Kaohsiung's Treasure-Chichin / 高雄市的瑰寶─旗津
According to legend, Chihoushan and Shousan were once one mountain. However, as the story goes, when one pirate was being chased by soldiers and officers, he escaped to Chihoushan. There he was backed against the mountains with the officers about to capture him. Then he wielded his sword and chanted some spells. All of a sudden, the Chihoushan and Shoushan were separated by the ocean. The ocean later became Kaohsiung Port.
The Beautiful Sandbank with Historical Remains
Sailors from all over the world sail into Kaohsiung Port. The first place they see is the sandy Chichin Island, measuring only 200 meters in width, some 11 kilometers in length, and less than 15 square kilometers in area. There is an old lighthouse built in 1860 on Chihoushan. The lighthouse has long been direction guidance for ships coming into Kaohsiung Port just like the Statue of Liberty is for American immigrants sailing into New York Harbor.
Kaohsiung's development first started from Chichin Island. For the residents there, life is a mix of history and culture. Chihoushan, which stands on the northern part of the island, is called an "Outdoor Historical Museum."
Kaohsiung's first Mazu Temple, the source of blessing for fishermen, was built in 1673 as a part of the Chihou Tienhou Temple. The Chihou Lighthouse and Chihou Gun Emplacement have been designated grade as three and grade two historical sites, respectively. If you come visit Chichin Island, you will have a chance to enjoy the past. Currently, Chichin is undergoing construction; therefore, the public can experience the changing characteristics of the island.
The Hawaii of Kaohsiung
Chichin Island, with its exceptionally beautiful ocean and mountains, is a god given treasure of Kaohsiung.
There are two ways to get to Chichin Island. If you are traveling by car, you must take the Harbor Tunnel, currently the only one of its kind in Taiwan. The tunnel goes from Kaohsiung to the south part of Chichin. You can also go to Chichin Island on the ferry from Gushan terminal in Kaohsiung. It takes only five minutes to reach the major villages at the foot of Chihousan on the northern part of Chichin.
Northern and southern Chichin are very different in landscape. There are beaches and fishing villages where you can relax and enjoy the blue sky and ocean. The Kaohsiung city government has been trying hard to build-up the image of Chichin Island as the "Hawaii of Kaohsiung." Chichin is a great traveling spot. There you can feel a breeze blowing through the coconut trees. It is also the sixth largest container port in the world. There are breakwaters on the coast to block drifting sand from affecting trade routes. Fortunately the soft beaches are well preserved throughout Chichin, where tourists can enjoy a walk at sunset.
The best ship viewing location is those two ports in the south. You can sit on the white sand in a quiet windbreak forest and observe those biggest and most advanced ships sailing in and out of the port. It is a great activity all day long. Watching billows flapping and sea gulls flying, you will have a light heart.
The southern beach on Chichin Island is prefect for lovers to take a walk without being disturbed from others. The Wind Turbine Park in the center of the island is the first wind power recreational park nationwide. It has both recreational and environmental functions. The Chichin Beach Park, which spreads from the center to the north of the island, covers 40 hectares of land, almost one forth of the whole Chichin Island. The park includes a nature preserve, a mountain-bike area, a seaside nature path, a swimming beach, and the like. Tropical vegetation abounds over the park. Chichin Island is indeed a resort where you can have a great time all year round.
Seafood is another must when visiting the island. Throughout the island, many restaurants offer fresh seafood with quite a bargain price. You must try yummy roasted squids as well as the fishing products and dried seafood in the old market. I guarantee you would go home with a satisfactory smile on your face after visiting Chishin Island.
Chichin Island's Brand-New Future
The new seaside nature bike path looping the island, which every resident is looking forward to, has been approved. The bike path will go through five different scenic areas, including a historic preservation area, a beach area, a coastal wind turbine area, a recreational sewage treatment plant area, and a sunset viewing area. Integrating culture, recreation, sports, and sightseeing functions all together, the loop bike path is expected to be completed by the end of 2005. According to the "Kaohsiung Aerial Cable Cars Set-Up and Operational Management Regulations," the aerial cable car will connect Chichin District and Kushan District. In the future, the "Aerial Cable Car" will link up with "Kaohsiung Rapid Transit," which will enhance the city's harbor advantages with tourism.
傳說旗后山原本與對岸西子灣的壽山相連，只是以前有個大海盜遭官兵追捕，逃到此地前有山勢阻隔，後頭追兵讓他走投無路，仗著法術，海賊舉起寶劍，唸起咒語，將寶劍凌空劈出，旗后山與壽山從此隔海相望，成為高雄港一港口。
充滿歷史遺蹟的美麗沙洲
全世界船員，搭乘各式輪船來到高雄港，第一個映入眼簾的是寬僅二百公尺、長十一公里，面積還不到十五平方公里的沙洲小島──旗津，旗后山上建於一八六○年的老燈塔，長久以來擔任船隻指引方向的明燈，就像美國新移民搭船進紐約港，看著自由女神像聳立。
旗津島是高雄市發展的起點，對旗津人而言，歷史、古蹟和當地的文化就這樣不著痕跡的融入街頭巷弄之中，成為生活的一部份，在旗津島北端的旗后山，有著「戶外歷史博物館」的美譽。
位於旗后天后宮，建於1673年，是高雄第一座媽祖廟，庇佑著以海為生的漁民，而「旗后燈塔」、「旗后砲台」分別被列入第三級和第二級古蹟，來一趟旗津，品味舊時代的風華，同時，旗津也邁開大步迎向新建設，展現變遷中的風情。
高雄的夏威夷
旗津是上天賜給高雄市的瑰寶，山海合一的美景得天獨厚，無可取代。
要到旗津島，可以開車經由台灣目前唯一一座過港隧道，由島嶼南端上溯；或者從鼓山輪渡站搭渡輪，短短約五分鐘時間，即可來到島嶼北端旗后山下的主要聚落。
旗津島南北的人文樣貌不同，海景沙灘與純樸漁村，令人感到海天同闊，輕鬆無比。將旗津島建設成「高雄的夏威夷」一直是高雄市政府努力的目標，一個有涼風椰林旅遊令人酣暢的地方，做為全球第六大貨櫃港的進出口，為免漂沙影響航道，海岸邊築起波堤與消波塊，但從南到北，綿細的砂灘反而不流失，適合遊客偕伴緩步踩踏夕陽。
最佳的觀船點，在最南端的二港口，選一處寧靜的防風林，伴著白砂，坐看全球最大最先進的船由此進出，無論白天或晚上都別有一番風貌，巨浪拍打，海鷗翻飛，心情也一起飛揚。
旗津島的南端海灘，情人們可以找到私密的漫步點；島嶼中段的風車公園，是全國第一座觀光、休閒兼環保的風力發電休閒公園；而從島嶼中段連綿到北方的旗津海岸公園，佔地面積四十公頃，幾乎讓旗津島四分之一的土地，都籠罩在這個大公園裡，區內有自然生態區、越野區、觀海步道、海水浴場等，熱帶林相豐富，一年四季假都是探訪旗津的好時機。
旗津島是品嘗海鮮的好地方，島上各處均有便宜又新鮮的海產店，令人回味無窮的烤小卷，還有老市場內有魚產乾貨，來一趟旗津，會讓妳帶著微笑與滿足返家。
旗津嶄新的未來
最令市民朋友引頸期盼的旗津環島海景觀光自行車道已規劃完成，將利用迴圈（LOOP）路線把景觀分成五個區，包含人文歷史景觀區、海灘休閒景觀區、風車海岸景觀區、污水廠休閒景觀區、海岸夕陽景觀區，提供一條結合人文、休閒、運動、觀光的環島自行車道，預計於2005年年底完工。而日前通過的「高雄市空中纜車設置及營運管理自治條例」（草案），將藉由空中纜車串聯本市旗津區與鼓山區，未來「空中纜車」與「高雄捷運」的結合，將使本市的城市特色與發展觀光產業緊密結合。