By Eryk Michael Smith
Image via DS Realty.
KAOHSIUNG — While TSMC’s 2-nanometer fab in Nanzih has been billed as the catalyst for northern Kaohsiung’s next growth wave, reports say it’s actually Ciaotou (橋頭) — not Nanzih (楠梓) — that has posted the most dramatic real-estate gains since the chipmaker announced its Kaohsiung expansion in 2023.
The Liberty Times reports that according to Ministry of the Interior transaction data, Ciaotou’s average housing prices climbed from the high-NT$180,000s per ping two years ago to the low-NT$320,000s this year, a jump of nearly 70%. No other district in Kaohsiung recorded comparable growth.
City officials and analysts point to three drivers:
- Ciaotou New Town’s large development footprint has supplied land at lower entry prices.
- The planned Ciaotou Science Park is expected to anchor future industrial demand.
- Spillover from TSMC’s Nanzih fab has reshaped expectations for northern Kaohsiung’s workforce and housing needs.
Nanzih itself saw strong but more modest gains, rising roughly 20% over the same period. Renwu posted a similar increase. Industry insiders, however, note that Ciaotou’s living amenities—including retail, healthcare, and transport links—are still catching up.
The central bank’s stricter mortgage rules cooled transactions in late 2024 and early 2025, but brokers say interest has remained resilient and expect the district to remain a top performer as key projects break ground.
For Kaohsiung, Ciaotou’s rapid rise signals a new northern growth axis, one increasingly shaped by advanced manufacturing, science park expansion, and large-scale urban planning.
