Organized by the Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau (高雄市政府觀光局), the festival is rooted in centuries-old militia-style performance traditions, with troupes reenacting coordinated formations inspired by historical defense groups and classical literature. This year’s program features competitive performances by 11 teams from across Taiwan, with a total prize money of NT$2 million.

Industry insiders say the March 10 launch from Singapore of the first Disney cruise ship based in Asia, Disney Adventure, highlights both the rapid growth of the regional cruise market and the structural challenges facing cities like Kaohsiung as they try to capture a larger share of it.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to turn the area around Kaohsiung Station into more than just a transportation hub, encouraging young people to gather, perform, and interact in public space.

According to a 2024 human resources survey conducted by the county government, unemployment in the island group stood at just 0.1 percent, far below the national rate of 3.38 percent. The extremely tight labor market is creating hiring challenges across sectors, including hospitality, retail, construction, and childcare.

One current exhibition, running through May 10, 2026, explores how East Asia was represented in historical maps and images from the 14th to the 19th centuries, offering visitors a fascinating look at how the region understood the wider world.

The first section that has reopened is a marked improvement on what was there before. The city is asking residents to bear with the inconveniences of construction from now through about June, when hopefully the entire sections on both sides of the river will reopen.

According to the Taiwan Water Corporation (台灣自來水公司), water service will be fully suspended from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in parts of Fongshan District (鳳山區), Niaosong District (鳥松區), and Sanmin District (三民區). Meanwhile, water pressure will drop across several other districts, including Sinsing District (新興區) and Renwu District (仁武區), along with parts of Sanmin, Fongshan, Zuoying District (左營區), Cianjhen District (前鎮區), and Gushan District (鼓山區).

By Eryk Michael Smith / Staff. Images via KH City Govt. KAOHSIUNG — A former railway maintenance complex in Kaohsiung is being…

The woman, identified in court documents by the pseudonym “Xiao Xuan,” attempted to toss her garbage bag into the truck’s open rear compartment before the vehicle had fully stopped. Witness accounts and surveillance footage showed she swung her arm backward and threw the bag forward “using inertia,” in a motion resembling a basketball shot.

Unlike conventional taxis, “multi-service taxis” must be pre-booked through an app or dispatch system. They cannot accept street hails or wait in taxi ranks and typically use platform-based pricing rather than a meter. Under current rules, such taxis are generally not allowed to pick up passengers directly at airports.