Kaohsiung Love River and Cijin Loop: Harbor City Waterfront Cycling and Ferry Island Hopping

Waterfront Riding in the Port City

Kaohsiung, as a harbor city, has developed a waterfront cycling network. From the mouth of the Love River, through the Pier-2 Art Center, to Cijin via ferry, the loop is approximately 25 km, entirely flat, with sea breezes and harbor views as its signature. It doesn’t rely on climbs to impress—it wins with the waterfront scenery born from the transformation of an industrial port city.

Route Design

Taking Your Bike on the Ferry

Take the ferry from Gushan Ferry Terminal to Cijin. Bikes are allowed on board (a bike ticket must be purchased), and the crossing takes about 5 to 10 minutes. It’s Kaohsiung’s unique “island-hopping” riding experience, offering close-up views of container ships entering and leaving the harbor.

Day vs. Night Riding: One Route, Two Cities

What makes this loop special is that “the same stretch of road feels like two different cities at different times of day.” Choose your time slot based on the atmosphere you want:

The most recommended approach is to “start at dusk”: watch the sunset sink into the harbor at Xiziwan, then night-ride along the Love River to see the lights reflected on the water, and finish at Cijin Old Street with grilled squid and seafood. The Gushan ferry still runs at night, but off-peak departures are less frequent, so be sure to check the day’s schedule.

Ferry Practicalities and Bike-Handling Tips

The ferry from Gushan Ferry Terminal to Cijin is the soul of this loop, but there are a few things to know about bringing a bike: a separate bike ticket must be purchased (bike and rider are ticketed separately), and the crossing takes about 5 to 10 minutes. During peak hours (holiday afternoons, before sunset), the queue for bikes is long, so it’s best to cross during off-peak times. On board, keep your bike steady and don’t block the aisles; follow crew instructions when wheeling on and off. During the crossing, you can get a close look at container ships and workboats entering and leaving the First Port—a “waterborne island-hopping” experience unique to Kaohsiung that can’t be replicated elsewhere. If you want a different route on the way back, you can ride directly along the Cijin coast and loop back into the city via another route.

Supplies

Dining options are plentiful around Pier-2 and Cijin Old Street, with Cijin seafood and grilled squid being the highlights. Convenience stores are abundant along the route, and there are bike rental stations along the Love River, making it easy to adjust your itinerary on the fly.

Extensions

You can extend north to Lotus Pond and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, or head south to Linyuan and Fengbitou, turning the port-city ride into a half-day adventure.

Kaohsiung’s waterfront story is the tale of a heavy-industrial city learning to coexist gently with the sea. When you ride along the Love River and watch the sunset sink into the harbor, you’ll understand: cities grow too, just as we learn to on a bicycle.

Related Reading

• Kaohsiung Xiziwan to Cijin Harbor Loop: The Most Beautiful Coastal Ride in Southern Taiwan
• Kaohsiung Shoushan and Cijin Bike Paths: A Leisurely Urban Riding Route Plan
• Kaohsiung Zuoying Old Town to Cijin Ferry Route: Port-City Riding and the Cijin Ferry Experience
• Kaohsiung Shoushan and Xiziwan Bike Path: A Classic Short Ride on the Southern Taiwan Coast