Author: kht-root
By KHT Staff KAOHSIUNG — The 172,000-ton cruise ship MSC Bellissima made its first call at Port of Kaohsiung on Sunday, marking the largest cruise vessel ever to visit southern Taiwan’s main port. The ship, operated by MSC Cruises, measures 315 meters in length and 43 meters in width and can carry almost 5,700 passengers. It previously began operations in Taiwan in May 2023 from the Port of Keelung. According to the Taiwan International Ports Corporation, the ship initially operated with Keelung and Okinawa as dual homeports. At the same time, cruise operators evaluated the feasibility of establishing Kaohsiung as…
The restaurant raises its own eels rather than sourcing them from wholesalers to ensure freshness.
Via KH City Govt / KHT Staff The 2026 Sunshine Island Vibe Fest is now open and will run through Sunday. Building on the momentum of last year’s inaugural event, the 2026 “Vibe Fest” features a stronger eight-country performance lineup. The festival footprint has expanded for the first time to include the Kaohsiung Main Station Underground Plaza, forming a dual-venue format with Central Park. Covering the entire Central Park, however, is likely to be the main hotspot as dozens of vendors have set up, offering everything from Jamaican food to Vietnamese cuisine. Chang Yen-Ching, Director-General of the Department of Administrative…
By RK Shih / Staff KAOHSIUNG — Kaohsiung and the U.S. territory of Guam formally signed a sister-city agreement Wednesday, with officials from both sides pledging deeper cooperation. The agreement was signed by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi‑mai and Guam Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero during a ceremony attended by diplomatic and business representatives. Chen said the two coastal cities share similar characteristics, describing both Kaohsiung and Guam as “sunny, passionate ocean cities.” He said the partnership could expand collaboration in tourism development, cultural exchanges, education programs, fisheries, agriculture, and urban governance. Guerrero led a delegation including officials from Guam’s tourism…
According to project details circulated online, the redevelopment will eliminate the existing roundabout and replace it with a U-shaped two-way road system. The new design will also introduce four signalized intersections in the station-front area. Public transportation routes will also be reorganized. Up to 32 bus routes are expected to be adjusted, with stops relocated to nearby streets, including Chenggong Road and Zhongshan Road.
City planners say the station forecourt will ultimately become a large pedestrian plaza combined with a modern transfer center linking trains, buses, taxis, bicycles, and other forms of shared transportation.
Pier-2 first overtook other attractions in 2024 with 8.89 million visitors and expanded its lead last year, recording 9.74 million visits — a 9.5 percent increase year-on-year. In 2023, the top spot had been held by Cishan Old Street with about 8.17 million visitors.
Multiple assessments suggest that the erosion of public oversight and institutional effectiveness lies at the heart of Indonesia’s decline. Independent media outlets and civil society organizations have historically played a crucial role in uncovering abuses of power. When civic space contracts, oversight mechanisms weaken. Recent reports from Reporters Without Borders indicate that Indonesia’s press freedom ranking has also deteriorated, limiting the ability of journalists and watchdog groups to expose misconduct.
By KHT Staff KAOHSIUNG — The annual Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival in Tainan ended early Wednesday morning with 36 people reported injured, a figure officials said was lower than in previous years. Authorities said 30 people were injured by fireworks, while six others suffered unrelated injuries during the event. Officials said the injuries were generally minor and that the event concluded safely overall. The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival (鹽水蜂炮), held each year during the Lantern Festival period, is one of Taiwan’s best-known folk religious celebrations and frequently draws international media attention. This year, more than 200 large and small “beehive”…
Tsai Chi-chang, CPBL Commissioner, “It gets so hot in Kaohsiung. Baseball fans in the south all want an indoor ballpark. Perhaps it doesn’t have to be as big as the Taipei Dome. But there should be a medium-sized dome in Southern Taiwan, an indoor space for games. I think that would make for a better experience for everyone.”
The Gangshan Eye, located on Siaogangshan (小崗山) at the border of Gangshan and Yanchao districts, is known for its suspended skywalk offering panoramic views of the Greater Gangshan area. The park has been closed for renovation since last year amid declining visitor numbers and is expected to reopen in the first quarter of 2027.
