Love River Introduction
The Love River, spanning the entire Kaohsiung urban area, is the most representative tourist destination in Kaohsiung. The neatly paved riverside walking paths, beautiful waterfront scenery along the way, charming and dazzling night views, as well as the cafes and weekend markets located on both shores, have become a great place for locals and tourists to stroll and explore. However, the most classic tourist activity is to take a ride on the Love Boat or gondola from the pier to take in the riverside scenery and enjoy the night. **The Story of the Love River** The Love River originates from Bagualiao in the Renwu District of Kaohsiung City and flows into the urban area, where bridges like Jianguo, Qixian, Zhongzheng, and Kaohsiung span across it, finally flowing into the Kaohsiung Port. The Love River was initially just a shallow stream that provided ferry crossings, but during the Japanese occupation period, it was dredged and transformed into a canal, playing an important role in transportation at that time and was named “Kaohsiung River.” This was the first formal name of the Love River, but people still commonly referred to it as “Kaohsiung Drain” or “Kaohsiung Canal.” Do you know how the Love River got its name? In 1948, a boating company named "Love River Boating Station" was established, allowing couples to row and enjoy romantic moments, which led to the charming name — Love River, making it the most romantic industrial canal. **The Splendor of the Love River Shines in the Night** The Love River, once plagued by pollution and enduring the passing of time, has now regained its splendor. The night views, water activities, and left bank cafes are must-see classics. As the lights come on, neon dreams illuminate the Love River in all its brilliance, with the river reflecting the vibrant night scenery of Kaohsiung, from the Love River Heart and Light Tower upstream to the True Love Pier downstream, providing romantic night views for travelers to savor. Experience a different kind of emotion by taking a gondola night tour of the Love River! The gondola, a unique transport tool in Venice, is rowed by a gondolier standing at the stern. It is a representation of romance in Venice, especially when the gondolier sings while rowing. Now you can enjoy this experience without spending money to travel abroad! Operators have specially imported a million-dollar gondola from Venice to sail on the Love River, offering a romantic experience full of exotic charm, currently available only at the Love River in Taiwan. For those wishing to take a ride on the Love River’s exclusive gondola, the boarding point is located at the intersection of Hedong Road and Minsheng Road. A round trip takes about 25 minutes, and as you sail on the surface of the Love River, you can admire the reflections of city lights on both shores, including the main lantern of the 2001 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival, the soaring dragon, and the distant Kaohsiung Music Center. When the boat sails under the Wufu Bridge, there is a secret that many people do not know: there are zodiac light decorations under the bridge, where you can find your zodiac sign. As the boat sways past, the gondolier continues the traditional habit of singing, and listening to the gondolier's enchanting songs makes you feel as if you are in romantic Venice. **The brand new song "Love River Humanity" by Luo Dayou** captures the new appearance of Kaohsiung in his memories and expresses his profound feelings for this land.
