By RK Shih / Staff
Kaohsiung’s “2026 Winter Amusement Park” — or Winter Wonderland — has reportedly attracted more than 5.6 million visits since opening on February 7, with 3.84 million of those recorded during the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday alone, according to Kaohsiung City Government tourism data.
The event, headlined by the 60th anniversary collaboration with Japan’s iconic Ultraman franchise, has been centered around Love River Bay and Kaohsiung Port Piers 16 to 18. Officials said approximately half of the visitors came from outside Kaohsiung, highlighting the city’s growing appeal as a domestic travel destination during the holiday period.
Tourism Bureau Director Kao Min-lin (高閔琳) said the surge in attendance significantly boosted surrounding commercial districts, night markets, and department stores. Themed installations were also extended to mountain districts, fishing harbors, high-speed rail areas, and the Kaohsiung Railway Station to disperse crowds and encourage broader sightseeing across the city.
Transit data reflected the spike in activity. Kaohsiung MRT ridership exceeded 1.39 million passengers over five peak holiday days, with a single-day record of more than 325,000 trips on the third day of the Lunar New Year, both setting new seasonal highs.
With the event entering its final week, organizers have scheduled additional activities. On February 27 and 28 at 4 p.m., performances by the “Great Harbor Youth Defense Team” will take place at Pier-3, while Ultraman-themed lantern giveaways will be held at Pier-18 on a first-come, first-served basis. From February 27 to March 1, Pier-7 will host the interactive “Transform! Sports Ultraman” program, followed by a closing event titled “With U” on March 1.
City officials said the strong turnout demonstrates the effectiveness of large-scale themed cultural tourism in sustaining winter visitor numbers and reinforcing Kaohsiung’s reputation as a major event-driven destination.
Source: Liberty Times
