Kaohsiung Light Rail's C6 to C8 Stations: A Book Lover's Paradise Just Waiting to be Discovered／書香生活 ─C6經貿園區站～C8高雄展覽館站
Kaohsiung Light Rail's C6 to C8 Stations: A Book Lover's Paradise Just Waiting to be Discovered
◎English translation: Hou Ya-ting
◎ Photos by Jhou Shu-jheng, Pao Chung-hui
Kaohsiung Light Rail is currently operating between Lizihnei Station (C1) to Kaohsiung Exhibition Center (C8) Station. Some of its featured stops include Commerce and Trade Park (C6), Software Technology Park (C7) and Kaohsiung Exhibition Center (C8), which also the station that people can get off at to go to the Main Public Library. There are also various types of bookstores and great places to read along the way. Therefore, Kaohsiung's Light Rail can also be seen as a kind of reading route that book lovers are sure to enjoy. It will also be convenient for Asia's New Bay Area visitors who will be coming because of projects that are being developed and already open, that are located along the harbor front. The projects include Kaohsiung Exhibition Center, Kaohsiung Main Public Library, Kaohsiung Port Terminal and Kaohsiung Music Center. Taking the light rail is a much more efficient and relaxing way to get around in this newly developed area.
The Singuang Ferry Wharf Park was one of the earliest waterfront developments in this series of projects. When strolling along the park's paths, checkout the white elevated viewing platform. At night, it is all lit up, creating a charming atmosphere. The Kaohsiung Exhibition Center was opened in 2014. The new landmark embodies the waves of the ocean and enhances the city's maritime culture. It is a great place to watch the sunset.
Visitors can find the Kaohsiung Main Public Library, by getting off at the Exhibition Center and crossing over Chenggong Road. There are several floors filled with all kinds of books. It has become a popular place to browse the bookshelves. The well-established used bookstore chain Mollie Used Books is located at 38 Singuang Road and a short walk from the Kaohsiung Main Public Library.
The new MLD (Metropolitan Living Development) transformed Taiwan Aluminum Corporation's old warehouses into a modern shopping complex. Situated between the Commerce & Trade Park and Software Technology Park Stations, it has a flower shop, a supermarket and a book store (MLD Reading). The atypical bookstore also provides a reading hall with stacks of books of various heights. There are also smaller exhibition spaces that display photographs and vinyl records, providing readers a place to sit quietly and relax for a while.
Besides just connecting up the Asia's New Bay Area, the Kaohsiung Light Rail also takes book lovers to various destinations. The wonderful main public library and bookstores will enhance residents' lives and hopefully encourage a renewed passion for reading. Along the light rail route, there are numerous places to spend leisure time and enjoy the new landscape.
書香生活 ─C6經貿園區站～C8高雄展覽館站
◎文／周書正
◎攝影／周書正、鮑忠暉
成功二路沿新光碼頭一路通往夢時代的這段路，現在有了C6、C7、C8─經貿園區站、軟體園區站、高雄展覽館站陪著。
MLD台鋁在經貿園區與軟體園區站中間，以前是台灣鋁業（前身為日治時期日本鋁業株式會社）舊廠房，MLD團隊試著擺放生活可能的樣態，於是有了花店、超市；也有了書屋。台鋁書屋主廳的書籍放得不多、擺得不高，像是矮灌木似的栽著等待經過的人捧起書卷。大致可分成兩廳，以一條玻璃帷幕走道相連。圍饒著這個主架構，一些較小的展示空間另立出來，有的展攝影、擺黑膠、有的空出來等待作者與讀者在此分享交流。獨特的空間規劃，雖然拉長找書、看書行走的時間與距離，但卻能適時地提醒旅人們慢下來。這是設計團隊將生活融進再生空間的一次成功嘗試，是對高雄人該如何與港區、建築、歷史共同生活的思索。
坐輕軌到高雄展覽館站下車，跨過成功二路能抵達高雄市立圖書館總館。高雄展覽館站在新光碼頭入口處，是這帶最早進行水岸造景的區塊。凌空架起的白色陸橋、溫暖柔和的景觀燈光、加上沿著港邊延伸的堤防公園，星空下的絕景不輸給愛河之心。隨著高雄展覽館落成啟用，整個水岸公園也更趨完整。展覽館波浪型外觀的建築體，融合了高雄海洋都市的意象，從正面看像是從海平面冒出頭來的一顆愛心。如果搭配好天氣，這顆愛心還會被緩緩沒入港內的夕陽染上一片金黃。
愛書人進入圖書館後，可到自己感興趣的分類編碼下尋書。圖書館內常常是座無虛席，還有更多人是在書櫃間穿梭。他們有時信手從書架上取下一、兩本書；有時則像按圖索驥一樣伸長著食指一一掃過每本書的書背；有時調整了重心把下背部輕靠在書櫃上；有時會放下背包鬆鬆肩膀，席地而坐便讀起書來。不只無座的人姿態萬千，有座位的人也是五花十色，這些人們都透過座位上、手上的書，露出了自己的一小角，藉由這些細碎的布料拼出了這座圖書館裡的生活。人與書、人與空間的關係，不正應該如此嗎？
離開圖書館後穿越新光路，來到對面的「茉莉二手書店」。二手書店是人與書關係的終點及起點，正好為一天的行程總結。在港區的這幾站輕軌腹地內，透過三棟不同目的的藏書設施，圈出了一條重新思考書籍與生活的道路。若你是個愛書人，這條路必定能給你許多收穫；若你向來不愛閱讀，也歡迎來這走走、看看生活在閱讀裡的人們，相信你會從他們的快樂裡，找到書本裡的樂趣。