The package is built around the “Southern International Lifestyle Festival” (南國國際生活節), scheduled for April 10–12 and April 17–19 in Hengchun Township (恆春鎮), with events centered at Beimen Plaza (北門廣場).

Children’s Day activities will run from April 3 to April 6 at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying, 衛武營國家藝術文化中心). The program will center on a dinosaur-themed event featuring stage performances, interactive exhibits, and science education components.

To encourage the use of public transport, transfer discounts will also be offered. Travelers using electronic tickets who transfer within 10 hours from national highway buses, TRA, or HSR to local bus services will receive a free basic fare or one free segment. Some designated “Happy Bus” routes will be free of charge.

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.