Two 35-meter whale kites will make their Taiwan debut at this year’s Cijin Kite Festival, which opens Saturday at Cijin Beach, the Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau said. The 2026 Cijin Kite Festival and Inflatable Water Park will be held July 25 and 26 and Aug. 1 and 2 near Love Gate (鍾愛之門) at Cijin Beach.

A Kaohsiung city councilor has said one of Mayor Chen Chi-mai’s (陳其邁) biggest unfinished goals is the long-delayed effort to bring giraffes to Shoushan Zoo (壽山動物園).

Gravelton will return to Clark, Pampanga, on Oct. 25, 2026, for the fifth edition of one of the Philippines’ leading gravel cycling events. Organizers said Gravelton Clark 2026 will include multiple race categories for riders of different skill levels, with routes designed to highlight Clark’s gravel trails, open landscapes, and outdoor tourism potential.

Live Nation Taiwan’s Kaohsiung event page lists Westlife as the headliner but does not specify which individual members will appear.

At least six major malls or landmark retail projects are expected to open in Kaohsiung over the next five years, as transport-oriented development and high-tech investment reshape the city’s commercial map, the Commercial Times reported. The new projects are expected to shift Kaohsiung’s department store market away from traditional single-district shopping areas and toward a multi-center model built around rail and MRT hubs.

The north and south sections of Kaohsiung Station Ichibangai (高雄駅一番街) officially opened Saturday, creating what the city says is Taiwan’s largest anime-themed underground shopping area. The 2,300-ping complex was developed by Kaohsiung Metro Corp. and Mofan Co. (墨凡公司). It includes more than 50 brands offering anime merchandise, food and drinks, toys, collector displays, and consignment-style retail spaces.

Early-bird packages went on sale through the 7-ELEVEN ibon ticketing system on July 15. Each NT$938 package includes one wristband, five cocktail vouchers, and a limited-edition canvas bag. Tickets are sold by date, so buyers should confirm which day they plan to attend before purchasing, the bureau said.

The 2026 Cijin Kite Festival and Inflatable Water Park (2026旗津風箏節暨氣墊水樂園) will be held July 25-26 and Aug. 1-2 near the Love Gate (鍾愛之門), the Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau said.

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.