Cijin Island (旗津) is a small island just off the coast of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and it's one of the most popular day trips if you're visiting the city. Known for its fresh seafood, beach views, and lively street food scene, Cijin is an easy and fun place to explore for a few hours.
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I originally wrote about Cijin Island back in 2012, and since then I've visited several more times while in Kaohsiung. Each visit feels a little different - new food stalls, updated harbor areas, and more shops popping up - but the main reason people come here is still the same: great seafood, ocean views, and a relaxed island vibe just minutes from the city.
Getting to Cijin Island
The most common way to reach Cijin Island is by ferry from Kaohsiung Harbor.
On one of my earlier visits, we actually drove to the island through the Cross Harbor Tunnel, an underwater tunnel connecting Kaohsiung to Cijin. The first time going through it felt a little surreal - knowing the ocean is above you - but it's a quick and convenient way locals get across.
On my most recent trip, we decided to take the Kaohsiung Light Rail down to the harbor area and explore a bit before heading to Cijin. The port district around the harbor has been redeveloped in recent years, with renovated warehouse spaces that now house cafes, shops, and art spaces.
Originally we planned to take the ferry from one of the nearby harbor piers, KW2, Kaoshiung Port Warehouse No.2 which was also super cute outside and inside, but the ferry area was under construction.
Luckily it was an easy fix - we simply walked about 10 minutes along the waterfront to Hamasen Ferry Pier, which is the main ferry terminal for Cijin.
The ferry ride itself is quick, only about 5 minutes, and it drops you right at the entrance to Cijin's main street.
Cijin Street: Food, Shops, and a Historic Temple
Once you arrive, you'll immediately find yourself on Cijin Street (旗津老街), the island's lively main street lined with food stalls, seafood vendors, and small shops.
The atmosphere feels a lot like a daytime night market, with plenty of Taiwanese street food to try. Because Cijin has long been a fishing community connected to Kaohsiung Harbor, seafood is the highlight here.
Some of the popular things you'll see include:
- Grilled squid
- Fried seafood (fish, shrimp, squid balls, and more)
- Fresh oysters
- Seafood soups
- Taiwanese snacks and drinks
There are also plenty of seafood restaurants if you're looking for a full sit-down meal.
Right along this street you'll also see the Cijin Mazu Temple (旗津天后宮), one of the oldest temples in the area. It's dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese sea goddess, who is traditionally worshipped by fishermen and sailors for protection at sea - which makes perfect sense given Cijin's long connection to fishing and maritime life.
The temple sits right in the middle of the busy street, surrounded by vendors and shops, and its colorful traditional architecture makes it easy to spot while exploring.
Walking to Cijin Beach
If you continue walking down the main street, you'll eventually reach Cijin Beach, one of the most relaxing spots on the island.
Near the beach is an area known as Cijin Sunset Beach, where several beachside bars and cafes have outdoor seating facing the ocean.
We stopped here for drinks and enjoyed the view. Chris ordered a mojito, which he said was surprisingly good (and he's from Miami, so he takes mojitos pretty seriously). I grabbed a couple IPA beers, and later we switched to some light lagers - perfect for relaxing by the beach.
Afterward we took a walk along the sand, enjoying the ocean breeze and watching the waves.
Sunset Ferry Back to Kaohsiung
When it was time to head back, we caught the ferry from Cijin back to Kaohsiung.
The timing worked out perfectly because the sun was setting over the harbor, turning the sky shades of orange and pink. Seeing the Kaohsiung skyline and harbor lights beginning to come on while crossing the water made the short ferry ride back especially memorable.
It was a simple but really nice way to end the day.
The trip was so fun!
A Little History of Cijin Island
Interestingly, Cijin wasn't always a true island.
Historically, the land was connected to the southern part of Taiwan. In 1975, the connection was cut to create a second entrance to Kaohsiung Port, which transformed Cijin into the island it is today.
Because of this history, Cijin has long been closely tied to Kaohsiung's maritime culture and fishing industry, which explains why seafood is such a big part of visiting here.
Exploring Around the Island
Beyond the main street and beach, Cijin also has scenic viewpoints and historic sites around the island.
One of the most well-known is Cijin Fort, an old military fort located on the hillside overlooking the harbor. From the top you can get great views of Kaohsiung and the surrounding coastline.
The area around the fort can also be home to quite a few stray dogs roaming the island, which has been a common sight here for years. They generally keep to themselves, but it's something visitors might notice while exploring.
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