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    Cijin
    Jirka Matousek from Brussels Taipei Hong Kong Singapore Prague Shenzhen / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

    Taiwan

    Cijin

    City

    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.

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Taiwan
    7. Kaohsiung
    9. 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.
    Half a day is well enough for Cijin. After arriving by ferry, walk along Old Street, climb up to the lighthouse, and then rent a bike for the coastal path south. The beach is worthwhile at sunset. On weekends, the island is much busier.

    Sights in Cijin

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Kaohsiung Lighthouse
    Historic Landmark

    1Kaohsiung Lighthouse

    The white lighthouse on Qihou Hill dates back to the 19th century. The short, steep climb from Old Street is worth it for the view over the harbor entrance, the skyline, and the open sea.
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    Fort Qihou
    Historic Landmark

    2Fort Qihou

    The late Qing-era fortress is just next to the lighthouse and once guarded the harbor entrance. From its walls, you have one of the best views of Kaohsiung.
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    Tianhou Temple Cijin
    Place of Worship

    3Tianhou Temple Cijin

    The Temple of the Sea Goddess Mazu on Old Street is considered Kaohsiung's oldest temple, dating back to the 17th century. For the island's fishermen, it remains their religious center to this day.
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    Rainbow Church in Cijin Seaside Park
    Attraction

    4Rainbow Church in Cijin Seaside Park

    The colorful art installation in the shape of an open church dome at Strandpark is the island's top photo motif, especially at sunset. Surrounding it are the dark sandy beach and the promenade, which you can easily explore by rental bike.
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    City walks in Cijin

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

    Cijin: From the Ferry Pier to Rainbow Church

    A roughly 3-kilometer island trip, best on foot to the lighthouse and then by rental bike along the coast. Allow half a day, including a seafood break; you'll be at the Rainbow Church for sunset.

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    Restaurants in Cijin

    1

    Cijin Seafood (旗津海產店)

    Typical seafood restaurant on Miaoqian Road, the old street of Cijin: Fish, shrimp, and mussels are displayed outside; you point to what you want and say how it should be prepared. Ask for the price beforehand; billing is often by weight.
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    2

    Qiyu Wang Heilun (旗津正宗旗魚王黑輪)

    Snack bar on Old Street selling skewers with swordfish fish patties ('Heilun') – the classic snack for a walk to the beach.
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    Food on Cijin

    Cijin is a fishing island, and as such, seafood is central to almost everything here.

    Seafood from the display

    At the eateries on Old Street, you point to fish, shrimp or mussels and choose the preparation. Payment is often by weight, so ask for the price first.

    Heilun

    Swordfish fish cake skewers, the typical snack for the walk to the beach.

    Ferry and Bicycle

    The ferry departs from Gushan Pier near Sizihwan MRT Station and takes only a few minutes; you pay with an EasyCard. On the island, there are numerous bike rental shops, including tandems and e-bikes, and a coastal cycling path.

    Accommodations in Cijin

    Find perfect stay in Cijin

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    Plan your trip to Cijin

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      • 1Kaohsiung Lighthouse3 days
      • 2Fort Qihou4 days
      • 3Tianhou Temple Cijin5 days
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    Nearby

    Hamasen and Shoushan

    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.
    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.