We finally have MRT in Kaohsiung, HOORAY!! Though it is not as convenient as MRT in Taipei since we only have one route now, I am still quite happy about that.
Several stations were designed as art works. This is one of them named 'Central Park'. Later on I will take photos of other characteristic stations.
On Mt. A-li, you will see lots of beautiful cherry blossoms during March. However, due to global warming, I saw them in January this year. And I was planning to take pictures of plum blossoms (again, they were all beginning to bear and there were no more flowers)
Fu Chi means a couple in Mandarin Chinese, and Shu means tree. These two trees are very old and survived in a wildfire several years ago. It is not that correct to say they survived because they are actually dead. However, they remain standing there firmly.
They are on Mt. A-li, a beautiful sceneric spot in Chia-yi.
For more photos, please visit my flickr.
I went for a walk this morning, and I was surprised to see lotus in this season.
I introduced Lotus Pond in March, but I didn't get any photo about lotus at that time. Fortunately, I got some extremely pretty ones today. Thanks to my DC. :p
I'd like to share with everyone: whether you feel relaxing or not is not decided by the environment but your mind. Everything is beautiful when you want to enjoy your life. No matter how much money you make or how successful you are, you could be a person seeing every tiny thing of value in your life if you want!!
Please visit my flickr for more photos.
Located in the west of Kaohsiung, Chai Mountain is a wonderful place for hiking (the highest altitude in this mountain is about 365 meters, five kms in length and 2.5 kms in width). The plants and animals are protected by law now.
Formosan Rock Macaque, the most popular species in Chai Mountain, are not afraid of people. It's very easy to watch them on weekdays. However, if you have food with you, be careful, or they might steal or rob food away!!
Besides animals, you will also see the trace of coral reef. It shows you that this mountain was lower than sea long time ago.
(Photo source: Dream Mall Website - It doesn't have English site yet)
The biggest shopping mall in Asia. Also, the Ferris wheel is so far the only one on which you would have the view of sea in Taiwan.
I went there last Friday. I like some areas in this shopping mall. These areas make it unique and different from ordinary department store.
There is an art area. You will see lots of interesting stuff. First, the culture center of Taiwanese puppet (unfortunately, taking photo is forbidden). Then, there is a store full of stuff made of bamboo. The most interesting site is that you would see the culture center of the National Palace Museum! I stayed here for a while. 
Another impressive spot is the China Town. It's the first time I ever saw something like this in department stores of Taiwan.
Outside the shopping mall is also fun. It's designed for concert, outdoor exhibition, etc.
Please visit my flickr for more photos.
When I was a child, nobody wanted to go to love river because of not only the smell around Love River but also the prostitution industry (most are unlicensed prostitute) there.
However, the Kaohsiung City Government promulgated policies to clean up the pollution in Love River, and also promised to make Love River kind of family park in 1979. Until now, Love River is an excellent place that people relax and have fun here.
Also, Kaohsiung holds international dragon boat competition every year during Dragon Boat Festival (you would see photos about the competion in 2006 in my flickr). Cheerio will definitely make you excited and nervous!
The source of Love River in practice is Pa-kua-liao-pei (pond) in Jen-wu Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien (County). However, since the construction of the Tsao-kung Waterway in Ching Dynasty times, the pond has been partially fed from the Kao-ping River.
The 12 kilometre long waterway, which originally had wharfs for riverine transportation, passes through a basin that includes several 'pei' (or, wetland ponds) and the heights of Ape Hill and Pan-ping-shan before flowing into Kaohsiung Harbour.
Near its mouth, Love River actually divides into two waterways just before it meets the Ta-kang River (today's No2 Canal) in front of Chi-hsien Junior High School. The first is the obvious mainstream which flows under Kaohsiung Bridge and into the harbour. This stretch was previously known as Tau-tchim-kang to Taiwanese. The now nearly-hidden, and vastly shrunken, second leaves the mainstream at Chi-hsien Bridge and passes along between Lai-nan Street and Chi-hsien Road before flowing into the harbour.
Please visit my flickr for more photos.
Cihou Battery, located in CiJing, Kaohsiung, was designed by English engineers, it presented a western style. The military cantonment was located in the north area, the command post located in the middle area, and there were four cannons sited in the south area. However, the main entrance of Cihou Battery was quite Chinese style and featured the Chinese figure eight gate and the bricked characters, 囍 (meaning double blessing), of different styles on the walls.
In 1683 A.D., after the Ching Empire occupied Taiwan, one Navy Commander and one hundred soldiers were stationed in Cihou, Kaohsiung. And in 1719, there was a great battery and six Chinese cannons at Cihou station. During the Opium War, in 1840, the Ching Empire sited on more gun fort for defense.
In 1874, Japan invaded Hengchun (the south city in Taiwan) and attacked Shihmen Mudang, which was called Mudang Incident. Therefore, the Ching Empire sent the Minister of Navigation Affairs to Taiwan to strengthen coast defenses and also successively assigned the captain of Huai army to site two batteries respectively at Cihou.
When Taiwan was colonized by Japan, the cannons at Cihou Battery were dismantled and fused. After the Restoration of Taiwan, the national military constructed the blockhouse between the battery and the lighthouse. In 1985, Cihou Battery was recognized as a secondary rank historic relic.
(Please visit my flickr for more pictures)
Confucius Temple, built initially in 1684 (Chin dynasty), was rebuilt in 1973 for honoring this respectable teacher.
You will see several different Confucius Temples around Taiwan. However, the one in Kaohsiung, cost about NT$100 million, is the biggest temple in Taiwan.
Confucius was born in 479 B.C. He was a very important philosopher in not only China but most places in Asia. His teachings still have great influence nowadays.
At his time, there were so many different kingdoms in China. During his 72-year life, he sought for a wise king adopting his idea. To his disappoint, most of the kings were more interested in military science which helped improve the kingdom faster.
His teachings and theories focus on virtue and humaneness. According to him, a man of great virtue is just like jade. That is also why Chinese people like to have jade with them. It is kind of symbol of morality.
Until now, people in Taiwan still have celebration every year on September 28th, his birthday, to remember this noble politician and philosopher.
Lotus pond, 1.4 kilometers in length and 400 meters in width, was established in 1705. It was named for its beautiful water with lotuses. However, you will only see lotuses around the west area now. There are 20 something temples around lotus pond. It’s also interesting visiting these temples while walking around this pretty pond.
giant sculpture of "xuan tian shang di", a god in the folk stories.
One of the temples around Lotus Pond.
Stond sculpture of a god in folk stories.
Please visit my flickr for more photos.
