Kaohsiung Railway Cultural Park

In an era when road travel was not convenient, goods needing to be exported via Kaohsiung Port were mostly delivered by railway to Kaohsiung Port Station. With the rise of motorised container trucks shipping goods directly to the port, Kaohsiung Port Station, once the point of convergence for tens of railways, has subsequently declined. Fortunately, the government is willing to preserve this large open space and the historic buildings here. Every evening, many residents exercise, go for a jog or ride bicycles. You might see mothers flying kites with their children, or, more likely, tourists with cameras eager to take photos of the art installations, which include a huge iron suitcase and a four-meter-high iron trumpet on the grass. But what pleases railfans most are old-style trains and steam locomotives, which are still in the process of being repaired. After you walk into the old station, you will see recreations of historical offices with all sorts of stationary items and correspondence seals spread out on the desks. You can even try on the previous uniforms of railway staff and have a photo taken in the station. Pacing along the rails, you will see old people who used to live next to the railway take out their tables and chairs to sit on the tracks and have afternoon tea. You might also see university students reading books on benches. The bridge, which used to cross over the rails, has been partly preserved and modified and is now a perfect spot for appreciating the sunset. The scenes on show here demonstrate the importance of Kaohsiung Port Station to the locals.