Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung (must see)
The Pier-2 Art Center is a thriving hub of creativity that has transformed a cluster of abandoned port-side warehouses into one of the city's most beloved cultural landmarks, a dynamic open art space, where contemporary artists, students, and visitors come together to explore and celebrate southern Taiwan’s vibrant creative scene.
Spread across a large area near the Kaohsiung Port and facing Qijin Island, the Pier-2 Art Center is home to hundreds of unique shops, cafes, galleries, and bars. Inside the revamped warehouses, visitors can find everything from street art and pop art installations to thought-provoking contemporary exhibits.
One of the most talked-about pieces is the “Chores of Guan Gong,” an enormous red figure known for its provocative design. For a fun and quirky photo opportunity, don’t miss the street art mural of Pier-2 itself or the stacked shipping containers arranged into modern sculpture. A highlight for many is the towering Transformers model next to the light rail station.
To make the most of your visit, plan to arrive in the mid to late afternoon so you have time to explore both indoor and outdoor installations before catching a beautiful sunset over the water. Admission fees apply for certain exhibits, but the surrounding art and atmosphere make even a casual stroll worthwhile.
Spread across a large area near the Kaohsiung Port and facing Qijin Island, the Pier-2 Art Center is home to hundreds of unique shops, cafes, galleries, and bars. Inside the revamped warehouses, visitors can find everything from street art and pop art installations to thought-provoking contemporary exhibits.
One of the most talked-about pieces is the “Chores of Guan Gong,” an enormous red figure known for its provocative design. For a fun and quirky photo opportunity, don’t miss the street art mural of Pier-2 itself or the stacked shipping containers arranged into modern sculpture. A highlight for many is the towering Transformers model next to the light rail station.
To make the most of your visit, plan to arrive in the mid to late afternoon so you have time to explore both indoor and outdoor installations before catching a beautiful sunset over the water. Admission fees apply for certain exhibits, but the surrounding art and atmosphere make even a casual stroll worthwhile.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Kaohsiung. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Pier-2 Art Center on Map
Sight Name: Pier-2 Art Center
Sight Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan (See walking tours in Kaohsiung)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan (See walking tours in Kaohsiung)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Create Your Own Walk in Kaohsiung
Creating your own self-guided walk in Kaohsiung is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Lotus Pond Walking Tour
They say that once, on a quiet day by Kaohsiung’s Lotus Pond, the Goddess of Mercy appeared in the clouds, riding a dragon above the water. The vision so impressed locals that they built temples and shrines to honor her presence.
That is only one of the reasons why Lotus Pond is today one of southern Taiwan’s most photographed landmarks. Created in 1951, the pond was envisioned both as a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
That is only one of the reasons why Lotus Pond is today one of southern Taiwan’s most photographed landmarks. Created in 1951, the pond was envisioned both as a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Kaohsiung Introduction Walking Tour
Kaohsiung didn’t start as Taiwan’s southern powerhouse. Its first name, “Takau,” came from the Makatau people, who lived off fishing, hunting, and small-scale farming in a land once described simply as a bamboo forest. Chinese settlers under the Ming and Qing dynasties kept the name, bending the pronunciation to their tongues. Then in 1895, Japan claimed Taiwan and gave the place a new... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles


