The NT$610 million Nanzihkeng facility is the flagship project for North Kaohsiung. Located near the Nanzih Interchange, the 8,932-square-meter building is positioned to support the influx of workers from the TSMC Kaohsiung Plant and the surrounding semiconductor S-corridor.

City officials said the road upgrades will make it easier and safer for both residents and tourists to reach the lake’s cycling paths and lakeside walking trails, further strengthening the area’s role as a recreation and eco-tourism destination.

Activists say roughly 100 hectares of forest surrounding the historic sugar factory are an important “urban lung” for Kaohsiung while also providing flood-retention capacity.

JJP Architects & Planners (JJP潘冀聯合建築師事務所) has reportedly won the top prize in the design competition for the Chiayi City Main Library Complex (嘉義市總圖園區), with a proposal that draws on the city’s timber heritage, Alishan forestry history, and the winding form of the Alishan Forest Railway.

Kaohsiung’s Red Line already includes two stations widely praised for their design — Formosa Boulevard Station, famous for its Dome of Light installation, and Central Park Station, known for its distinctive modern architecture. Some civic leaders argue that the Yellow Line should strive for a similar international standard in station design and public art.

The Light Rail is currently operating at roughly 60% of its total designed capacity. This, however, is mostly due to it not having enough trains. Fleet expansions scheduled over the next two to three years are expected to provide significant growth in ridership numbers.

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.

The area, heavily damaged in past typhoons, underwent reconstruction emphasizing slope safety, ecological balance, and cultural interpretation. Officials described the redesign as a “forest road built with time,” incorporating access control measures to limit traffic and allow ecosystems to recover.

Some objected to the idea of Fubin Village (福檳里), fearing the neighborhood would be nicknamed “Betel Nut Village.”

By KHT Staff KAOHSIUNG — Kaohsiung Port’s cruise terminal is approaching its third anniversary, with preliminary plans under discussion to introduce a…