This lush, mountainous downtown district of Kaohsiung is home to many museums and historic buildings, a monkey mountain and a lively wharf.

Enjoy magnificent views over the Taiwan Strait from lofty peaks and visit the local piers, temples, museums and parks in the Gushan District of Kaohsiung.

Gushan is home to the 19th-century British Consulate at Takao. Set on the peak of a mountain, the gardens surrounding this Renaissance-style building offer scenic views of the Kaohsiung Port and Sizihwan (the Taiwan Strait).

For more panoramic views, take the stairs up to the architecturally impressive Martyrs' Shrine on Shoushan, the “Longevity Mountain,” and look out over Kaohsiung Harbor. Shoushan, or “Chaisan,” is home to Taiwan macaques, which you can meet in the Shoushan National Nature Park.

At the northern entrance to the harbor is the artistic Sizihwan Tunnel, which marks the start of the bayside Sizihwan community in the Gushan District. There is a huge university there and its black-sand beach is popular with students.

Hamaxing, or Hamasen, is a historic rail and harbor district on the southern edge of the Gushan District. Take the Cijin-Gushan ferry to Cijin Island if you have time to spare. Alternatively, visit the local Takao Railway Museum to learn more about the trading history of the port. While here, admire the nearby Gushan Daitian Temple, also known as the Hamasen Temple.

Visit the Kaohsiung Fisherman's Wharf to enjoy the lively atmosphere around the Banana Pier and sample the local fare at the wharf’s many food stalls and cafés. Browse the nearby Kaohsiung Harbor Museum.

Art lovers visiting the Gushan District shouldn’t miss the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts (KMFA) and entertaining Neiweipi Cultural Park by the Ai or “Love” River. The park is also home to the Children's ArtMuseum, a Sculpture Park, Ecology Park and the AustronesianCultural Area.

Gushan is part of Kaohsiung’s downtown area and is serviced by the Sizihwan Station of the orange KMRT line and the Aozihdi Station of the red line. Offering such a wide range of artistic, religious, natural and historic visitor attractions, Gushan is one of the best places to witness the local culture of southwestern Taiwan.