By Eryk Michael Smith/Staff. AI image for illustration only. KAOHSIUNG — Kaohsiung International Airport (高雄國際機場) is easily reached by the city’s MRT…

Highlighted categories include international high-end speakers, headphones, and audio cables, as well as vinyl turntables and high-resolution digital audio sources. A dedicated home theater demonstration area will also be set up to showcase immersive audiovisual systems, alongside displays of projectors and laser-based television technology.

First launched in 2006, the festival initially struggled, with low attendance and financial losses reported in its early years. Organizers persisted, however, gradually building momentum through consistent programming and engagement with Taiwan’s independent music scene.

The city hopes to position Kaohsiung’s mountainous regions as a key domestic tourism draw, particularly as interest in camping and outdoor recreation grows.

Authorities continue to stress that feeding wild monkeys contributes to the problem and are urging the public to avoid direct interaction.

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.

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.

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.