It is located at the central point of the north-south and east-west axes; a station that connects multi-living functions of foods, clothing, housing, transportation, education and entertainment, which is also the entrance and exit of the “dream city “ in Taiwan.

This station is 400.4 km away from the starting point Keelung Station and the total area of the station is 7.4 hectares.  It is the final stop of TRA West link Line and the initial stop of Pingfang Line and Harbor-front Line.  With both functions of the “final stop” and “initiating”, it has become the land transportation center of Kaohsiung metropolis.

In 1940, Kaohsiung train station was formally completed and the 3-story station was once the landscape of Kaohsiung City.  In order to face the coming of the city with three-rails co-structure, the original Kaohsiung train station had faced the crisis of survival; however, this station had been with Kaohsiung residents for 64 years, it has been very valuable regarding the construction, historical position and motional memories, the preserving plan of moving Kaohsiung was then commenced under the consistence of TRA. From Aug. 16 till 29 2002 for totally 14 days, the original Kaohsiung Station was moved 82.6 m away towards southeastern direction with the speed of moving 60 cm /per hour.  It was also planed to be the “ Visionary Museum” displaying the relative information about the train station.  When the three-rails co-structure is completed, it will move back to the original location and become a new landscape of the Great Kaohsiung District again.

》The Birth of Kaohsiung Station
Kaohsiung Station was built in 1940 due to the demands in economics and downtown development and Japanese strategies for “south intrusion.”   At that time, there were many important constructions and factories built along Harbor-front Line, which had made Kaohsiung Station become the exact “train engine” for Kaohsiung development.

This station was the last completed one of Taiwan West link Line during Japanese rule; therefore, it owned incomparable characteristics to other stations.  The interior design adapted the western upholding style with both grace and imposing manners; in regards to the appearance, it adapted the style only permitted for Japanese grand temple or royalty use with the “Tangbofong” roof of Chinese Tang-Dynasty style, because its shape looked like the emperor’s hat, it was then called “Emperor-hat-style” architecture.  When it was completed, there were rice farms around so people could see this 3-story building from far away.  Nevertheless, with the widest road “Jhaohetong” (the present Jhongshan Rd.” right across and east-west direction of “Gaofong Rd.” (the present Jianguo Rd.); they all made the station even more superior.

》The moving of Kaohsiung Old Station
Although Kaohsiung Station had completed its great success but the body will stay still.  60 years of age were not very long; however, regarding the cultural aspects such as historical positions, architectural aesthetics and city residents’ sharing feeling, the station has held a very important meaning and the cultural capitals is even an important chain to the development of one city.

Zeng, Zih-fong, the chairman of the Metropolitan Development and Constructions graduate school of University of Kaohsiung indicated that if the construction of a city has been continually renewed, then it would never have any of its own characteristic.  Taiwan had been making the same mistakes and the preservation of Kaohsiung Station is exactly the self-recognition that Kaohsiung is looking for and the important milestone to establish the city culture.  Therefore, after Kaohsiung City Government has obtained the permission from TRA to preserve the station body, they finally decided to move the station body 82m away in the southeastern direction through many discussions and compromises; that it is the best way to do with the historical and economical achievements.

》Railway Cutural Walkway
The bridge connecting the front and the rear of the station is 198 m long and is the longest station bridge in the whole country.

》Kaohsiung Visionary Museum
From Aug. 16-29 2002, with the total of 16 days, the Kaohsiung old Station body had moved 82.6 m away down towards southeast.  After the makeover, it has been transformed from traffic hub to the sharing memories of the city so as to create city residents sharing visions.  Today, the “Kaohsiung Visionary Museum” greets the coming of new life with an elegant and beautiful appearance.  There are 10 themes in this museum:
→Scenic Postcards Area
→Multi-function Display Area
→Multi-media Historical Gallery
→Metropolitan Plan City Government Policy Display Area
→3D Virtual Interactive Area
→Guest Book
→Wind-blessing Square
→Conservation Wall
→Visionary Bridge

》The Future Goals of Kaohsiung Train Station
In 1998, Kaohsiung started the plan to have the railway of Kaohsiung metropolitan area underground along with the project of three-rail co-structure; the first four floors underground are for north-south MRT and the other three lower floors for HSR and TRA going east-west; ?, the first underground floor an open grand hall and the new station building on the ground.

According to the trend of city development worldwide, the station has been always the location for crowds to gather and most transporting or commercial behaviors will be gathered in the station area; therefore, there will be certain areas around the station planed for international hotels, commercial buildings and shopping centers.  It is estimated that there will be 140k people in and out of Kaohsiung train station in 2030.

When the project of three-rail co-structure is completed later on, it will be moved back to its original location and connects with the new station building.  Again, it will be holding the great responsibility of landscaping and the impressing to enter Kaohsiung.  It can even build a small platform at the rear to connect with the light rail train on the ground to enable the “four rails” to co-structure; then the train station will become the most beautiful tour and traffic center

》Love River
It was once the love river with streams of running water.  In the early days, it played multi roles of transporting, traffic and leisure.  Many men of letters sang and praised for her and many love stories happened here; full of romantic atmosphere, Love River sends out humane spirits.  Green grass parks on both banks are quite interesting; especially when it is dark, the street lights on the river banks are very elegant and charming, just cruising among them, it can be full of pleasure.

Shoushan
Shoushan is located at the southwestern side of Kaohsiung City, a coral-reef hill in the north-south position at the elevation of 350m above the sea level.  The total area is 1200 hectares and also a natural landscape of Kaohsiung City.  It was once called Kushan and Tsaishan, the original location of Pingpu tribe’s Dakao community in the early period of time.  According to Taiwan Government Journals, it said “a thief named Daocian had money and buried gold on the mountain,” so Shoushan was named “Maijinshan,” (meaning the mountain buried with gold.)  At present, except the area, about 300 hectares big, on the east of contour 250m opens to the public for hiking and leisure, the rest of the area is still under the control of the military.  Since it has been under such strict control, most primitive and natural ecologies then can be saved for this long.

》Tzaishan
Tzaishan is located on Gushan District Kaohsiung City and is the barrier of oceanfront for Kaohsiung City.  From here, the view is so great that one can see Taiwan Strait and the whole view of Kaohsiung City in the distance.  The complete shape of natural forests and the unique limestone topography also provide macaques the excellent place to rest, to escape and to breed.  It is also the most unique guideline in Kaohsiung City.

》Hsitzu Bay Scenic Area
Hsitzu Bay is located at the west bound of Kaohsiung City, the foot of Shoushan south-western side with Wanshoushan in the north and Chichin Peninsula in the south.  It is a great beach for swimming with blue sky and water and also a famous bay with natural reefs and a beautiful sunset view.

Hsitzu Bay sunset is one of Kaohsiung 8 images; the beautiful scene of the ocean and sky in one color is so amazing.  In the sunset time, it is often seen that many couples of lovers share their loves to each other here, which enhance the romantic atmosphere, like poetries, like pictures.

Chichin Seashore Park
Chichin Peninsula was once called “Cihou Peninsula” that was the earliest place of origin in Kaohsiung and also a land of treasure in Kaohsiung residents’ hearts.  It is located at the west side of Kaohsiung Harbor.  It is a outer-sea sandbank with 11 km long and about 200 m wide.  After the cross-harbor tunnel that connects Kaohsiung and Chichin commenced for operation, the view of undersea tunnel has then become an important tourist attraction on Chichin.

》Former British Consulate
Tian-jin Agreement was signed in Sianfong 10th year Qing Dynasty (1860) after British and France allied forces, China was forced to open five harbors for trading.  Three years later, Dakao Harbor in Taiwan was also opened and British merchants continually established hongs at the trading harbor to export rice, tea and sugar and import opium. Then England established the consulate on a small hilltop at the head of the sentry boat on Dakao Harbor, which handled custom tax and business affairs.  According to document researches, two years before its establishment, one English merchant’s Dali hong had built a building here and there was a great possibility that the first British consul Robert Swinhoe rented this building as the consulate.  Among all the preserved modern western architectures in Taiwan, Dakao British Consulate is the oldest one around 1864 to 1866.  It can be listed as No. 1 building in Taiwan with a great value for architectural history researches.

City Light Gallery
Including nine artists’ original artworks along with the “SMILE—2001 the Wall of Hope” promoted by City Mayer Frank Hsieh, there were 10 pieces of artworks altogether, allowing one to fully feel the perfect combination of arts and life while walking in the Light Gallery.  These 10 pieces of artworks all have their own characteristics and one of them is a shiny glass stage designed by the hosting artist of planning Light Gallery, Lin, Si-jun.  Once it matches with the changed of color lights, that will bring out its glory; therefore, it has become the street artists’ favorite.

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