Is the Taiwan PASS (HSR) Worth It for Kaohsiung? | 2026 Transport Passes for Independent and Family Trips

Friends from other cities want a 2-day, 1-night or 3-day, 2-night trip to Kaohsiung: how should they plan getting around?

These days the high-speed rail, the Kaohsiung MRT's Red and Orange lines, the Circular Light Rail (now fully open) and the Cijin ferry all connect, so Kaohsiung is easy to enjoy without a car.

Taiwan's Tourism Administration has also launched the Taiwan PASS, in HSR and TRA editions, to encourage travel by public transport.

This article covers what the 2026 Taiwan PASS includes, how to ride the Kaohsiung MRT and light rail, which tickets work out cheapest from other cities, and how to get from the high-speed rail station to a whole-house stay in Yancheng.

Taiwan PASS in Kaohsiung: transport and stay essentials

• What the pass covers: high-speed rail discounts, the Kaohsiung MRT Red and Orange lines, the Circular Light Rail and the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle sightseeing buses (go by the official announcement)
• From the high-speed rail to the houses: at HSR Zuoying Station take the MRT Red Line and change to the Orange Line at Formosa Boulevard; in about 20–25 minutes you reach Yanchengpu Station (O2) Exit 2, then it's about a 7-minute walk
• Nearest stations: Yanchengpu MRT Station is about a 7-minute walk and Wenwu Temple light rail station about 8 minutes
• Where to stay: Hello Stay (Hello House, No. 131, 8–26 guests / Godin House, No. 163, 4–12 guests / both houses, 27–38 guests); every room has its own bathroom
• Easy without a car: keypad self check-in, the Hello House 1F island kitchen and manual mahjong tables; PX Mart is about a 4-minute walk
• Good to know: neither house has a lift; after 23:00 please keep the shared spaces quiet

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What is the Taiwan PASS HSR edition?

The Taiwan PASS HSR edition is an electronic transport pass for long-distance independent travelers, with three kinds of transport in one:

1. Taiwan High Speed Rail: discounted fares on set routes, or unlimited rides.
2. Metro: a 2-day pass for the Kaohsiung MRT and Circular Light Rail (or the Taipei, Taoyuan or Taichung metro instead).
3. Taiwan Tourist Shuttle: a return ticket on selected sightseeing shuttle buses.

The exact combinations and prices may change from year to year, so check the official website before you buy.

Who is it for?

• Travelers coming to Kaohsiung by high-speed rail from Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu or Taichung.
• Itineraries built around city sights (Pier-2, the Kaohsiung Music Center, Cijin, Kaohsiung Arena, the Museum of Fine Arts).
• Families and friends who'd rather not drive, hunt for parking or sit in traffic in the city.

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Which transport ticket should you choose in Kaohsiung?

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Getting around Kaohsiung by MRT and light rail from Yancheng

Hello Stay in Yancheng is a 7- or 8-minute walk from the MRT Orange Line (Yanchengpu Station) and the light rail (Wenwu Temple Station):

[HSR Zuoying Station]
   │  MRT Red Line, about 15 min
   ▼
[Formosa Boulevard Station]  (Dome of Light)
   │  change to the Orange Line, about 4 min
   ▼
[Yanchengpu Station]  ➔ about 7 min walk to Hello Stay
   │
   ├─▶ [Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail]
   │     • Pier-2 Dayi Station (Great Harbor Bridge, markets)
   │     • Zhen'ai Pier Station (Kaohsiung Music Center)
   │     • Museum of Fine Arts Station (Totoro tunnel)
   │
   └─▶ [Cijin ferry]
         • Gushan Ferry Pier ➔ Cijin Old Street
         • KW2 ➔ Cijin ferry

• A day in the city: walk to Yancheng First Public Market for a traditional breakfast → walk to Pier-2's Dayi warehouses for the market stalls and to watch the Great Harbor Bridge swing → take the light rail to the Kaohsiung Music Center for sunset over Love River bay → back in Yancheng in the evening for local street food.
• A day by the sea: walk to KW2 and take the ferry to Cijin to cycle by the sea → ferry back to Gushan in the late afternoon for a big bowl of shaved ice → back at the house, cook a late-night meal in the island kitchen and play mahjong.

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Why groups from other cities do well in Yancheng

What groups from other cities dread most is paying for a private van after leaving the high-speed rail station, or getting stuck in city traffic.

The transport perks of staying at Hello Stay:

1. In the door about half an hour after the high-speed rail: at HSR Zuoying Station take the MRT Red Line, change to the Orange Line at Formosa Boulevard, ride about 20–25 minutes to Yanchengpu Station, then walk about 7 minutes from the station.
2. No driving, no car hire, no parking: the old-street snacks are a short walk away, Pier-2 is about 13 minutes, the Great Harbor Bridge about 20 minutes, and the Kaohsiung Music Center about 23 minutes on foot or a light rail ride away, so you can eat as you go.
3. Keypad self check-in: arrive whenever your train gets in and let yourselves in with the code; your plans don't have to fit front desk hours.

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Choosing a house for a family or group trip

For groups of 4 to 38 from other cities, taking a whole house is better value and more comfortable:

• Families or friends of 4–12: Godin House (a five-story house; all 4 rooms have their own bathrooms).
• Big families, classmates or colleagues of 8–26: Hello House (all 5 rooms have their own bathrooms, plus a 1F island kitchen).
• Large groups of 27–38: both houses together (Hello House + Godin House) (all 9 rooms have their own bathrooms; 34 guests as standard, extra beds for 35–38). The two houses differ in price, size and room standard, so compare their rooms before you book.

Once your high-speed rail plans are set, check live availability on our website for rooms and prices.