An ophthalmologist urges early eye checks and more outdoor play after citing a high nearsightedness rate among city schoolchildren.
Kaohsiung mayoral candidates Ko Chih-en and Lai Jui-lung shared a Qishan stage before announcing rival rallies and clashing over the Dalinpu relocation plan.
Sports
On March 23, 1996, with two US carrier groups sent to the region and ROC soldiers on alert, more than ten million Taiwanese went to the polls. The leading candidates were incumbent KMT president Lee Teng-hui and the DPP’s Peng Ming-min, a veteran democracy activist and former political exile.
Residents in Kaohsiung were surprised after dozens of stingrays appeared overnight in a pond near Chengcing Lake. The rays showed up so suddenly, and in such large numbers, that officials suspect they may have been dumped by a breeder.
Seismic retrofitting work at the Caogong branch of the Kaohsiung Public Library has uncovered historical remains believed to be part of the original Fengshan Township Office, dating back nearly a century. Kaohsiung City Councilor Lin Chih-hung inspected the site with local heritage groups and submitted a petition calling to preserve and showcase its historical significance.
Business & Economy
Giant’s U.S. import restriction puts the cost of migrant recruitment under scrutiny
Giant’s U.S. customs restriction has prompted recruitment-fee refunds across Taiwan’s bicycle industry. Independent reporting shows payments reaching workers, but gaps in coverage and verification remain.
Lifestyle
Beyblade X and Pokémon card tournaments are scheduled across Kaohsiung for the Oct. 9–11 Double Ten holiday. Official Beyblade G3 events offer free entry, while three Pokémon league tournaments charge NT$300. Advance registration for the Pokémon events has closed.
Soft Lipa, ABAO and Tizzy Bac lead Takao Rock’s 20-act free lineup on Oct. 10–11, with three waterfront stages at the Music Center.
Shen Nai-hsun argues that the KMT’s move to legislate judicial caning after its referendum proposal was rejected risks weakening its original case that voters should decide.
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On March 25, police held a traffic safety event at Ren’ai Elementary School (仁愛國小). The event featured a concrete mixer truck brought onto campus so students could sit in the driver’s seat. The exercise was designed to provide a firsthand perspective on “blind spots” and the “inner wheel difference” — the dangerous gap created when a large vehicle turns.
A China Times commentator questions whether the DPP’s treatment of Kaohsiung has depended on which party controls City Hall.
Concerns mount that some users may not be able to distinguish between neutral information and messaging aligned with Chinese state narratives.
The new park will feature three large water slides, shallow splash pools, water swings, and landscaped rest areas shaded by existing trees. Facilities will include changing rooms, restrooms, outdoor showers, and canopy walkways, turning what was once a simple splash zone into a full-scale water playground.




