Step into a Galaxy of Lights: Your Guide to Cijin Star Tunnel in Kaohsiung

### **🌟 Why Visit the Cijin Star Tunnel?**
1. **Psychedelic Transformation**: Once a Japanese-era military tunnel, this 88-meter passage is now a dazzling art installation with LED-lit constellations, glow-in-the-dark marine murals (jellyfish, dolphins, and whales), and a "starry sky" effect created with luminous stones and driftwood .
2. **Historic Roots**: Built during Japan’s colonial rule to protect Kaohsiung Harbor, the tunnel was repurposed in 2005 as part of the Cihou Mountain Coastal Trail .
3. **Scenic Exit**: The west end opens to a breathtaking coastal view of Cihou Mountain’s limestone cliffs and the Taiwan Strait .

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### **📍 How to Get There**
- **From Kaohsiung Mainland**:
1. Take the **Orange Line MRT to Sizihwan Station**, then walk 8 mins to **Gushan Ferry Pier**.
2. Board the ferry to **Cijin Island** (NT$20–30, 5–10 min ride) .
- **On Cijin Island**:
- From the ferry terminal, it’s a **15-min walk** or **5-min bike ride** (rentals start at NT$100/day) .
- Follow signs to **Cihou Fort** or **Kaohsiung Lighthouse**—the tunnel lies beneath them .

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### **🕒 Best Time to Visit**
- **Avoid Crowds**: Weekday mornings or early evenings .
- **Magical Lighting**: Visit at dusk when the LED colors pop against the darkening sky .
- **Hours**: Open 24/7, but ferries stop at 2 AM (resume at 5 AM) .

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### **📸 Nearby Attractions**
1. **Cihou Fort & Lighthouse**: Climb for panoramic harbor views (free entry) .
2. **Cijin Beach**: Black-sand coastline 5 mins away .
3. **Rainbow Church**: A faded-but-photogenic art installation (15-min walk south) .

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### **💡 Pro Tips**
- **Footwear**: Wear comfortable shoes—the tunnel has a wooden boardwalk .
- **Combine with a Bike Ride**: Rent a bike to explore the island’s flat coastal trail .
- **Safety**: The tunnel is narrow; avoid peak hours for a relaxed experience .

**Insider Note**: For a surreal experience, listen for echoes of waves crashing near the tunnel’s exit .

*Location*: Near Cijin Hospital, Miaocian Rd. (Google Maps: "Cijin Star Tunnel") .