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    Hamasen and Shoushan

    Taiwan

    Hamasen and Shoushan

    City

    Hamasen is where modern Kaohsiung began: Under Japanese rule, the first port and railway station were built here, and many alleys have retained their old character.

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    9. Hamasen and Shoushan
    Hamasen is where modern Kaohsiung began: Under Japanese rule, the first port and railway station were built here, and many alleys have retained their old character. The former railway station building is now a railway museum, and the restored Wude Hall commemorates the colonial era.Above the district rises the green Shoushan with hiking trails, macaques, and the city zoo. On the slope above the harbour entrance stands the red-brick British Consulate, from which you can look out over Xiziwan Bay and across to Cijin.
    Hamasen is directly west of Pier-2 at the foot of Shoushan. A short walk leads to the Railway Museum, Wude Hall, the Cijin ferry pier, and the British Consulate. An afternoon stroll is ideal for sunset views at the Consulate or Xiziwan Bay. Afterwards, enjoy seafood in the district.

    Sights in Hamasen and Shoushan

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    British Consulate Takao
    Historic Landmark

    1British Consulate Takao

    The late 19th-century red-brick ensemble consists of the hilltop residence and the harbor-side official building, connected by a historic staircase. From above, you get sweeping views of the harbor entrance, Xiziwan Bay, and Cijin.
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    Takao Railway Museum
    Museum

    2Takao Railway Museum

    The former Takao Port Station was the cradle of the railway in southern Taiwan. Today it is a small museum, and on the old tracks in front of it lies a long green strip that stretches to the Pier-2 Art Center.
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    Wude Martial Arts Hall
    Historic Landmark

    3Wude Martial Arts Hall

    The restored hall from the Japanese colonial era once served to train police officers in Kendo and Judo. It is located at the foot of Shoushan in the quiet alleys of Hamasen, where many houses from this era still stand.
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    Shoushan Zoo
    Zoo

    4Shoushan Zoo

    The city zoo lies on the slope of Shoushan, Kaohsiung's green local mountain. Hiking trails begin around the zoo, where you often encounter macaques – pack food away carefully.
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    City walks in Hamasen and Shoushan

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Hamasen: Colonial era and consulate at sunset

    From Hamasen's old alleyways to the British Consulate, just under 2 km including a stair climb, around two hours. Plan your start to be at the Consulate at the top for sunset. On the way, a break for Shaved Ice at the ferry terminal is recommended.

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    Stops (4)

    Restaurants in Hamasen and Shoushan

    1

    Bancheng Seafood (阪城海鮮料理)

    Casual seafood restaurant in Hamasen's alleys, just minutes from the Wude Martial Arts Center. Google: 4.6 stars from nearly 1,500 reviews.
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    2

    Ferry-head Bing (渡船頭海之冰)

    The shaved ice shop near the Gushan Ferry Terminal is known for its huge shareable ice mountains – ideal after climbing to the British Consulate or before taking the ferry to Cijin. It boasts 4.4 stars on Google from over 9,000 reviews.
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    3

    Xinbin Ekimae (新濱·駅前)

    Cafe with brunch in an old house opposite the former Takao Port Station, good for a break between the Railway Museum and Pier-2. On Google, 4.6 stars from nearly 4,000 reviews.
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    Dining in Hamasen

    Around the ferry terminal and in the alleys of Hamasen, it's all about the sea and cool relaxation.

    Shaved Ice

    Giant 'icebergs' with mango, beans, or syrup, meant for sharing – most famous at Ferry-head Bing at Gushan Pier.

    Fresh Seafood

    Small seafood spots in the alleys at Shoushan's foot serve harbor fish and shellfish.

    The Cradle of Modern Kaohsiung

    After the opening of Takao Port to Western trade in the 19th century, foreign merchants and the British consulate settled here. Under Japanese rule, the modern port and the first railway station were developed on reclaimed land – the name Hamasen derives from a railway line along the beach.

    On the Road in Hamasen

    The orange metro line ends at Sizihwan, where everything is within walking distance. The light rail stops at Hamasen station. A steep staircase leads to the consulate; alternatively, a bus goes up the hill.

    Accommodations in Hamasen and Shoushan

    Find perfect stay in Hamasen and Shoushan

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    Plan your trip to Hamasen and Shoushan

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      • 1British Consulate Takao3 days
      • 2Takao Railway Museum4 days
      • 3Wude Martial Arts Hall5 days
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    Nearby

    Cijin

    Cijin

    Cijin is the long, narrow island off Kaohsiung Harbor – just a short ferry ride away, yet a different world. On Old Street, seafood restaurants and snack stalls line up, and at its end awaits the dark-sand beach.On the hill to the north stand the lighthouse and Fort Qihou, from where you can gaze over the harbor entrance and the skyline. To the south lies the beach park with the colorful Rainbow Church, best reached by rented bike along the coast.
    Yancheng, Pier-2 and Love River

    Yancheng, Pier-2 and Love River

    Between the Love River and the harbor, Kaohsiung has reinvented itself in recent years. In the old warehouse district Pier-2, you'll find galleries, sculptures, and cafés; new cultural buildings stand along the waterfront, and the light rail runs along the water.Inland, Yancheng, one of the oldest districts, boasts traditional street food. By the Love River, the City History Museum in the old City Hall tells the port city's past; evenings, stroll under lights along the riverside promenades.
    Kaohsiung

    Kaohsiung

    Kaohsiung is a major port city in southern Taiwan and the terminus of the high-speed rail from Taipei. The city boasts a revamped harbor district filled with art, colorful pagodas on Lotus Lake, and a short ferry ride to Cijin Island, home to beaches and seafood restaurants.Near Zuoying Station on Lotus Lake stand the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, which, according to tradition, you enter through the Dragon's mouth and exit through the Tiger's. In the former warehouse district by the harbor, the Pier-2 Art Center has established itself with galleries, installations, and cafes. Formosa Boulevard Metro Station is renowned for its glass dome, the Dome of Light, and the Liuhe Night Market is located nearby.
    Zuoying and Lotus Pond

    Zuoying and Lotus Pond

    The Lotus Pond in Zuoying District is Kaohsiung's open-air temple district. Along the shore and on jetties in the water stand the colorful Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, the Spring and Autumn Pavilions, and the colossal statue of Xuantian Shangdi. On the north shore lies the sprawling Confucius Temple.Immediately south of the pond, remnants of Fengshan's old city wall from the Qing Dynasty still stand. Zuoying is also Kaohsiung's arrival station for the high-speed rail – the pond is just a short ride away.
    South Taiwan

    South Taiwan

    The south is warmer, more leisurely, and for many, the culinary heart of Taiwan. Tainan, the island's oldest city, the port city of Kaohsiung, and the beaches in Kenting National Park are only a few hours apart.In Tainan, the Dutch founded Fort Zeelandia in 1624; later, the city was long the island's capital. Kaohsiung is the terminus of the high-speed rail from Taipei and the starting point for buses to the southern tip. There lies the Kenting National Park, founded in 1984, Taiwan's oldest national park.