Proud of being a Kaohsiung Local / 光榮的高雄人
It has been said before that "Kaohsiung is becoming more beautiful", and it is clearly evident now that this statement is more than just a marketing slogan. There is a real feeling amongst the locals that their city is moving in leaps and bounds towards modern cultural activities, cleaner waterways, and distinctive art monuments. This is seen from the coffee culture that spans from the "Urban Spotlight" to the "Riverbank Mambo", the water view from "Love River" to Kaohsiung Port, and the Chian Kai-shek Cultural Center's Avenues of fine Arts. All these and more make Kaohsiung locals' proud citizens.
According to the China Times telephone surveys from June 25 to June 29, approximately one thousand citizens (older than 20 years of age), which accounts for more than 80% of the interviewers said that Kaohsiung city has improved a lot. Also, about 78% are satisfied and supportive of the mayor, Frank Hsieh. Most importantly, 76% of the Citizens are proud to be locals of Kaohsiung. This is a new phenomenon that has not happened before and is what makes Mr. Hsieh most grateful. Improvements to popular tourism sights; such as Love River, and construction of the MRT are some of the many reasons why Kaohsiung citizens hold such pride in their city.
Love River is considered to be the attraction that Kaohsiung citizens are most proud of. As the name suggests, it has a distinct romantic atmosphere, in which couples, families and friends can come to enjoy whilst sipping coffee by the banks or on one of the boat tours.
The Urban Spotlight is another of many "bright spots" in Kaohsiung. It used to be considered the dark corner of the city where people used to avoid. But now, after recent developments, the Urban Spotlight is definitely becoming one of the most attractive places to go for both locals and tourists.
Kaohsiung city's new developments extend past Lover River and the Urban Spotlight. Locals and tourists can also spend time at the Museum of fine Arts, the Riverbank Park, and the Great Plaza for Civic Art- located around the Chian Kai-shek Culture Center. Furthermore, the Hsinkuang Pier and Shaochnantou Park are destinations not to be missed. Amongst developments to enhance the beauty of Kaohsiung are those that don't need to be seen such as improvements to the city's underground sewage systems. All of these results have slowly opened up the minds of the locals boosting their confidence as they go about life in Kaohsiung.
"Passionate, confident and optimistic citizens are the most important ingredients in making a city improve, also serving as the base for a city to grow", stated Kaohsiung Mayor, Frank Hsieh. He is very pleased by the citizens' satisfaction in the improvement of Kaohsiung and states that it is not himself that he is proud of, but that of Kaohsiung City.
根據中國時報在今年六月二十五至二十九日，針對一千多位、年滿二十歲設籍高雄市的民眾電話訪問發現，高雄市政建設有長足進步，得到超過八成的民眾肯定，因此對市長謝長廷個人施政滿意度也達七成八﹔更重要的是，有七成六的民眾以身為高雄市民為榮，這是過去所沒有的現象，也是市長謝長廷最感欣慰之處。
最讓高雄市民感到驕傲的就是擁有愛河等知名觀光景點，其次是市容景觀的改善，許多重大建設如捷運等陸續推動也是高雄人認為值得光榮的地方。
愛河，曾經是高雄人的驕傲，這條以「愛」為名的河流，熱戀中的男女都會攜手漫步河畔，河的左岸、右岸各具風情，「來愛河喝杯咖啡、搭船遊河」，不只是情侶的專利，更是全家人的休憩空間。
城市光廊是高雄人另一個「光」榮點，它曾經是城市的黑暗角落，治安問題令人卻步，市府團隊引進光、照亮黑暗處，如今，城市光廊無疑是最吸引市民、尤其是外縣市民眾爭相造訪的景點。
其實，高雄市近年開發出來的市民休憩空間不止於此，美術館文化園區、河堤公園、文化中心藝術大道、新光碼頭、哨船頭公園等等，還有看不見的建設、污水下水道接管率大幅增加等，就是這樣一步一腳印的建設成績，一點一滴打動市民原本已經封閉的心，高雄人再度走出來，在屬於他們的城市空間自在的生活，對於未來更充滿信心。
「熱情、有信心、又樂觀的市民，是推動市政進步的重要泉源，也是一個城市飛躍成長的基礎」，謝市長對於個人施政滿意度一路攀升雖然欣慰卻不自滿，但忍不住要如此為高雄市民喝采。