Kaohsiung

“Split of Taiwan,” Kaohsiung is the country’s second-largest city, right after Taipei. Located in the sunny south, this coastal hub offers a clear contrast to the more formal, fast-paced capital in the north.

The relationship between Taipei and Kaohsiung mirrors that of Zagreb and Split—Taipei, like Zagreb, sits in the north and plays the role of the administrative and political center, while Kaohsiung, like Split, enjoys more sun, a more relaxed rhythm, and a deeply local personality. Despite being nearly 400 kilometers apart, Taiwan’s high-speed rail makes the journey feel effortless. Imagine boarding a train in Zagreb and arriving in Split in just 90 minutes —that’s exactly how it works here.

When I was a student in Tainan, coming to Kaohsiung for fun and exploration felt like arriving in New York—huge, energetic, full of possibilities. Or to put it in local terms: like Ivica Kičmanović stepping into Zagreb for the first time. Big-city vibe, but with Taiwanese character.

Once known as a heavy industrial port, Kaohsiung has undergone one of the most dramatic transformations in East Asia. Today, it’s a city of modern MRT lines, trams, bike-friendly streets, and inviting public spaces like the Love River, where locals gather to stroll, chat, and relax.

Kaohsiung is now one of the most modernized cities in Taiwan—a place that reinvented itself without losing its soul.