The Kaohsiung Experience: The Local Travel Guide to Kaohsiung and Tainan, Taiwan (Taiwan Guide)

Kaohsiung, perched on Taiwan's southern coast, is "real Taiwan." Kaohsiung is much less internationalized and modernized than Taipei -- and that's its charm. The food, especially seafood, is amazing. The temples, night markets, and small restaurants tend to be just quirkier than Taipei's. And the crosswalk signs are creative moving cartoons. Kaohsiung was Taiwan's rust belt a few decades ago, but now is emerging as a hub of culture, art, and technology. The Kaohsiung Experience is the local Kaohsiung. Night markets will be the start of our food explorations, but definitely not the end. I'll show you a hidden suspension bridge, urban wetlands, late-night desserts, a half-abandoned skyscraper, and, of course, lots of ferries and boat rides. We'll also get the dead skin shaved off your feet, visit a secret cafe in a sake shop, and hit up a seafood market (and sushi restaurant) that give Tokyo a serious run for its money. This is Kaohsiung. It's so worth discovering. Everything has a map link and a QR code, so you can navigate Kaohsiung like a local, or better. Get ready. Charge your smartphone and lace up your walking shoes. You're about to get The Kaohsiung Experience.

Cindy Liu is a fervent Taipei enthusiast. She is a graduate of National Taiwan University and her day job is in banking.