Love River Introduction
The Love River, which spans the entire Kaohsiung urban area, is the most representative tourist destination in Kaohsiung. The well-paved riverside walkway, the beautiful waterfront scenery along the way, the enchanting night views, and the cafes and weekend markets along both banks have become a great place for locals and tourists to stroll and relax. However, the classic tourist activity is to take a ride on the Love Boat or a gondola at the pier, enjoying the riverside views while drifting in the night. The Story of Love River The Love River originates from Bagualiao in Renwu District, Kaohsiung City. After flowing into the urban area, it is crossed by bridges like Jianguo, Qixian, Zhongzheng, and Kaohsiung, and eventually flows into the sea at Kaohsiung Port. Initially, Love River was just a shallow stream providing ferry services, but during the Japanese colonial period, it was dredged into a canal, playing an important role in transportation at that time, and was named "Kaohsiung Creek," the first official name for Love River. However, people still commonly referred to it as "Kaohsiung Drain" or "Kaohsiung Canal." Do you know how Love River got its name? In 1948, a "Love River Boat Club" was established for people to row boats on the river, and couples would often row together and express their love, leading to the charming name - Love River, making it the most romantic industrial canal. The Splendor of Love River Shines in the Night Once plagued by pollution and weathered over time, Love River has now regained its splendor. The night scene, water activities, and left bank cafes are classic must-visit spots. As the lights come on, the dreamlike neon lights complement the dazzling beauty of Love River, reflecting the bustling nightscape of Kaohsiung on the river's surface, from the upstream Love River Heart and Light Tower to the downstream True Love Pier, the romantic night scene along the way allows travelers to savor every moment. Experience the unique emotion of taking a gondola night cruise on Love River! The gondola is a unique mode of transportation in Venice, where the gondolier stands at the stern and rows the boat while singing, a symbol of the romance of Venice. Now, you don’t have to spend money to travel abroad to enjoy it! Operators have specially imported million-dollar gondolas from Venice to sail on Love River, offering an exotic romantic experience that can only be found here in Taiwan. To take the exclusive gondola on Love River, the boarding location is at the intersection of Hedong Road and Minsheng Road. A round trip takes about 25 minutes, during which you can enjoy the reflections of city lights on both banks, including the main lantern of the 2001 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival, the Aoyue Longxiang, and the distant Kaohsiung Pop Music Center. When the boat passes under Wufu Bridge, there is a secret many people do not know about: there are light decorations of the twelve zodiac signs beneath the bridge, allowing you to find where your zodiac sign is. As the boat sways by, the gondolier's traditional singing style is also beautifully recreated on Love River; listening to the gondolier serenade with beautiful songs, you'll feel as if you are in the romantic setting of Venice. New Song "Love River in the Human World" by Luo Dayou Incorporates his memories and the new appearance of Kaohsiung today, expressing his deep feelings for this land of Kaohsiung in the lyrics.
