Kaohsiung ─ A City in Bloom / 高雄──充滿花與綠的城市
Kaohsiung ─ A City in Bloom
Text by Jessica Lin Photos by Jung-Hui Pao
Strolling down the paths that wind past Kaohsiung's riverbanks and the port will bring you face to face with the city's most distinctive scenery. Just as visually striking, however, is the city's rich urban ecology-the abundance of flowers and plants that fill the streets and parks. When they are in bloom, Kaohsiung bursts with color and vitality, becoming a true garden city by the sea!
-◆- Nanzih Nursery
When springtime arrives, those who live in Kaohsiung can delight in the sweet buds blooming all over the city. And if they are looking for flower displays and arrangements to decorate their homes, there is no shortage of vendors who can supply them. But the people who have done the most to beautify the city's appearance and to "greenify" its residential areas would be the dedicated production brigade that maintains the Nanzih Nursery, the project site of the municipal Public Works Bureau.
At present, the nursery stocks 60 varieties of plants and trees. In one year, its workers can cultivate up to 25,000 tree seedlings that will eventually be planted along streets and around schools and municipal buildings. The nursery also has an area dedicated to exquisite ornamental blooms and grasses that could be considered the front line of defense in keeping the city beautiful. Best of all, requests for plants are not restricted to official institutions and schools. Any Kaohsiung residents who shows his or her identification card is allowed to take home three seedlings. The Nantze Nursery even provides consultation on planting plants around homes and buildings, as well as a guided survey as part of its outdoors education.
-◆- Singjhong Flower Street
When it comes to buying flowers, Kaohsiung residents tend to head first to the Singjhong Flower Street, which is located between Yongding Street and nearby Jhongsiao Road. Lining both sides of Singjhong Street are flower shops that fill the entire strip with an explosion of color. Nearly fifty flower sellers are clustered tightly together in this relatively short stretch of road-hence its nickname, and its designation as a special business district more than ten years ago. The street is known for its astonishing variety of floral products. Some of the bigger shops have upwards of a hundred species of flowers and plants to choose from, and many also feature floral art studios, where flower lovers can immerse themselves in the exploration of floral design.
-◆- Labor Park Holiday Flower Market
In contrast to SingJhong Flower Street, whose vendors primarily offer cut flowers, the main attraction at the Labor Park Holiday Flower Market is bonsai trees. This outdoor market also stages themed floral exhibitions and events for various festival occasions. Whenever a holiday approaches, this market bustles with activity and excitement.
-◆- Kaohsiung International Flower Market
Last but not least is the Kaohsiung International Flower Market, located on South Cuiheng Road in Cianjhen District. Sprawling over eight hectares, it is the fifth largest wholesale market of flowers and plants in the country, as well as the biggest domestic and international distribution hub in south Taiwan. With its advanced automated facilities and computerized operations, this large-scale commercial center has made trading more convenient and transparent, and allowed growers to reach more international markets. Currently, the Kaohsiung International Flower Market is adding 2,000 ping (6600 m ) of retail market space. Come summertime, city dwellers will have another holiday flower market where they can stroll and take in the sights!
-◆- 興中花卉街 Singjhong Flower Street 地點:興中一路永定街至忠孝路一帶 Address: Along Hsing Chung Road, between Yongding Street and Jhongsiao Road -◆- 勞工公園假日花市 Labor Park Holiday Flower Market 地點:中山路與復興路交叉口 Address: At the intersection of Chung Shan Road and Fu Hsing Road TEL : 07- 3326147 -◆- 高雄國際花卉市場 Kaohsiung International Flower Market 地址:高雄市前鎮區翠亨南路231號 Address: 231 South Cueiheng Road, Cianjhen District, Kaohsiung TEL : 07-8116069 -◆- 楠梓苗圃 The Nanzih Nursery 地點:楠梓區常德路、常興街交叉口 Address: At the intersection of Changde Road and Changsing Street in the Nanzih District TEL : 07-3550524 |