Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine | 高雄市忠烈祠

Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine 高雄市忠烈祠 was previously a Japanese Shinto Shrine called the Takao Kotohira Shrine 高雄神社, which was established in 1910 during the Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan.

 

After the ROC (Republic of China) government moved to Taiwan in 1945, the site was converted into a martyrs' shrine to honor fallen KMT soldiers. Plaques with names of soldiers are present inside the shrine which is located on Shoushan 壽山 in Kaohsiung.

The site is filled with beautiful Chinese architecture with golden tiles and red doors in combination with Japanese architecture such as a Torii, a traditional Japanese gate. 

With a green walkway, the Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine overlooks the city, offering a fantastic view of downtown Kaohsiung and Kaohsiung Harbor.  

A huge "LOVE" sign is also around the area so that tourists can capture captivating photos of the site and the city. I made sure to capture one myself. 

If you're visiting Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine, you can also make it a day trip by visiting the Shoushan Zoo 壽山動物園 or even choosing to hike up Shoushan (like I did!). 

On a side note, there are surprisingly a large amount of martyrs' shrines scattered around Taiwan. There's one in Taipei, which has a changing of the guards ceremony roughly every hour... this is where most tourists flock to. Other than that, there is one in Hualian, Taichung, Tainan, Pingtung, and plenty more.  

Public buses run from Kaohsiung City to Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine, though it seems like the site is currently under renovation. Make sure to check the latest info before making your way up there. 

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