Cijin Island
Cijin Island lies at the southwestern tip of Kaohsiung. It is a narrow sandbar island running northwest to southeast. Its best-known sights are the Cijin ferry, the lighthouse,…
Cijin Island, Kaohsiung · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Admission
- Ferry NT$25
- Opening hours
- Open all day
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Getting there
- From Kaohsiung Gushan Ferry Pier, take a ferry to Cijin (about 5 minutes)
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 2715. Open in Google Maps
About Cijin Island
Cijin Island lies at the southwestern tip of Kaohsiung. It is a narrow sandbar island running northwest to southeast. Its best-known sights are the Cijin ferry, the lighthouse, Tianhou Temple and the coastal park.
Tips from the guidebook
- 1. Views over Kaohsiung Harbor: The Cijin Lighthouse on Cijin Hill was built in 1883 and is the second lighthouse on the Taiwan main island. Its tower is octagonal and has a balcony with panoramic views of Kaohsiung Harbor.
- 2. Ice treats on the island: Cijin is famous for its ice desserts. We highly recommend Haizhi Ice at the Ferry Pier and Douliu Zaizi Ice City. Douliu Zaizi's signature black tea ice cream costs just NT$35 per serving. It is inexpensive, authentically local and the perfect way to beat the heat.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Cijin Island cost?
Admission to Cijin Island is Ferry NT$25, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Cijin Island?
Cijin Island is open Open all day.
How do I get to Cijin Island?
From Kaohsiung Gushan Ferry Pier, take a ferry to Cijin (about 5 minutes)
How long should I spend at Cijin Island?
Plan on 2–3 hours for Cijin Island.
Where is Cijin Island?
Cijin Island is in Kaohsiung, Taiwan Region, in the South China of China. No. 1, Miaoqian Road, Cijin District (west side of Kaohsiung Port)
More places in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung Eye Ferris Wheel
Kaohsiung Eye is a giant seaside Ferris wheel in Taiwan, located on the top floor of the Dream Mall shopping centre in Kaohsiung. Its gondolas are decorated with artwork, and from inside you can take in views of the city, Sizihwan and Kaohsiung Harbor. At night the wheel lights up with neon, shining like a brilliant pearl of Kaohsiung.
NT$150 · 1 hour
Sizihwan
The sunset at Sizihwan is one of the Eight Views of Kaohsiung. Sun Yat-sen University sits within the bay area, so at dusk you will often see couples sharing quiet, romantic moments here. The area is also a popular beach, and in summer crowds flock here to swim and celebrate. You can enter Sizihwan Beach through the visitor service centre to the left of Sun Yat-sen University.
Sizihwan is free; full ticket to the beach is NT$70 · 1–3 hours
Pier-2 Art Center
This was once a rundown port warehouse, later redeveloped into an art zone similar to Beijing's 798. Its walls and sculptures are full of playful, inventive graffiti and installations. The bold, individual artworks draw many visitors, making it a must-see for art lovers.
Free · 2–3 hours
Tuntex Sky Tower (85 Sky Tower)
Kaohsiung 85 Sky Tower, also known as the Tuntex 85 International Plaza, has a silhouette resembling the Chinese character “高” (gao, meaning high). The 74th-floor observatory offers 360-degree views of Kaohsiung Harbor and the cityscape, while the 85th-floor observatory provides some of the finest views of the port city.
Observatory ticket NT$180 · 1–3 hours
Meinong Hakka Town
Since 1736, Hakka settlers have established the village of "Mi-nong Zhuang" here, and it has preserved the traditions and essence of Hakka culture to this day. It is one of the best-preserved Hakka towns in Taiwan. Meinong was once known as the "Tobacco Kingdom." Although the tobacco industry has gradually declined, the town continues to attract visitors with its distinctive Hakka character.
Free · 1–2 days
Kenting National Park
Kenting Park takes its name from the strong young men who came here to reclaim the land. The park has many exquisite and varied scenic spots, including Nanren Lake, Longluan Pond and Dajianshi Mountain. Its undersea coral landscapes are especially colourful and dazzling, well worth a visit. The park is also home to numerous wild animals, including sika deer, Formosan rock macaques and grey-faced buzzards, and more than 1,000 species of tropical trees. This makes Kenting Park Taiwan's first large-scale forest park, Taiwan's first tropical plant forest, and one of the world's eight major experimental forests.
Free · 1–3 days