Qishan Day Trip Guide: A Century-Old Baroque Old Street and Southeast Asia's Largest Confucius Temple

Once known as "Fanshuliao", Qishan was a trading hub for bananas and sugar cane. Its classic Baroque-style Old Street — once voted Taiwan's most popular old street — is a must-visit, packed with traditional snacks and local banana-themed treats and desserts that keep visitors coming back. The Qishan Confucius Temple and Wude Hall are equally unmissable. Here's our insider's guide to a perfect Qishan day trip from Kaohsiung.

Qishan Old Street

The sugar industry once drove the district's growth, and the red-brick, Baroque-style Old Street was a highlight of that era. Strolling through the elegant, century-old shopping street lets you soak up its history and heritage architecture while sampling local favourites — from Zhaolin Fruit Parlour and Changmei Ice Shop to San-ge Stinky Tofu and Wucuo Traditional Tofu Pudding, all decades-old institutions. The unique pairing of food and architecture is exactly what makes Qishan Old Street so special.

Address: No. 1, Zhongshan Rd, Qishan District, Kaohsiung

Hours: 14:00–20:00

Qishan Station & Sugar Railway Story Museum

Built in 1913, Qishan Station charms with its pale-blue facade. Its "quasi-Western" style blends Japanese, Victorian and Gothic elements into an elegant landmark that is Qishan's most recognisable sight. The station ceased full operations in 1978 and survived several fires; after restoration it reopened as the Sugar Railway Story Museum. Inside you'll find historical documents and artefacts, and you can board a steam locomotive, try a VR experience, and use the visitor information, banana-themed souvenir and bike rental services.

Address: No. 1, Zhongshan Rd, Qishan District, Kaohsiung

Phone: 07-6621228

Hours: Weekdays 10:00–18:00; weekends 10:00–19:00 (closed Tuesdays)

Qishan Tianhou Temple

Over 300 years ago, early settlers brought a statue of Mazu from Meizhou on the mainland to Fanshuliao (Qishan's old name) seeking peace and spiritual comfort. With the deity's reputation spreading, locals pooled funds to build the temple, completed in 1824 — 200 years of history today. It is the only remaining temple in Qishan preserving a Qing-era main structure and remains the district's most important centre of faith. The Mazu statue's face has been darkened to a gleam by years of incense, and the temple is now a designated Kaohsiung City historic site.

Address: No. 16, Ln. 23, Yongfu St, Qishan District, Kaohsiung

Phone: 07-6612037

Hours: 05:30–22:00

Qishan Confucius Temple

Set inside Gushan Park, the temple features a grand five-bay gate and follows Song-dynasty architectural style, with yellow glazed tiles, vermilion pillars and white-jade balustrades — it is the largest Confucius temple in Southeast Asia. A spring Confucius ceremony is held here every year to bless students with exam success. Perched at the highest point of Gushan Park, the temple offers sweeping views of the Qishan plain, making it a favourite spot for outings and night views. Down below lie the ruins of Qishan Shrine, which still retain some Japanese-era features and are worth a detour.

Address: No. 1, Gushan Park, Qishan District, Kaohsiung

Phone: 07-6616859

Hours: 09:00–17:00 (closed Mondays)

Qishan Wude Hall Arts Center

Built in 1934 in traditional Japanese temple style, Wude Hall was originally erected to promote martial virtues during the Japanese era. Its wooden sections use prized Taiwanese cypress, and of the only three Wude Halls left in Taiwan, Qishan's is considered the most beautiful. After a 1994 fire and two restorations, it now hosts exhibitions, creative markets, lectures and workshops. The playground outside — themed on Qishan bananas and the hall's historic architecture — is the district's largest family-friendly park, with climbing structures, a long trampoline, swings and a hillside play area, plus fitness equipment for seniors.

Address: No. 2, Zhongzheng Rd, Qishan District, Kaohsiung

Phone: 0987-188972

Hours: 09:00–18:00 (closed Tuesdays)

Kaohsiung Qitang Agricultural & Creative Park

Inside the old Qishan sugar refinery now sits the "East Nine Roads Station" — Kaohsiung Qitang Agricultural & Creative Park. After photographing the small train and enjoying the cheap, tasty refinery ice cream, be sure to wander the park: distinctive red-brick old buildings, old sugar-making chimneys, arched brick corridors and a century-old refinery office make for wonderfully nostalgic photo backdrops. The spacious grounds house specialty restaurants and souvenir shops, an art district in the red-brick warehouses, and cute, playful landscape installations.

Address: No. 33, Zhongxiao St, Qishan District, Kaohsiung

Phone: 07-6623831

Hours: 09:00–18:00

Source: ETtoday Travel — "Qishan Day Trip Guide: Century-Old Baroque Streets"