Park]], which is currently inaccessible by the public due to military occupation.

====Historical sites====
[[File:Former British Consulate at Takao.jpg|thumb|[[Former British Consulate at Takao]]]]
A large number of historical sites and monuments were left in the city after the colonization of the Dutch in the 17th century, the Qing dynasty during the 18th and 19th century and the Japanese empire from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century.  The city government has protected various sites and monuments from further damage and many have been opened to the public since the early 1980s. Notable historical sites include the [[Cemetery of Zhenghaijun]], [[Fengshan Longshan Temple]], [[Former British Consulate at Takao]], [[Former Dinglinzihbian Police Station]], [[Meinong Cultural and Creative Center]], [[Former Sanhe Bank]], and the [[Kaohsiung Lighthouse]], one of the oldest lighthouses of the city.

====Museums====
[[File:Confucius temple Kaohsiung amk.jpg|thumb|[[Confucius Temple of Kaohsiung]]]]
Kaohsiung is home to many museums, including the [[Chung Li-he Museum]], [[Cijin Shell Museum]], [[Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum]], [[Jiasian Petrified Fossil Museum]], [[Kaohsiung Astronomical Museum]], [[Kaohsiung Hakka Cultural Museum]], [[Kaohsiung Harbor Museum]], [[Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts]], [[Kaohsiung Museum of History]], [[Kaohsiung Museum of Labor]], [[Kaohsiung Vision Museum]], [[Meinong Hakka Culture Museum]], [[National Science and Technology Museum]], [[Republic of China Air Force Museum]], [[Soya-Mixed Meat Museum]], [[Taiwan Pineapple Museum]], [[Taiwan Sugar Museum (Kaohsiung)|Taiwan Sugar Museum]], [[Takao Railway Museum]], [[Xiaolin Pingpu Cultural Museum]] and [[YM Museum of Marine Exploration Kaohsiung]].

====Parks and zoos====
As the largest municipality in Taiwan, Kaohsiung has a number of newly built leisure areas and parks. Notable parks or pavilions in the city include the [[Central Park (Kaohsiung)|Central Park]], [[Siaogangshan Skywalk Park]], [[Fo Guang Shan Monastery]], the [[Dragon and Tiger Pagodas]], [[Spring and Autumn Pavilions]], the [[Love Pier]], [[Singuang Ferry Wharf]] and [[Kaohsiung Fisherman's Wharf]]. Notable zoo in the city includes the [[Kaohsiung City Shousan Zoo]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://zoo.kcg.gov.tw/?culture=en-US |title=Home Page - ShoushanZoo |access-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830165507/http://zoo.kcg.gov.tw/?culture=en-US |archive-date=30 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Other====
{{see also|Night markets in Taiwan|}}
[[File:Liouho-Night-Market-Kaohsiung.jpg|thumb|[[Liuhe Night Market]]]]

Kaohsiung is home to many [[Night markets in Taiwan|night markets]], such as [[Jin-Zuan Night Market]], [[Liuhe Night Market]], [[Ruifeng Night Market]], [[Zhonghua Street Night Market]], and the [[Kaisyuan Night Market]]. Other attractions include the [[Cijin Tianhou Temple]], [[Formosa Boulevard metro station|Dome of Light of Kaohsiung MRT's Formosa Boulevard Station]], the [[Kaohsiung Mosque]] and the [[Tower of Light]] of [[Sanmin District]].

[[Wet market|Traditional "wet" markets]] have long been the source of meat, fish, and produce for many residents. With the arrival of Western-style [[supermarkets]] in the 1980s and 1990s, such markets have encountered fierce competition. In 1989, the global leader in hypermarkets, [[Carrefour]], entered Asia, opening its first store in Kaohsiung. Due to the success of its Taiwan operation, the French retailer expanded throughout the country and Asia. Jean-Luc Chéreau, the general manager in Taiwan from 1993 to 1999, used this newfound understanding of Chinese culture and ways of doing business with Chinese customers to lead its China expansion starting in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www1.ximb.ac.in/users/fac/visiting/vfac.nsf/23e5e39594c064ee852564ae004fa010/b6eccfba375c3a306525726000507c80/$FILE/4.%20carrefour%20china%20int.pdf |title=Lessons from a global retailer: An interview with the president of Carrefour China |last=Child |first=Peter |date=2006 |access-date=26 February 2020 |archive-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802203152/http://www1.ximb.ac.in/users/fac/visiting/vfac.nsf/23e5e39594c064ee852564ae004fa010/b6eccfba375c3a306525726000507c80/$FILE/4.%20carrefour%20china%20int.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> As of February 2020, Carrefour has opened 137 hypermarkets and supermarkets in Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.carrefour.com.tw/store.html |title=分店資訊 |website=Carrefour 家樂福 |access-date=26 February 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226201546/https://www.carrefour.com.tw/store.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the fierce competition from "Westernized" supermarkets, Taiwan's traditional markets and mom-and-pop stores remain "one of the most popular retail formats for many Asian families when they purchase daily food items and basic household goods."<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Yu-Chih |last2=Huang |first2=Chi-tsun |last3=Tsai |first3=Kuen-Hung |date=2015 |title=How do wet markets still survive in Taiwan? |url=http://www.emeraldinsight.com/0007-070X.htm |journal=British Food Journal |volume=117 |pages=234–256 |doi=10.1108/BFJ-05-2013-0136 |via=Emerald Insight |access-date=26 February 2020 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410221725/https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/0007-070X |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Languages===
{{see also|Languages of Taiwan|}}
The majority of those living in Kaohsiung can communicate in both [[Taiwanese Hokkien]] and  [[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]].  Some of the elderly who grew up during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan can communicate in Japanese, while most of the younger population have basic English skills.

Since the spread of Standard Chinese after the [[Chinese Civil War|Nationalist Government retreated to Taiwan in 1949]], [[Hakka Chinese]] and various [[Formosan languages]] are gradually no longer spoken with the new generation and many Formosan languages are therefore classified as [[Moribund language|moribund]] or [[endangered languages]] by the United Nations. Nowadays, only elder Hakka people mostly living in [[Meinong District|Meinong]], [[Liouguei District|Liouguei]], [[Shanlin District|Shanlin]] and [[Jiasian District|Jiasian]] districts can communicate in Hakka and elder Taiwanese aborigines living mostly in the rural districts of [[Namasia District|Namasia]] and [[Taoyuan District, Kaohsiung|Taoyuan]] can communicate with the aboriginal languages. The Taiwanese government has established special affairs committees for both the Aboriginals and the Hakkas to protect their language, culture, and minority rights.

===Arts===
[[File:FormosaBoulevardStation.JPG|thumb|The Dome of Light at [[Formosa Boulevard Station]] of [[Kaohsiung MRT]]]]

The "Dome of Light" in the concourse of [[Formosa Boulevard Station]] of [[Kaohsiung MRT]] is one of the world's largest public [[glass works]] of art.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kcg.gov.tw/EN/CP.aspx?n=AAB7A30122B33908&s=21A85FB72BB89072 |title=Art&Culture |publisher=Kaohsiung City Government |access-date=27 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921182752/http://www.kcg.gov.tw/EN/CP.aspx?n=AAB7A30122B33908&s=21A85FB72BB89072 |archive-date=21 September 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The city also has the [[Urban Spotlight Arcade]] spanning along the street in [[Cianjin District]]. Acknowledged as the largest performance arts center under one roof in the world Weiwuying ([[National_Kaohsiung_Center_for_the_Arts|the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts]]), opened in 2018. The center was designed by [[Mecanoo]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/oct/19/national-kaohsiung-centre-for-the-arts-taiwan-review-a-260m-cultural-paradise |title=Grand vision: The world's biggest arts venue opens in Taiwan |last=Wainwright |first=Oliver |date=20 October 2018 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=21 October 2018 |issue=53545 |location=London |page=19 |author-link=Oliver Wainwright |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021064449/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/oct/19/national-kaohsiung-centre-for-the-arts-taiwan-review-a-260m-cultural-paradise |archive-date=21 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Religion==
{{see also|Religion in Taiwan|Buddhism in Taiwan|Islam in Taiwan}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb=right
|caption=Religion in Taiwan (Government statistics, 2005)<ref name="moi">{{cite web |title=Taiwan Yearbook 2006 |publisher=Government of Information Office |year=2006 |url=http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/22Religion.htm |access-date=1 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708213510/http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/22Religion.htm |archive-date=8 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|label1=[[Buddhism]]
|value1=35.1
|color1=Gold
|label2=[[Taoism]]
|value2=33
|color2=Crimson
|label3=Christianity
|value3=3.9
|color3=DodgerBlue
|label4=[[Yiguandao]]
|value4=3.5
|color4=MediumVioletRed
|label5=[[Tiandism]]
|value5=2.2
|color5=DeepPink
|label6=[[Maitreya Great Tao|Miledadao]]
|value6=1.1
|color6=HotPink
|label7=[[Zailiism]]
|value7=0.8
|color7=Pink
|label8=Other or undeclared
|value8=2.4
|color8=Gray
|label9=[[Irreligion|Non-religious]]
|value9=18.7
|color9=DarkGray
}}

The religious population of Kaohsiung is mainly divided into five main religious groups: [[Buddhists]], [[Taoists]], [[Muslim]] and [[Christians]] ([[Catholics]] and [[Protestants]]). {{As of|2015}}, Kaohsiung City has 1,481 temples, the second highest in Taiwan after [[Tainan]]. Kaohsiung also has 306 churches.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Lee Hsin-fang |first2=Jake |last2=Chung |date=15 July 2015 |page=5 |title=Tainan has most of nation's 12,106 temples |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/07/15/2003623092 |newspaper=Taipei Times |access-date=15 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715111332/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/07/15/2003623092 |archive-date=15 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Buddhism===
Buddhism is one of the major religions in Taiwan, with over 35% of Taiwan's population identifying as Buddhists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yu |first=Pei-Lin |title=How Taiwanese death rituals have adapted for families living in the US |url=http://theconversation.com/how-taiwanese-death-rituals-have-adapted-for-families-living-in-the-us-131539 |access-date=2021-05-15 |website=The Conversation |date=21 July 2020 |language=en |archive-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515212403/https://theconversation.com/how-taiwanese-death-rituals-have-adapted-for-families-living-in-the-us-131539 |url-status=live }}</ref> The same applies to Kaohsiung city. Kaohsiung also hosts the largest [[Buddhist temple]] in Taiwan, the [[Fo Guang Shan Monastery]] with its [[Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum]]. There are also other famous Buddhist temples such as [[Fengshan Longshan Temple]] and [[Hong Fa Temple]].

===Taoism===
Around 33% of the Taiwanese population are Taoists, making it the second largest religion of Taiwan. Most people who believe in Taoism also ascribe to Buddhism at the same time, as the differences and boundaries between the two religions are not always clear. Many residents of the area also worship the sea goddess known as Tian Shang Sheng Mu ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|天上聖母}}) or [[Mazu]], who is variously [[syncretized]] as a [[Taoist immortal]] or embodiment of the [[bodhisattva]] [[Guanyin]]. Her temple on Cijin Island, [[Chi Jin Mazu Temple]], is the oldest in the city, with its original bamboo-and-thatch structure first opened in 1673. The area surrounding it formed the center of the city's early settlement.<ref name=herry>{{citation |contribution-url=http://heritage.khcc.gov.tw/english/Heritage.aspx?KeyID=740a98f3-eb1e-4e3b-aca2-29561ae6cd51 |contribution=Tianhou Temple at Cihou |url=http://heritage.khcc.gov.tw/english/index.aspx |title=Official site |year=2008 |publisher=Bureau of Cultural Affairs of the Kaohsiung City Government |location=Kaohsiung |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006000307/http://heritage.khcc.gov.tw/english/index.aspx |archive-date=6 October 2016 |url-status=dead}}. {{in lang|zh}}{{nbsp}}& {{in lang|en}}</ref> There are also other prominent Taoist temples such as [[Fengshan Tiangong Temple]], dedicated to the [[Jade Emperor]], [[Cih Ji Palace]], dedicated to [[Baosheng Dadi|Bao Sheng Da Di]], [[Zhouzi Qingshui Temple|Qing Shui Temple]], dedicated to [[Qingshui (monk)|Qing Shui Zu Shi]] and [[Gushan Daitian Temple]] dedicated to [[Wang Ye worship]].

===Christianity===
Christianity is a minority religion in Taiwan. It was first brought onto the island when the Dutch and Spanish colonized Taiwan during the 17th century, mostly to the aboriginals. Kaohsiung currently hosts around 56,000 Christians.

===Islam===
Besides the majority population of Buddhists and Taoists, Kaohsiung also includes a rather tiny population of [[Muslims]]. During the [[Chinese Civil War]], some 20,000 Muslims, mostly soldiers and civil servants, fled [[mainland China]] with the [[Kuomintang]] government to Taiwan.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Charette |first=Rick |date=2020-04-13 |title=The Muslim Experience in Taipei |url=https://international.thenewslens.com/article/133739 |access-date=2021-05-15 |website=The News Lens International Edition |language=en |archive-date=27 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227101020/https://international.thenewslens.com/article/133739 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the 1980s, another few thousand Muslims from [[Myanmar]] and [[Thailand]], who are mostly descendants of [[Nationalist Chinese|Nationalist]] soldiers who fled [[Yunnan]] as a result of the communist takeover, migrated to Taiwan in search of a better life, resulting in an increase of Muslim population within the country.<ref name=":1" /> More recently, with the rise of Indonesian workers working in Taiwan, an estimated number of 88,000 Indonesian Muslims currently live in the country, in addition to the existing 53,000 Taiwanese Muslims. Combining all demographics, Taiwan hosts around 140,000 Muslims, with around 25,000 living in Kaohsiung. [[Kaohsiung Mosque]] is the largest mosque in Kaohsiung and the main gathering site of Muslims within the city.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="160">
Fo Guang Shan.jpg|[[Foguangshan]] Temple
旗後天后宮.jpg|Cijing Tianhou Temple
玫瑰聖母主教座堂.JPG|[[Holy Rosary Cathedral, Kaohsiung|Holy Rosary Cathedral]]
Kaohsiung Mosque.JPG|[[Kaohsiung Mosque]]
</gallery>

==Politics==
[[File:Chen Chi-mai election infobox.jpg|thumb|185x185px|[[Chen Chi-mai]], the incumbent [[Mayor of Kaohsiung]]]]

===Government===
{{main|Kaohsiung City Government|Kaohsiung City Council}}
{{see also|List of mayors of Kaohsiung|List of county magistrates of Kaohsiung}}

Sometimes Kaohsiung used to be seen as the political opposite of Taipei. While northern Taiwan leans towards the [[Pan-Blue Coalition]] in the state-level elections, southern Taiwan, including Kaohsiung, leaned towards the [[Pan-Green Coalition]] since the late 1990s. [[Frank Hsieh]] of the [[Democratic Progressive Party]] was reelected twice as Mayor of Kaohsiung, where he was widely credited for transforming the city from an industrial sprawl into an attractive modern metropolis. Hsieh resigned from the office of mayor to take up the office of [[Premier of the Republic of China]] in 2005. The [[2005–06 Taiwanese local elections|municipal election, held on 9 December 2006]], resulted in a victory for the [[Democratic Progressive Party]]'s candidate [[Chen Chu]], the first elected female mayor of [[Special municipality of Taiwan|special municipality]] in Taiwan, defeating her [[Kuomintang]] rival and former deputy mayor, [[Huang Jun-ying]]. As of 12 June 2020, the mayor of Kaohsiung City is [[Chen Chi-mai]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lin |first=Sean |date=12 June 2020 |title=Yang to Become Acting Kaohsiung Mayor: Source |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/06/12/2003738078 |work=[[Taipei Times]] |page=1 |access-date=5 October 2022 |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817155711/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/06/12/2003738078 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<gallery widths="200" heights="155">
File:Kaohsiung City Hall (Dec 2010).JPG|alt=Kaohsiung City Hall|[[Kaohsiung City Government]] – Sihwei Administration Center
File:Fongshan Administration Center, Kaohsiung City Government 20140720.jpg|alt=Kaohsiung City Hall|[[Kaohsiung City Government]] – Fongshan Administration Center
File:Hall of Kaohsiung City Council.JPG|[[Kaohsiung City Council]]
File:高雄地方法院.JPG|Kaohsiung [[District Courts (Republic of China)|District Court]]
</gallery>

===Subdivisions===
Kaohsiung is divided into 38 [[District (Taiwan)|districts]], three of which are mountain indigenous districts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kcg.gov.tw/EN/cp.aspx?n=C8B81163CD9BA0FD |access-date=26 April 2019 |publisher=Kaohsiung City Government |title=Administrative Districts |date=30 September 2016 |quote=Taoyuan District Maolin District Namasia District Jiasian District Liouguei District Shanlin District Meinong District Neimen District Cishan District Dashu District Daliao District Zihguan District Linyuan District Tianliao District Yanchao District Dashe District Renwu District Siaogang District Fongshan District Mituo District Alian District Gangshan District Niaosong District Ciaotou District Nanzih District Zuoying District Gushan District Sanmin District Sinsing District Cianjin District Yancheng District Lingya District Cijin District Cianjhen District Hunei District Lujhu District Cheting District Yongan District |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121184636/https://www.kcg.gov.tw/EN/cp.aspx?n=C8B81163CD9BA0FD |archive-date=21 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kcg.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=07880B28C8E3EAEA |script-title=zh:認識高雄 |trans-title=Understanding Kaohsiung |language=zh-tw |publisher=Kaoshiung City Government |access-date=27 April 2019 |quote={{lang|zh-Hant|高雄市行政區劃分District 楠梓區 左營區 鼓山區 三民區 苓雅區 新興區 前金區 鹽埕區 前鎮區 旗津區 小港區 鳳山區 茂林區 甲仙區 六龜區 杉林區 美濃區 內門區 仁武區 田寮區 旗山區 梓官區 阿蓮區 湖內區 岡山區 茄萣區 路竹區 鳥松區 永安區 燕巢區 大樹區 大寮區 林園區 彌陀區 橋頭區 大社區 那瑪夏區 桃源區}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011233226/https://www.kcg.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=07880B28C8E3EAEA |archive-date=11 October 2019 |url-status=live|date=30 September 2016 }}</ref><ref name="moien">{{cite web|date=16 June 2011 |script-title=zh:臺灣地區鄉鎮市區級以上行政區域名稱中英對照表 |url=http://placesearch.moi.gov.tw/translate/Admin1000616.pdf |pages=4–6|publisher=Online Translation System of Geographic Name, [[Ministry of Interior of the Republic of China|Ministry of Interior]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325205328/http://placesearch.moi.gov.tw/translate/Admin1000616.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2012 |quote={{lang|zh-Hant|高雄市 Kaohsiung City Gaoxiong City 直轄市、縣（市）級以上 行政區域名稱係依國際 慣用方式譯寫 鹽埕區 Yancheng District 鼓山區 Gushan District 左營區 Zuoying District{...}楠梓區 Nanzi District 三民區 Sanmin District 新興區 Xinxing District 前金區 Qianjin District 苓雅區 Lingya District 前鎮區 Qianzhen District 旗津區 Qijin District 小港區 Xiaogang District 鳳山區 Fengshan District 林園區 Linyuan District 大寮區 Daliao District 大樹區 Dashu District 大社區 Dashe District 仁武區 Renwu District 鳥松區 Niaosong District 岡山區 Gangshan District 橋頭區 Qiaotou District 燕巢區 Yanchao District 田寮區 Tianliao District 阿蓮區 Alian District 路竹區 Luzhu District 湖內區 Hunei District 茄萣區 Qieding District 永安區 Yong’an District 彌陀區 Mituo District 梓官區 Ziguan District 旗山區 Qishan District 美濃區 Meinong District 六龜區 Liugui District 甲仙區 Jiaxian District 杉林區 Shanlin District 內門區 Neimen District{...}茂林區 Maolin District 桃源區 Taoyuan District 那瑪夏區 Namaxia District}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.moi.gov.tw/files/site_stuff/321/1/month/m1-07.xls |script-title=zh:1.7-鄉鎮市區戶口數 |trans-title=Population for Township and District |date=August 2020 |access-date=21 September 2020 |website=[[Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)|Ministry of the Interior]] |quote=高雄市 Kaohsiung City鹽埕區 Yancheng District鼓山區 Gushan District左營區 Zuoying District楠梓區 Nanzih District三民區 Sanmin District新興區 Sinsing District前金區 Cianjin District苓雅區 Lingya District前鎮區 Cianjhen District旗津區 Cijin District小港區 Siaogang District鳳山區 Fongshan District林園區 Linyuan District大寮區 Daliao District大樹區 Dashu District大社區 Dashe District仁武區 Renwu District鳥松區 Niaosong District岡山區 Gangshan District橋頭區 Ciaotou District燕巢區 Yanchao District田寮區 Tianliao District阿蓮區 Alian District路竹區 Lujhu District湖內區 Hunei District茄萣區 Jiading District永安區 Yongan District彌陀區 Mituo District梓官區 Zihguan District旗山區 Cishan District美濃區 Meinong District六龜區 Liouguei District甲仙區 Jiasian District杉林區 Shanlin District內門區 Neimen District茂林區 Maolin District桃源區 Taoyuan District那瑪夏區 Namasia District |language=zh-tw,en |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612184854/https://www.moi.gov.tw/files/site_stuff/321/1/month/m1-07.xls |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are a total of 651 [[Village (Taiwan)|villages]] in which each village is subdivided into [[neighborhoods]] (鄰). There are 18,584 neighborhoods in Kaohsiung City. [[Lingya District|Lingya]] and [[Fongshan District|Fongshan]] districts are the administrative centers of the city while Lingya and Sinsing Districts are the two most densely populated districts of the city. Kaohsiung has the most numbers of districts among other [[Special municipality (Taiwan)|special municipalities]] in Taiwan.
{|
|valign=top|<div style="position: relative;">[[File:Kaohsiung labelled map.png|thumb|400px|Kaohsiung City administrative divisions map]]
{{Image label small|x=-95.0|y=-335.0|scale=-1|text=[[Alian District|Alian]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-130.0|y=-464.0|scale=-1|text=[[Daliao District|Daliao]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-116.0|y=-397.0|scale=-1|text=[[Dashe District|Dashe]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-145.0|y=-408.0|scale=-1|text=[[Dashu District|Dashu]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-102.0|y=-452.0|scale=-1|text=[[Fongshan District|Fongshan]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-75.0|y=-365.0|scale=-1|text=[[Gangshan District|Gangshan]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-55.0|y=-325.0|scale=-1|text=[[Hunei District|Hunei]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-30.0|y=-339.0|scale=-1|text=[[Qieding District|Cieding]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-222.0|y=-225.0|scale=-1|text=[[Jiasian District|Jiasian]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-119.0|y=-501.0|scale=-1|text=[[Linyuan District|Linyuan]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-234.0|y=-256.0|scale=-1|text=[[Liouguei District|Liouguei]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-69.0|y=-342.0|scale=-1|text=[[Lujhu District|Lujhu]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-270.0|y=-311.0|scale=-1|text=[[Maolin District|Maolin]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-185.0|y=-325.0|scale=-1|text=[[Meinong District|Meinong]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-52.0|y=-378.0|scale=-1|text=[[Mituo District|Mituo]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-250.0|y=-160.0|scale=-1|text=[[Namasia District|Namasia]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-79.0|y=-405.0|scale=-1|text=[[Nanzih District|Nanzih]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-155.0|y=-295.0|scale=-1|text=[[Neimen District|Neimen]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-105.0|y=-433.0|scale=-1|text=[[Niaosong District|Niaosong]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-83.0|y=-385.0|scale=-1|text=[[Ciaotou District|Ciaotou]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-160.0|y=-347.0|scale=-1|text=[[Cishan District|Cishan]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-110.0|y=-415.0|scale=-1|text=[[Renwu District|Renwu]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-197.0|y=-279.0|scale=-1|text=[[Shanlin District|Shanlin]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-300.0|y=-185.0|scale=-1|text=[[Taoyuan District, Kaohsiung|Taoyuan]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-121.0|y=-338.0|scale=-1|text=[[Tianliao District|Tianliao]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-100.0|y=-480.0|scale=-1|text=[[Siaogang District|Siaogang]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-106.0|y=-375.0|scale=-1|text=[[Yanchao District|Yanchao]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-32.0|y=-357.0|scale=-1|text=[[Yong'an District|Yong'an]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-66.0|y=-422.0|scale=-1|text=[[Zuoying District|Zuoying]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-45.0|y=-395.0|scale=-1|text=[[Zihguan District|Zihguan]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-283.0|y=-403.0|scale=-1|text=[[Gushan District|Gushan]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-367.0|y=-454.0|scale=-1|text=[[Lingya District|Lingya]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-320.0|y=-450.0|scale=-1|text=[[Cianjin District|Cianjin]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-344.0|y=-505.0|scale=-1|text=[[Cianjhen District|Cianjhen]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-303.0|y=-530.0|scale=-1|text=[[Cijin District, Kaohsiung|Cijin]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-355.0|y=-415.0|scale=-1|text=[[Sanmin District|Sanmin]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-335.0|y=-442.0|scale=-1|text=[[Sinsing District|Sinsing]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-291.0|y=-460.0|scale=-1|text=[[Yancheng District, Kaohsiung|Yancheng]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-154.0|y=-78.0|scale=-1|text=[[Chiayi City|<span style="color:green;">Chiayi City</span>]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-82.0|y=-253.0|scale=-1|text=[[Tainan City|<span style="color:green;">Tainan City</span>]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-395.0|y=-100.0|scale=-1|text=[[Hualien County|<span style="color:green;">Hualien County</span>]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-246.0|y=-99.0|scale=-1|text=[[Chiayi County|<span style="color:green;">Chiayi County</span>]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-377.0|y=-45.0|scale=-1|text=[[Nantou County|<span style="color:green;">Nantou County</span>]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-169.0|y=-452.0|scale=-1|text=[[Pingtung County|<span style="color:green;">Pingtung County</span>]]}}
{{Image label small|x=-393.0|y=-299.0|scale=-1|text=[[Taitung County|<span style="color:green;">Taitung County</span>]]}}
</div>
|valign=top|[[File:Population density map of Kaohsiung (Dec 2009).svg|thumb|300px|Kaohsiung City's population density 2009]]
|valign=top|[[File:Kaohsiung Districts.PNG|thumb|Kaohsiung City with its districts before merger with Kaohsiung County in 2010]]
|}
:<small>Note: There are several [[Romanization of Chinese in Taiwan|romanization systems used in Taiwan]]. This table contains both [[Hanyu Pinyin]] (the official standard of the [[Government of the Republic of China|central government]]),<ref>{{cite web |title=Glossary of Names for Admin Divisions |url=http://placesearch.moi.gov.tw/translate/Admin1010320.pdf |website=placesearch.moi.gov.tw |publisher=Ministry of Interior of the ROC |access-date=18 March 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6athTxlTm?url=http://placesearch.moi.gov.tw/translate/Admin1010320.pdf |archive-date=19 August 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Tongyong Pinyin]] (the official standard of the [[Kaohsiung City Government]]). The major order of districts referred to the code of administrative area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Untitled |url=http://www.dgbas.gov.tw/public/Attachment/012241754371.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721184010/http://www.dgbas.gov.tw/public/Attachment/012241754371.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 |language=Traditional Chinese |location=Taipei |publisher=[[Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics]] |access-date=5 October 2022}}</ref></small>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Code
!English name
!Native name!!Population{{efn|September 2023|name=|group=}}!!Area<br>(km<sup>2</sup>)
!Population density (/km<sup>2</sup>)
!Population 2010{{efn|December 2010}}
!Population change{{efn|September 2023 − December 2010|name=|group=}}
|-
|64000010
|[[Yancheng District, Kaohsiung|Yancheng District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|鹽埕區}}||22,505||1.42
|16,843.66
|27,399
|−4,894
|-
|64000020
|[[Gushan District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|鼓山區}}||140,492||	14.75
|9,573.42
|131,728
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>8,764
|-
|64000030
|[[Zuoying District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|左營區}}||196,953||	19.38
|10,210.37
|191,991
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>4,962
|-
|64000040
|[[Nanzih District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|楠梓區}}||192,777||25.83
|7,287.69
|173,053
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>19,724
|-
|64000050
|[[Sanmin District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|三民區}}||331,864||19.79
|17,156.54
|354,022
|−22,158
|-
|64000060
|[[Sinsing District, Kaohsiung|Sinsing District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|新興區}}||49,495||1.98
|25,775.76
|55,287
|−5,792
|-
|64000070
|[[Cianjin District, Kaohsiung|Cianjin District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|前金區}}||27,033||1.86
|14,466.67
|28,859
|−1,826
|-
|64000080
|[[Lingya District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|苓雅區}}||163,779||8.15
|20,714.85
|183,948
|−20,169
|-
|64000090
|[[Cianjhen District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|前鎮區}}||180,233||19.12
|9,809.62
|199,144
|−18,911
|-
|64000100
|[[Cijin District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|旗津區}}||26,301||1.46
|19,225.34
|29,968
|−3,667
|-
|64000110
|[[Siaogang District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|小港區}}||155,042|| 45.44
|3,474.93
|154,548
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>494
|-
|64000120
|[[Fongshan District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|鳳山區}}||356,397||26.76
|13,456.95
|341,120
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>15,277
|-
|64000130
|[[Linyuan District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|林園區}}||68,328||32.29
|2,155.40
|70,512
|−2,184
|-
|64000140
|[[Daliao District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|大寮區}}||111,910||71.04
|1,580.60
|108,984
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>2,946
|-
|64000150
|[[Dashu District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|大樹區}}||40,505||66.98
|628.28
|43,955
|−3,450
|-
|64000160
|[[Dashe District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|大社區}}||33,689||26.58
|1,294.96
|32,941
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>748
|-
|64000170
|[[Renwu District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|仁武區}}||97,008||36.08
|2,489.05
|72,202
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>24,806
|-
|64000180
|[[Niaosong District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|鳥松區}}||44,468||24.59
|1,826.96
|42,595
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>1,873
|-
|64000190
|[[Gangshan District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|岡山區}}||95,533||47.94
|2,026.49
|97,102
|−1,569
|-
|64000200
|[[Ciaotou District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|橋頭區}}||41,488||25.94
|1,477.33
|36,415
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>5,073
|-
|64000210
|[[Yanchao District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|燕巢區}}||28,777||65.40
|453.72
|30,790
|−2,013
|-
|64000220
|[[Tianliao District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|田寮區}}||6,549||92.68
|75.92
|8,214
|−1,665
|-
|64000230
|[[Alian District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|阿蓮區}}||27,465||34.62
|823.45
|30,383
|−2,918
|-
|64000240
|[[Lujhu District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|路竹區}}||50,396||48.43
|1,077.60
|53,791
|−3,395
|-
|64000250
|[[Hunei District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|湖內區}}||29,629||20.16
|1,474.26
|28,827
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>802
|-
|64000260
|[[Qieding District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|茄萣區}}||29,292||15.76
|1,905.52
|31,433
|−2,141
|-
|64000270
|[[Yong'an District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|永安區}}||13,855||22.61
|608.85
|14,301
|−446
|-
|64000280
|[[Mituo District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|彌陀區}}||18,331||14.78
|1,287.21
|20,433
|−2,102
|-
|64000290
|[[Ziguan District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|梓官區}}||34,813||11.60
|3,081.12
|36,726
|−1,913
|-
|64000300
|[[Cishan District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|旗山區}}||34,390||94.61
|383.54
|39,873
|−5,483
|-
|64000310
|[[Meinong District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|美濃區}}||37,116||120.03
|325.69
|42,993
|−5,877
|-
|64000320
|[[Liouguei District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|六龜區}}||11,731||194.16
|64.99
|14,833
|−3,102
|-
|64000330
|[[Jiasian District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|甲仙區}}||5,584||124.03
|47.77
|7,228
|−1,644
|-
|64000340
|[[Shanlin District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|杉林區}}||10,970||104.00
|112.13
|11,842
|−872
|-
|64000350
|[[Neimen District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|內門區}}||13,258||95.62
|148.34
|15,951
|−2,693
|-
|64000360
|[[Maolin District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|茂林區}}||1,893||194.00
|10.01
|1,874
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>19
|-
|64000370
|[[Taoyuan District, Kaohsiung|Taoyuan District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|桃源區}}||4,249||928.98
|4.58
|4,817
|−568
|-
|64000380
|[[Namasia District]]||{{lang|zh-Hant-TW|那瑪夏區}}||3,163||252.99
|12.44
|3,401
|−238
|}

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦---> 
*[[Yoshikazu Sunako]] (1932–2020), Japanese motorcycle racer and racing driver
*[[Tony Hwang]] (1964–), Taiwanese-American politician
*[[Wu Kuo-chu|Kuo-chu Wu]] (1970–2006), Taiwanese choreographer
*[[George Chou]] (1975–), Taiwanese racing driver
*[[Lu Chen (magician)|Lu Chen]] (1976), Taiwanese magician
*[[Tony Sun]] (Chinese Name: 孫協志) Born: 20 February 1978 in Fengshan District - (leader of Taiwanese group, 5566)
*[[Janet Hsieh]] (1980–), Taiwanese-Amercian actor and host
*[[Chuang Chih-yuan]] (1981–), Taiwanese table tennis player
*[[Wei-Yin Chen]] (1985–), Taiwanese baseball player
*[[Joe Alexander]] (1986–), Taiwanese-born American-Israeli basketball player
*[[Chen Yi-wei|Yi-wei Chen]] (1987–), Taiwanese soccer player
*[[Eddy Chen]] (1992–), Taiwanese-Australian violinist and Member of [[TwoSet Violin]]
*[[Tzu-Wei Lin]] (1994–), Taiwanese baseball player
*[[Tai Tzu-ying|Tzu-ying Tai]] (1994–), Taiwanese badminton player

==Transportation==
===Port of Kaohsiung===
{{main|Port of Kaohsiung}}
[[File:Ddm 2004 028 Kaohsiung Harbor.jpg|thumb|Northern portion of Kaohsiung harbor viewed from Cijin island lighthouse hill]]

A major port, through which pass most of Taiwan's marine imports and exports, is located in the city but is not managed by the city government. Instead, it is administered by Kaohsiung Port Authority, under the Ministry of Transportation. There is a push for Kaohsiung City to annex the Port of Kaohsiung to facilitate better regional planning.

Also known as the "Harbour Capital" of Taiwan, Kaohsiung has always had a strong link with the ocean and maritime transportation. [[Ferries]] play a key role in everyday transportation, especially for transportation across the harbor. With five terminals and 23 berths, the ''Port of Kaohsiung'' is Taiwan's largest [[container port]] and the 13th largest in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldshipping.org/about-the-industry/global-trade/top-50-world-container-ports |title=Top 50 World Container Ports {{!}} World Shipping Council|website=www.worldshipping.org |access-date=4 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115163646/http://www.worldshipping.org/about-the-industry/global-trade/top-50-world-container-ports |archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007 the port reached its handling capacity with a record trade volume of {{TEU|10.2&nbsp;million|first=yes}}.<ref name="LLDCN">{{cite news |last=Dale |first=Jamie |title=Kaohsiung container port hits full capacity |work=Lloyd's List Daily Commercial News |page=16 |publisher=Informa Australia |date=17 January 2008}}</ref> A new container terminal is under construction, increasing future handling capacity by {{TEU|2 million}} by 2013.<ref name="LLDCN" />

Kaohsiung is one of the biggest ports in the world for importing [[Shark finning|shark fins]], sold at high prices in the restaurants and shops of Taiwan and China.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ling |first=Lisa |date=2008-12-10 |title=Shark fin soup alters an ecosystem - CNN.com |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/10/pip.shark.finning/index.html |access-date=2021-05-15 |website=CNN |archive-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515102202/https://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/10/pip.shark.finning/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They are brought in from overseas and are placed out to dry in the sun on residential rooftops near the port.

===Kaohsiung International Airport===
[[File:高雄國際機場.JPG|thumb|[[Kaohsiung International Airport]]]]

Kaohsiung City is also home to Taiwan's second-largest international airport, the [[Kaohsiung International Airport]], located in [[Siaogang District]] near the city's center. It is one of the three major international airports of Taiwan, serving passengers of the entire southern and southeastern part of the country. However, the size of the airport is relatively small, with short runways compared to other major airports of Taiwan due to its age and its location near the city center, making it impossible for large aircraft such as the [[Airbus A380]] to land at the airport. As a result, plans for work to begin on a new terminal is expected to start in 2023, and could handle up to 16.5 million passengers once complete.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/kaohsiung-airport-expansion-to-start-in-2023-as-taiwan-reopens-to-travellers/150522.article | title=Kaohsiung airport expansion to start in 2023 as Taiwan reopens to travellers }}</ref>
===Rapid transit===
[[File:Kaohsiung MRT Train at World Games Station.jpg|thumb|The [[Kaohsiung MRT]]]]
[[File:KMRT_CAF_train_2016-08-27.jpg|thumb|The [[Circular Line (KMRT)|Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail]]]]

[[Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit]] opened for service in March 2008. The MRT is made up of two lines with 37 stations covering a distance of {{cvt|42.7|km|mi}}.<ref name="intro">{{cite web |url=http://mtbu.kcg.gov.tw/english/intro.php |title=Introduction: Welcome to MBTU |publisher=Mass Rapid Transit Bureau, Kaohsiung City |access-date=2014-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302035441/http://mtbu.kcg.gov.tw/english/intro.php |archive-date=2 March 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Two of Kaohsiung's MRT stations, [[Formosa Boulevard Station]] and [[Central Park metro station (Taiwan)|Central Park Station]], were ranked among the top 50 most beautiful subway systems in the world by Metrobits.org in 2011.<ref name="top50">{{cite web |url=http://mic-ro.com/metro/metroart.html |title=A guide to the fifty most beautiful subway systems in the world |publisher=Metrobits.org |date=1 December 2011 |access-date=29 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202064053/http://mic-ro.com/metro/metroart.html |archive-date=2 December 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, the two stations respectively are ranked as the 2nd and the 4th among the top 15 most beautiful subway stops in the world by BootsnAll.<ref name="top15">{{cite web |url=http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/11-11/15-of-the-coolest-subway-stops-in-the-world.html?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150506755310130_24174480_10150724519595130#f106de176 |title=15 of the Most Beautiful Subway Stops in the World |publisher=BootsnAll |access-date=29 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416125617/http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/11-11/15-of-the-coolest-subway-stops-in-the-world.html?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150506755310130_24174480_10150724519595130#f106de176 |archive-date=16 April 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Circular Light Rail===
[[File:Kaohsiung-skyline-2018.jpg|thumb|Skyline of Kaohsiung viewed from [[Cianjhen Star light rail station]]]]
[[File:THSR Zuoying Station and TRA New Zuoying Station 20080712.jpg|thumb|[[Zuoying Station (HSR)|Zuoying Station]] of [[THSR]]]]

The [[Circular Line (KMRT)|Circular Light Rail Line]] (also known as the Kaohsiung LRT, Kaohsiung Tram) for Kaohsiung City is a [[light rail]] line. Construction of Phase 1, known as the Waterside Light Rail began in June 2013 and is in full operation since September 2017. To combat air pollution, usage of the light rail, as well as buses, was made free of charge for electronic ticket holders from December to February, when air pollution is at its peak.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/12/01/2003683246 |title=Kaohsiung makes public transport free – Taipei Times |website=Taipei Times |access-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130183533/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/12/01/2003683246 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Railway===
The city is served by the [[Taiwan Railways Administration]]'s [[West Coast line (Taiwan)|Western Line]] and [[Pingtung Line]]. [[Kaohsiung Main Station]] is an underground station, replacing the old ground level station.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=David |date=2018-10-17 |title=Riding Taiwan's newest transport link: the TRA Kaohsiung City Network {{!}} Taiwan News {{!}} 2018-10-17 14:25:00 |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3554281 |access-date=2021-05-15 |website=Taiwan News |archive-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515102204/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3554281 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===High Speed Railway===
Since 2007, [[Taiwan High Speed Rail]] has served Kaohsiung via [[Zuoying HSR station]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.thsrc.com.tw/corp/6f1fd8e0-9e5a-4670-871c-a08c408bb1a0 | title=台灣高鐵 Taiwan High Speed Rail }}</ref> On January 4, 2023, the Pingtung HSR extension was approved by Premier Su Zhenchang, and the High Speed Rail extension was confirmed to bypass central Kaohsiung City and [[Kaohsiung Main Station]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/route-of-kaohsiung-pingtung-high-speed-extension-agreed/63338.article | title=Route of Kaohsiung – Pingtung high speed extension agreed |website=Railway Gazette International|date=16 January 2023}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:WorkdGame2009 Stadium completed.jpg|thumb|[[National Stadium (Kaohsiung)|National Stadium]]]]

Kaohsiung is home to Taiwan's largest international-class stadium, the [[National Stadium (Kaohsiung)|National Stadium]], with a maximum capacity of 55,000 seats, as well as [[Kaohsiung Arena]]. The city hosted the [[2009 World Games]] at the National Stadium. Nearly 6,000 athletes, officials, coaches, referees and others from 103 countries participated in the 2009 Kaohsiung World Games.

Taiwan's [[Chinese Professional Baseball League]] has a professional baseball team, [[TSG Hawks]], based in Kaohsiung.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=Baseball league welcomes sixth team |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/06/09/2003779610 |website=Taipei Times |date=9 June 2022 |publisher=The Taipei Times |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=1 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101200130/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/06/09/2003779610 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kaohsiung also has two professional basketball teams, the [[Kaohsiung Aquas]] of the [[T1 League]]<ref>{{cite web |title=關於T1 |url=https://t1league.basketball/about |publisher=T1 League |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=1 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101200130/https://t1league.basketball/about |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers]] of the [[P. League+]].<ref>{{cite web |title=關於 P. League+ |url=https://pleagueofficial.com/about |publisher=P. League+ |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120141412/https://pleagueofficial.com/about |url-status=live }}</ref> Kaohsiung was also home to the [[Kaohsiung Truth]] of the [[ASEAN Basketball League]]. They were the first team in the history of the league that was based outside Southeast Asia. The team folded in 2017.

Other recent major sporting events held by Kaohsiung include:
*[[2001 Asian Cycling Championships]]
*[[2005 WPA World Nine-ball Championship]]
*[[2011 AFC President's Cup]]
*[[2013 World Modern Pentathlon Championships]]
*[[2016 Asian Men's U20 Volleyball Championship]]
*[[WTA Taiwan Open]] (2016)
*[[2019 U-19 Asia Rugby Championship]]
*[[Kaohsiung Fubon Marathon]] (held annually)

==Education==
{{see also|List of schools in Taiwan|List of international schools in Taiwan|List of universities in Taiwan|}}
[[File:NSYSU campus day03.JPG|thumb|The campus of [[National Sun Yat-sen University]]]]
[[File:KSHS.JPG|thumb|[[Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Senior High School]]]]
[[File:陸軍軍官學校大門.jpg|thumb|Front gate of the [[Republic of China Military Academy]]]]
[[File:Republic of China Air Force Academy Main Gate Front 20111015b.jpg|thumb|Front gate of the [[Republic of China Air Force Academy]]]]

Kaohsiung has a number of colleges and junior colleges offering training in commerce, education, maritime technology, medicine, modern languages, nursing, and technology, as well as various [[international schools]] and eight national military schools, including the three major military academies of the country, the [[Republic of China Military Academy]], [[Republic of China Naval Academy]] and [[Republic of China Air Force Academy]].

'''Universities'''
*[[I-Shou University]]
*[[Kaohsiung Medical University]]
*[[National Kaohsiung Normal University]]
*[[National Sun Yat-sen University]]
*[[National University of Kaohsiung]]

'''Technical and vocational universities'''
*[[Cheng Shiu University]]
*[[Fooyin University]]
*[[National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism]]
*[[National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology]]
*[[Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages]]

'''High schools and junior high schools'''

*The Affiliated Hospitality Senior High School of National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism
*The Affiliated Senior High School of National Kaohsiung Normal University
*Cheng Yi Senior High School
*Chung Cheng Armed Forces Preparatory School
*Chung Shan Industrial & Commercial School
*Chung-Hwa School of Arts
*FUHWA Senior High School
*Guoguang Laboratory School, National Sun Yat-sen University
*Kao-Feng Vocational High School
*Kaohsiung Dah Yung Senior High School
*Kaohsiung Municipal Chung-Cheng Industrial High School
*Kaohsiung Municipal Chungshan Senior High School
*Kaohsiung Municipal Cianjhen Senior High School
*Kaohsiung Municipal Fu Cheng High School
*[[Kaohsiung Municipal Gushan Senior High School]]
*Kaohsiung Municipal Haiching Vocational High School of Technology and Commerce
*[[Kaohsiung Municipal Jhong-Jheng Senior High School|Kaohsiung Municipal Jhongjheng Senior High School]]
*[[Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Girls' Senior High School]]
*Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Industrial High School
*Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Senior High School
*Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Vocational High School of Commerce
*Kaohsiung Municipal Lujhu Senior High School
*[[Kaohsiung Municipal Nanzih Comprehensive Senior High School]]
*Kaohsiung Municipal Renwu Senior High School
*Kaohsiung Municipal Rueisiang High School
*Kaohsiung Municipal Sanmin Home Economics & Commerce Vocational High School
*Kaohsiung Municipal Sanmin Senior High School
*Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Senior High School
*Kaohsiung Municipal Sinsing Senior High School
*[[Kaohsiung Municipal Tsoying Senior High School]]
*Kaohsiung Municipal Hsin Chuang Senior High School
*Lichih Senior High School
*[[National FengHsin Senior High School|National Feng-Hsin Senior High School]]
*[[National Fengshan Senior High School|National Feng-Shan Senior High School]]
*[[National FongShan Senior Commercial & Industrial Vocational School]]
*National Kangshan Agricultural & Industrial Vocational Senior High School
*National Kangshan Senior High School
*Saint Dominic's Catholic High School
*Sansin High School of Commerce And Home Economics Kaohsiung
*Shu-Te Home economics & Commercial High School
*Sin-Guang Senior High School
*Taiwan Kaohsiung St. Paul's High School

'''International schools'''
*Dominican International School Kaohsiung
*[[I-Shou International School]] 
*[[Kaohsiung American School]] 
*[[Kivam Junior High School]]
*[[Morrison Academy Kaohsiung]]

'''Military schools'''
*{{ill|Chung Cheng Armed Forces Preparatory School|zh|中正國防幹部預備學校}}
*[[Republic of China Air Force Academy]]
*{{ill|Republic of China Air Force Institute of Technology|zh|中華民國空軍航空技術學院}}
*{{ill|Republic of China Army Infantry School|zh|陆军步兵训练指挥部}}
*{{ill|Republic of China Marine Corps School|zh|中華民國海軍陸戰隊學校}}
*[[Republic of China Military Academy]]
*[[Republic of China Naval Academy]]

<small>(Note: The lists above are not comprehensive.)</small>

==Conferences and events==
The [[Kaohsiung Exhibition Center]], built by the [[Kaohsiung City Government]], was opened on 14 April 2014. It includes an exhibition space for 1,500 booths, and a convention hall for 2,000 people.

The center hosted the Taiwan International Boat Show in May 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaohsiung's new venue |url=http://www.ttgmice.com/magazine/?ID=32140&term_id=124&issues=229 |publisher=TTGmice |access-date=18 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205145340/http://www.ttgmice.com/magazine/?term_id=124&issues=229&ID=32140 |archive-date=5 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Another conference and event-related venue is the newly renovated [[International Convention Center Kaohsiung]] in 2013.

==Sister cities and friendship cities==
There are three [[Consulates]] in Kaohsiung.{{USA}} [[American Institute in Taiwan Kaohsiung Branch Office|Institute in Taiwan Kaohsiung Branch Office]], {{JPN}} [[Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Kaohsiung Office|-Taiwan Exchange Association Kaohsiung Office]], {{PHI}} [[Philippines Representative Office Kaohsiung Branch in Taiwan|Representative Office Kaohsiung Branch in Taiwan]].

Kaohsiung is twinned with the following locations:<ref>{{cite web|title=高雄市姊妹市及友好夥伴城市|url=https://sistercity.kcg.gov.tw/Default.aspx|publisher=高雄市政府|accessdate=2025-10-23|archive-date=2025-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251023134012/https://sistercity.kcg.gov.tw/Default.aspx|url-status=live|language=zh-TW}}</ref>
;Asia
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Hachiōji|Hachiōji City]], Tokyo Metropolis, Japan
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Kumamoto|Kumamoto City]], Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Kumamoto Prefecture]], Japan
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Sado, Niigata|Sado City]], Niigata Prefecture, Japan
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Aomori Prefecture]], Japan
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Mutsu, Aomori|Mutsu City]], Aomori Prefecture, Japan
*{{flagdeco|KOR}} [[Busan]], South Korea
*{{flagdeco|KOR}} [[Daegu]], South Korea
*{{flagdeco|KOR}} [[Daejeon]], South Korea
*{{flagdeco|KOR}} [[Suwon]], [[Gyeonggi Province]], South Korea
*{{flagdeco|VNM}} [[Da Nang]], Vietnam
*{{flagdeco|PHL}} [[Cebu City|Cebu]], [[Central Visayas]], Philippines
*{{flagdeco|PHL}} [[Dipolog]], [[Zamboanga Peninsula]], Philippines<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bpw-taiwan.org.tw/?p=3090&lang=en |title=Yancheng District of Kaohsiung and Dipolog City of Philippines |website=International Federation of Business and Professional Women, Taiwan |date=25 September 2018 |access-date=25 September 2018 |archive-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802193527/http://www.bpw-taiwan.org.tw/?p=3090&lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1007401 |title=Dipolog women's group inks sisterhood agreement with Kaoshiung,Taiwan |website=Philippine Information Agency |access-date=23 August 2023 |archive-date=7 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607043018/http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1007401 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*{{flagdeco|MDV}} [[Malé]], Maldives
*{{flagdeco|PLW}} [[Koror]], [[Palau]]
{{Div col end}}
;America
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Orange County, New York|Orange County]], [[New York (state)|Yew York]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]], United States 
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Pensacola, Florida]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Miami]], [[Florida]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Little Rock, Arkansas]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Macon, Georgia]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Plains, Georgia]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Mobile, Alabama]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Portland, Oregon]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[San Antonio]], Texas, United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[King County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States
*{{flagdeco|BLZ}} [[Belize City]], Belize
*{{flagdeco|CRC}} [[Cartago, Costa Rica|Cartago]], Costa Rica
*{{flagdeco|PAN}} [[Panama City]], Panama<ref>{{cite web |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201609050035.aspx |title=Kaohsiung, Panama City forge sister city relations – Politics – FOCUS TAIWAN – CNA ENGLISH NEWS |website=Focustaiwan.tw |date=5 September 2016 |access-date=3 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020032816/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201609050035.aspx |archive-date=20 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagdeco|KNA}} [[Basseterre|Basseterre City]], [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]]

*{{flagdeco|COL}} [[Barranquilla]], Colombia
{{Div col end}}
;Europe
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagdeco|GER}} [[Erzgebirgskreis]], [[Saxony]], Germany
*{{flagdeco|KOS}} [[Pristina]], Kosovo<ref>{{cite news |url=https://telegrafi.com/binjakezimi-prishtines-kaohsiung-te-tawanit-rama-e-quan-dite-historike-per-kryeqytetin/ |title=Binjakëzimi i Prishtinës me Kaohsiung të Tawanit, Rama e quan ditë historike për kryeqytetin |language=Albanian |trans-title=Twinning of Prishtina with Kaohsiung of Taiwan, Rama calls it a historical day for the city |work=[[Telegrafi]] |location=Pristina |date=2024-03-22 |accessdate=2024-03-22 }}</ref>
*{{flagdeco|SVK}} [[Bratislava Region]], Slovakia
*{{flagdeco|POL}} [[Gdynia]], [[Pomeranian Voivodeship]], Poland<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gdynia.pl/mieszkaniec/co-nowego,2774/gdynia-i-kaohsiung-podpisaly-umowe-o-partnerstwie,591062 |title=Gdynia i Kaohsiung podpisały umowę o partnerstwie |language=Polish |trans-title=Gdynia and Kaohsiung signed a partnership agreement |work=Gdynia City Government |location=Gdynia |date=2025-09-25 |accessdate=2025-10-23|archive-date=2025-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251023133549/https://www.gdynia.pl/mieszkaniec/co-nowego,2774/gdynia-i-kaohsiung-podpisaly-umowe-o-partnerstwie,591062|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Div col end}}
;Africa and oceania
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagdeco|MWI}} [[Blantyre, Malawi|Blantyre]], Malawi
*{{flagdeco|ZAF}} [[Durban]], South Africa
*{{flagdeco|SWZ}} [[Mbabane]], [[Eswatini]]
*{{flagdeco|CIV}} [[San-Pédro, Ivory Coast|San-Pédro]], [[Côte d'Ivoire]]
*{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]], Australia
{{Div col end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Taiwan}}
*[[Administrative divisions of Taiwan]]
*[[List of cities in Taiwan]]

==Explanatory notes==
{{Notelist}}

===Words in native languages===
{{Notelist-ur}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Kaohsiung|voy=Kaohsiung|d=Q181557}}
*{{official website}} {{in lang|en}}
*{{OSM relation|2127079}}

{{Adjacent communities
|state     = expanded
|North     = [[File:Flag of Tainan City.svg|25px|border|Tainan city flag]] [[Tainan City]]
|Northeast = [[Taitung County]]
|West      = ''[[Taiwan Strait]] ([[South China Sea]])''<br />[[Fujian]] and [[Guangdong]], {{PRC}}
|Centre    = [[File:Kaohsiung flag.svg|25px|border|Kaohsiung city flag]] Kaohsiung City
|East      = [[File:Pingtung County flag.svg|25px|border|Pingtung county flag]] [[Pingtung City]]
|South    = [[File:Pingtung County flag.svg|25px|border|Pingtung county flag]] [[Pingtung County]]
}}
{{Administrative divisions of Taiwan navbar}}
{{Kaohsiung}}
{{KaohsiungDistricts}}
{{World Games Host Cities}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:1662 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Populated places established by the Dutch East India Company]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1662]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Taiwan]]