Love River Introduction
The Love River, spanning the entire Kaohsiung urban area, is the most representative tourist destination in Kaohsiung. The well-paved riverside walkways, the beautiful waterfront scenery along the way, the enchanting and colorful night views, as well as the cafes and weekend markets along both banks, make it a great place for locals and visitors to stroll and enjoy. However, the classic travel experience is to take a ride on the Love Boat or gondola from the pier, taking in the riverside scenery while drifting through the night. The Story of the Love River The Love River originates from Bagualiao in Renwu District, Kaohsiung City. Once it enters the urban area, bridges such as Jianguo, Qixian, Zhongzheng, and Kaohsiung cross its path before it flows into Kaohsiung Harbor. Initially just a shallow creek providing ferry services, it was dredged into a canal during the Japanese occupation, playing an important role in transportation at that time and was named "Kaohsiung Creek." This was the first formal name for the Love River, although people commonly referred to it as "Kaohsiung Drain" or "Kaohsiung Canal." Do you know how the Love River got its name? In 1948, someone opened the "Love River Boat Rental" service for people to row along the river, and couples frequently rowed and talked about love, leading to the charming name "Love River" through word of mouth, making it the most romantic industrial canal. The Brilliance of the Love River Shines in the Night Once suffering from pollution and the ravages of time, the Love River has now regained its splendor. The night view, water activities, and Left Bank Café are must-visit classics. As the lights come on, the dreamy neon lights highlight the dazzling Love River, with the surface reflecting Kaohsiung's vibrant night scene, from the Love River Heart and Light Tower upstream to the True Love Pier downstream, providing a romantic night atmosphere for travelers to savor. Experience a Different Emotion by Taking a Night Tour on the Gondola! The gondola, a unique transportation tool in Venice, has the boatman rowing from the back while singing, representing the romance of Venice. Now, you can enjoy it without spending money to travel abroad! Operators have specially imported million-dollar gondolas from Venice to sail on the Love River, providing an exotic and romantic experience that is currently only available at the Love River in Taiwan. If you want to take a gondola ride exclusive to the Love River, the boarding location is at the intersection of Hedong Road and Minsheng Road, with a round trip lasting about 25 minutes. While aboard, you can see the reflections of the city lights on both sides, including the 2001 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival main lantern, "Aoyue Longxiang," and the distant Kaohsiung Pop Music Center. As the boat passes under Wufu Bridge, there is a secret that many people do not know about—the twelve zodiac lights under the bridge, allowing you to search for your zodiac sign. As the boat sways past, the boatman's singing tradition is beautifully recreated on the Love River, listening to the boatman perform moving songs, as if being in the romantic ambiance of Venice. Lo Ta-yu's new song "Love River in the World" incorporates memories of Kaohsiung and its new look into the lyrics, expressing his profound feelings for this piece of land.
