By KHT Staff. Images via Kaohsiung City Govt.
KAOHSIUNG — A former convention center in Yancheng District has reopened as the Kaohsiung Comic Library, bringing about 32,000 comic books together with exhibitions, family reading spaces, and a café.
The library opened Nov. 12 on the first floor of the former Kaohsiung International Convention Center. It is the new home of Kaohsiung Public Library’s Yancheng Branch, expanding its established focus on comics and books for younger readers. The city invested approximately NT$150 million in the project, according to CNA.
Shipping containers form part of the interior, linking the reading spaces with the surrounding port district. Seven containers have been converted into four themed comics areas and three exhibition spaces.
Other features include curved bookshelves, beanbag seating, and a children’s area with a reading castle and climbing nets. The library also houses White Mist, a café and restaurant operated by the Louisa group.
The opening exhibitions give Taiwanese comics a prominent place. An ocean-and-island theme brings together 13 contemporary Taiwanese works, while separate exhibitions feature Kaohsiung artist Tseng Yao-ching and comics artist Bili.
A display of Golden Comic Awards winners introduces readers to recognized Taiwanese works, and a wall gathers drawings of Kaohsiung by 31 comics artists.
Speaking to Public Television Service, Tseng said readers’ understanding of comics can be limited to Japanese manga or American superheroes. The library offers an opportunity to broaden that view, including greater exposure to Taiwanese creations.
Bili said the space could help visitors encounter different artistic styles and introduce creators’ work to new readers.
Mayor Chen Chi-mai attended the opening and linked the library to the city’s wider plans for animation, comics, and gaming, often grouped under the abbreviation ACG. He said the city hopes to connect the facility with the anime-themed shopping area at Kaohsiung Station.
Alongside the comics collection, the library retains general reading materials and children’s books, continuing its role as a neighborhood public library.
