Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung is Taiwan's southern port city, and the cruise terminal sits on a revitalised waterfront connected by a boardwalk to pop-up markets and the Pop Music Centre. Cijin Island, reached by a short ferry, has black-sand beaches, a 19th-century lighthouse, and seafood stalls selling grilled squid and fish soup along the harbour front. The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond are the classic photo stop. The Pier-2 Art Centre, a repurposed warehouse complex, has street art, creative studios, and weekend markets. The Dome of Light at Formosa Boulevard MRT station is a massive glass mosaic worth seeing even if you're not catching a train. Liuhe Night Market has seafood, oyster omelettes, and papaya milk. The MRT and YouBike rental bikes cover most of the city. English signage is limited, so a map with Chinese characters helps for taxis.