The Cijin Ferry Terminal has reopened after a renovation aimed at improving passenger flow, public facilities, and the nighttime appearance of one of Kaohsiung’s busiest tourist gateways.

The festival will run from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Shinbinn Station Front, immediately outside MRT Hamasen Station.

The average number of registered residents per home fell to a new low of 2.77 during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting Kaohsiung’s declining population and changing household structure.

The 2026 Kaohsiung Battle Dance International Street Dance Competition (雄爭舞鬥國際街舞大賽) will be held Aug. 15 and 16 at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center (高雄展覽館). The winning crew in the BOTY Taiwan Crew Breaking Battle will qualify to represent Taiwan at the 2027 Battle of the Year world final in Germany, according to the Kaohsiung Youth Bureau (高雄市政府青年局).

The park will feature more than 30 attractions catering to different age groups, including slides, swings, a cloud-shaped trampoline, a pump track for bicycles and scooters, high-rope challenges, climbing areas, sensory games, and water-play facilities.

The exhibition utilizes digital projection, interactive installations, and recreated historical scenes to present the development of four major ancient civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Mediterranean, and India.

The city launched its All-Gender Accommodation Certification Program in 2023 to help hotels, hostels, and bed-and-breakfast operators enhance their services and facilities for travelers with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. Sixty lodging businesses have received certification so far. The program also received an Executive Yuan Gender Equality Innovation Award, the bureau said.

Light rail ridership exceeded 7.21 million trips during the first half of 2026, rising from 6.66 million during the same period last year, according to Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. The total was also higher than the 6.58 million passenger trips recorded during the first six months of 2024.

The Donggang festival is held once every three years and is recognized as an important national folk custom. It is one of Pingtung County’s largest religious events. The wooden King Boat measures almost 47 Taiwanese feet, or about 14 meters, and cost approximately NT$13.8 million, the county government said.

The nearby light rail crossing adds another complication. Drivers said trips that would normally take about 10 minutes have taken more than 30 minutes during peak periods when vehicle queues coincide with passing light rail trains and traffic signals.