More than 30,000 people visited Kaohsiung’s new family recreation park on opening day, making the former TRA workshop one of the city’s busiest new summer attractions.

Officials hope Pingtung’s location in southern Taiwan, along with its beaches, mountain scenery, Indigenous cultures and local food, can help attract Philippine travelers looking beyond Taiwan’s major cities.

The 2026 Cijin Kite Festival will enter its final weekend Aug. 8-9, with giant ocean-themed kites, night displays, a DJ show, and fire dance performances planned near the Gate of Love (鍾愛之門) at Cijin Beach.

Lai Media reported that at least two cars and two scooters had been left in marked parking spaces that were later canceled as part of traffic preparations for the opening. After the spaces were repainted as red lines, the vehicles were classified as illegally parked and towed.

The Cijin Kite Festival drew more than 100,000 visitors on its Aug. 1-2 opening weekend after typhoon-related weather canceled the original July 25-26 dates. Final weekend of events scheduled for Aug. 8-9.

Cijin Beach is undergoing a NT$478 million redevelopment that will add new visitor facilities, showers, restrooms and a rebuilt seaside bar by late 2026.

Chen also asked the Transportation Bureau, Mass Rapid Transit Bureau, and Police Department to strengthen traffic control around the site, including nearby roads, public transport links, and parking areas. The city said the goal is to provide a safe, comfortable, and smooth visitor experience for people coming from across Taiwan.

The playground, built inside part of the former Taiwan Railways Kaohsiung Workshop, is scheduled to open Aug. 8. The main recreation area covers about 1.5 hectares and includes more than 30 attractions, according to city officials and local reports.

The former TRA workshop is an important part of Kaohsiung’s industrial history. The city said the redevelopment project is intended to preserve railway heritage while turning the site into a public space for recreation, culture, and family activities.

Sea turtles are commonly seen around Xiaoliuqiu, but visitors are not allowed to touch, feed, or disturb them. Under the law, harassing protected wildlife can lead to up to one year in prison or detention, and a fine of up to NT$300,000.