The Great Harbor Bridge isn't a place to snap a photo and leave. I usually put it after Pier-2, so the afternoon's exhibitions, the harbor, dinner and the night views flow into one another.
Every place below opens straight in Google Maps. The bridge's events, performances and the shops around it can change from day to day, so go by the notices on site and from official sources before you set off.
Great Harbor Bridge, KW2 and Love River bay: walking essentials
- Main landmarks: the Great Harbor Bridge (Asia's longest swing bridge across a harbor), KW2 (the white carousel), and Love River bay by the Kaohsiung Music Center
- Swing times: daily at 15:00 (an extra swing at 19:00 on Fridays to Sundays and national holidays); each swing takes about 3 minutes
- On foot: from Hello Stay about 20 minutes (about 1.5 km) to the Great Harbor Bridge and about 17 minutes (about 1.3 km) to KW2
- Public transport: the bridge is right by Pier-2 Dayi light rail station (C12); you can also walk over from Yanchengpu MRT Station (O2) (go by your map app for the time); ferries run to Cijin
- Where to stay
: Hello Stay whole houses in Yancheng (Hello House, No. 131, 8–26 guests / Godin House, No. 163,4–12 guests); after the night views, head back to rest whenever you like
From Pier-2 to the Great Harbor Bridge
Start at the Pier-2 Art Center: see the exhibitions or design shops you came for, then head toward the harbor. Doing it in this order means you don't have to keep riding back and forth between exhibitions and waiting for the sunset.
Once you reach the Great Harbor Bridge, I like to stop and take in the harbor rather than rush to the next stop. For first-time visitors to Kaohsiung, that wide-open harbor feeling is usually worth more of your time than squeezing in a few more sights.
Then on to KW2
KW2 works well later in the afternoon. With a mall and restaurants, everyone in the group can rest, eat or keep browsing at their own pace.
If it's too hot, I treat KW2 as a break halfway along; if the weather's pleasant, I spend longer at the Great Harbor Bridge and Love River bay. Not every stop needs the same amount of time, which is one of the perks of staying nearby.
An evening walk along Love River bay
Love River bay is best from late afternoon into the evening. By the time you get here, see whether everyone still has the legs for it: those who want to keep walking can follow the harbor, and those who want to rest can head straight back to Hello Stay (Hello House / Godin House).
For dinner, come back to Yancheng for local meals, or try Yancheng's nightlife. Not having to travel far just to eat makes the whole day much easier.
Who this suits
- First-time visitors to Kaohsiung who want Pier-2 and the harbor on the same day.
- Travelers with elders or children who need to be able to cut the route short at any point.
- Friends sharing a whole house who want to keep daytime sightseeing and evening chats separate.
- Anyone who loves photographing the harbor and would rather not fill the day with indoor sights.
Four harborside landmarks and how far they are on foot
| Landmark | What it's like, and photo highlights | Suggested time | From Hello Stay on foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Harbor Bridge | Asia's longest swing bridge across a harbor, turning horizontally, with a second-floor observation deck over the water | About 20 minutes (about 1.5 km) | |
| KW2 | A century-old warehouse turned creative mall, the white carousel, the Cijin ferry pier | About 17 minutes (about 1.3 km) | |
| Pier-2's Dayi warehouses | Old warehouses under the trees, design shops, independent cafés and handmade crafts | About 13 minutes (about 1.1 km) | |
| The Kaohsiung Music Center's wave tower | Striking architecture, Love River bay lit up at night, waterfront paths | About 23 minutes along the waterfront (about 1.9 km) |
For more sights, see the list of sights around Yancheng; for somewhere to stay, see the