No License? No Problem! Explore Cijin Island with this Self-Drive Guide 🏝️
🗺️ The best way to get to Cijin🏝️: Take the MRT Orange Line 🚉 to Hamaxing Station. Take Exit 1 and walk for about 10 minutes to reach the Gushan Ferry Pier ⛴️. Then, take the ferry (about a 10-minute ride). The lower deck is for motorbikes 🛵 and bicycles 🚲, while pedestrians must head to the upper deck. Watch your step while boarding and disembarking! ⚠️ Once you arrive at Cijin Ferry Pier, you'll see a 7-11 and plenty of shops renting out bicycles 🛵 and electric vehicles 🚗. You can choose a ride based on your group size, style, and price. I rented a "Q-version Egg Car 🚖"—available in yellow, pink, white, and blue. It can squeeze in three people, but two is much more comfortable. It’s only 600 NTD for two hours! The staff was very patient in teaching me how to drive and even gave us a handy map! 🗺️
📍 Stop 1: 【Cihou Lighthouse💡 & Battery🧨】
【Cihou Lighthouse】 is located at the top of Cihou Mountain⛰️. You must park your vehicle near the trailhead 🅿️ and walk up for about 10 minutes to reach the summit. Also known as the Kaohsiung Lighthouse, it is one of the oldest landmarks in the port city, once guiding ships into the harbor 🛥️ ⛵️! Built in 1883 by a British engineer, it is a national historic site and Taiwan’s only Western-style white octagonal brick lighthouse 🏗️. On a clear day, the pure white structure is perfect for photos. As the highest point in Cijin, you can overlook large ships entering the port 🚢, the colorful houses of Cijin 🏘️, and the sunset at Sizihwan 🌇. Pro tip: There’s a cafe ☕️ next to the lighthouse for snacks and restrooms 🚻 available for use.
A 10-minute walk from the lighthouse leads to 【Cihou Battery】. Also a national historic site, it was a vital military stronghold guarding the entrance to Kaohsiung Port. The brick-and-stone structure 🧱 follows a layout shaped like the character "目" (eye). The view here is even more expansive, offering a great look at the "Seahorse Dike," a stone breakwater. From above, watching the powerful waves 🌊 of the open sea is truly spectacular!
📍 Stop 2: 【Windmill Park🎐】
You can head down Miaoqian Road (Seafood Street) and then follow the Cijin Road bike path to Windmill Park. The park’s seven unique three-blade windmills are the main attraction, spinning against the backdrop of the vast ocean 🍃. They are iconic local landmarks and a popular photo spot 📷. The area features large grassy lawns and paths, perfect for picnics, strolls, and flying kites 🪁!
📍 Stop 3: 【Cijin Shell Museum🐚】
Instead of staying on the Cijin Road bike path 🛞, you can drive along the Coastal Scenic Path. This route runs right by the ocean and passes the giant "Sea Pearl" sculpture—a favorite spot for photos 📷! Shortly after, you’ll reach the 【Cijin Shell Museum】, the largest shell display hall in Taiwan 🐚. It features over 2,000 types of shells and about 200 crab specimens, including rare "living fossils" like the Nautilus and the Black-spotted Cowrie. The collection is incredibly rich and precious 🔎!
🗺️ Address: 2F, No. 887, Qijin 3rd Rd., Qijin Dist., Kaohsiung City (Inside Cijin Seaside Park)
🕐 Opening Hours: 09:00 - 17:00 (Closed on Mondays)
🎫 Tickets: Free
📍 Stop 4: 【Rainbow Church🌈⛪️】
While not an actual religious site, this colorful geometric installation 🌈 has become a popular wedding photography base 👰🏻 💒 and a hit on social media 📷. The design creates a stunning "infinity" effect where the sky meets the sea 🐬, reflecting off the water to make it look like it's floating. Next to it is a square-shaped arch that resembles a Japanese Torii gate ⛩️, another great photo op.
📍 Stop 5: 【Starlight Tunnel🌠】
Originally a military tunnel through Cihou Mountain and once used as an air-raid shelter, this tunnel is 88 meters long. You can park at the designated lot near the entrance 🅿️, as vehicles are not allowed inside 🚫. The walls and ceiling are painted with various marine life 🪸, complemented by glowing 12-zodiac constellations and fluorescent lighting ⚖️, creating a dreamy galaxy and deep-sea vibe 🧜🏻♂️. The tunnel exit opens to the Cijin Bay Gorge at the foot of Cihou Mountain, where you can get a close view of the magnificent sight of waves crashing against limestone cliffs and coral reefs 🌊. Just be sure to ⚠️ stay safe!