The most soulful lake in Kaohsiung: Half-day walking route in Lotus Pond

Whenever the Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung is mentioned, the images that come to mind are mostly the spectacular "Dragon and Tiger Tower" or the popular check-in hotspot "Spring and Autumn Pavilion". But if you are willing to spend a morning or an hour after dusk walking slowly by the lake, you will find that this is not just a tourist attraction, but the most "human" and "divine" living lake in Kaohsiung.

It was during such a casual trip that I got to know the Lotus Pond again - it is more poetic, more lively, and more quiet than I imagined.

🌅 From early morning to evening, the rhythm of lake light and human voices
The Lotus Pond is most charming in the morning. You will see locals doing morning exercises, riding bicycles slowly around the lake; you will also meet elders jogging in the morning, sweating while chatting about the plot of last night's TV series. The sun falls obliquely on the water, and the lake surface is shining with golden light, with the silhouette of the temple in the distance, forming a quiet and peaceful painting.

After dusk, the lights come on, and the reflections of the Dragon and Tiger Tower and the Spring and Autumn Pavilion on the water surface become clearer. The sausage stalls, pinball machines, and believers in front of the temple on the street have transformed the Lotus Pond from a religious and cultural attraction into a lively night market for citizens.

🐲 Enter the dragon and exit the tiger, a way to get rid of disasters and misfortunes
You may know that the correct way to go to the Dragon and Tiger Tower is to "enter from the dragon's mouth and exit from the tiger's mouth", which symbolizes "turning bad luck into good luck". The spiral staircases and murals in the tower narrate various Buddhist stories and cause and effect reincarnation, and standing on the top of the tower, you can overlook the entire Lotus Pond and the city scenery of Zuoying.

The Spring and Autumn Pavilion, Wuliting, Qiming Hall and other buildings are also religious landmarks with different styles. They combine Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, making the entire Lotus Pond a "miniature of local belief culture".

📸 Not only good for taking pictures, but also good for walking and relaxing
A circle around the lake is about 4.2 kilometers, with complete bicycle paths and trails. Along the way, you can enjoy the lotus pond, observation deck, temple complex and local art installations. In recent years, many cafes and cultural and creative markets have also settled in the lakeside, making this lake no longer just a "holy place of faith in the past", but a slow-living space that even young people can enjoy freely.

It is recommended to come in the evening, take a walk and watch the sunset fall behind the tower, and then go to the nearby food. The whole trip is relaxing and fulfilling.

📍【Notes on Lotus Pond】
• Address: Liantan Road, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City
• Transportation: Take the Kaohsiung MRT to Zuoying Station, walk about 15 minutes/take the Kaohsiung City bus to get there directly
• Recommended stay time: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Surrounding tours: Zuoying Old Town (Fengyi Academy, Gongchen Gate), Kaohsiung Confucius Temple, Military Village Cultural Center, Ruifeng Night Market

💬 Lotus Pond is not the kind of place that will surprise you at once, but it is a scenery that will slowly ferment in your heart
Sometimes it is the sound of temple bells, sometimes it is the sound of wind blowing lotus leaves, sometimes it is the screams of children coming from the Dragon and Tiger Pagoda. Those fragments of life and faith intertwined are the most moving aspects of Lotus Pond.

#5月好去处2025