The Lotus Pond in Zuoying District of Kaohsiung is one of the most beautiful scenic areas in Taiwan. Much of the lake is full of traditional Chinese temples, gardens, and architecture. Because of its size, it cannot be properly appreciated by only going there for one afternoon; there are simply too many things to see and do there. In this blog, we will provide you with a detailed virtual tour of the entire lake.
You can find this original blog post at Taiwan Travel Blog here.
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Historical Background:
Lotus Pond was originally a small natural pond next to what is now the Zuoying Confucious Temple. Starting from 1686 after the Qing Dynasty captured Taiwan from the Kingdom of Tungming, the pond was gradually expanded for water storage and irrigation purposes. Also, lotus plants were cultivated on the pond, giving it its name. It was known as one of the eight beautiful scenes of Fengshan Old City. It also became a hotbed for temple building, and now over 20 temples stand by the lake.
In 1951 the Qiming Temple, Spring and Autumn Pavilions, and Guanwu God Temple were completed.
In 1976 the Dragon and Tiger pagodas were completed.
In 1978 Wuli Pavilion was completed.
Every year over a million visitors come to the park, although these numbers have gone down in recent years due to aging infrastructure and lack of new attractions. It is a haven for retired Taiwanese people to come and relax.
Due to its close proximity to the Zuoying Jiucheng TRA station and Zuoying HSR station, it is also a popular attraction for tourists in Kaohsiung.
Price:
Free
You can book water sports activities at the Lotus Pond on Klook here or KKday here.
Hours:
8 AM – 6 PM (Dragon and Tiger Pagodas)
Where to stay:
We have stayed at and recommend Chao She Hotel (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here) IHI Sanduo Travel Hotel (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), and Mingli Hotel (you can book on Agoda here or Klook here) which are three inexpensive and high-quality choices in downtown Kaohsiung.
I also have stayed at and recommend Kaohsiung Meinong Rabbit Paul Homestay B&B (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Trip.com here), a quiet B&B in rural Meinong, Chengching Lakeside Resort (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com or Trip.com here), and the Grand Hotel Kaohsiung (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here) which both offer breakfast buffet and free entrance into Chenqing Lake Park. I have also stayed at the 85 Sky Tower which offers great views of the city; you can search for rooms in the 85 Sky Tower on Agoda here, or Booking.com here).
Find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the island.
Tours:
You can find more tours and activities in Kaohsiung such as Pier 2, Meinong Hakka Museum, Hamasen Railway Museum, Suzuka Circuit Park, i-Ride Kaohsiung Visual 5D Flying Theater, National Science and Technology Museum , Senya Village Restaruant, Austin Land, Ski School Indoor Ski Slope, and many more on Klook here or KKday here.
How to Get There:
By Car/Scooter: From central Kaohsiung, go north on Provincial Highway 17 and then turn north on Xinzhuang 1st Road. The pond is on your left and is hard to miss. There is free and paid parking all around the lake. Looking for scooter rental in Kaohsiung? You can check out Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can check also out our scooter rental guide here.
If you are looking for car rentals, you can search Qeeq here, KKday here, or Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By Train: From the north you can walk to the pond from Zuoying HSR station, or from the south you can walk there from Zuoying Jiucheng TRA Station.
You can book tickets to travel to Kaohsiung via inter-city bus on Klook here.
You can book tickets to Kaohsiung via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here.
Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
You can also book a Kaohsiung Travel pass here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here.
Map:
Our Journey:
I have been to Lotus Pond five times. It is a nice place to relax and go for a bike ride or walk and enjoy the scenery. The main attraction on the lake that is closest to public transportation is the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, which are just a short walk from Zuoying Jiucheng TRA station. You can book water sport activities at the Lotus Pond on Klook here or KKday here.
Around the lake, you can find over 20 temples, not including pavilions. It’s one of the highest concentrations of temples in Taiwan.
For the rest of the blog, I will introduce the main sights from north to south.
5 Turn Bridge and Confucious Temple 曲橋及孔廟
On the north side of the pond is a small island with a five-turn bridge over to it. On the island is a pavilion and places to relax. It’s a really nice place to enjoy the scenery at the Lotus Pond.
360 degree view of the Kaohsiung Confucius Temple in Zuoying, with Lotus Lake in the background. #左營高雄孔子廟 #孔廟 #左營 #蓮池潭
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Monday, November 30, 2020
Check out our 360 degree aerial view of the area above or
here.
The entrance to the five-turn bridge is on the northeast shore. There is also another straight pedestrian bridge connecting to the Kaohsiung Confucious temple, and many boat docks and lotus growing near the shore here.
I could not find much information about the bridge or island, but I assume they were built at the same time as the Confucious Temple in the 1970s.
From here you can also see the Zhouzai Qingshui Temple (洲仔清水宮) across on the east side of the lake, which also features a God.
Xuanwu Emporer Statue and Beijiting Temple 玄天上帝神像及北極亭
The Xuanwu Emporer Statue in the middle of the lake is the tallest God statue in Southeast Asia, standing at 72 meters. Also, his sword is 38.5 meters and is known as the largest sword in the world. The statue was built in 1951. The statue is made of concrete.
On the other side of the statue, you can find the main Taoist temple at the site, the Beijiting Temple.
Statue of the Taoist God Xuanwu on the Lotus Pond in Zuoying, Kaohsiung, presented in 360 degree spherical panorama for your viewing pleasure. #玄武 #神像 #左營 #蓮池潭 #高雄
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Monday, December 7, 2020
Or check out the 360 degree spherical panorama above or here.
Underneath the statue are three entrances to a temple underneath the statue.
There is also a small island to the left of the statue.
Xuanwu is a Taoist God that is revered throughout northern and southeastern China, who has power over the elements and has great fighting power.
Wuli Pavilion, the Spring and Autumn Pavilions, and Qiming Temple 五理亭，春秋閣，啓明宮
Above you can see the Wuli Pavilion in the water, the Spring and Autumn Pavilions in the center, and Qiming Temple in the background.
Qiming Temple, Spring and Autumn Pavilions were completed in 1951, and the Wuli Pavilion was completed in 1978.
Wuli Pavilion on Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung, one of the nicest scenic places on the lake, presented to you in 360 spherical panorama for your viewing pleasure. #五理亭 #蓮池潭 #高雄 #左營
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Or check out the 360-degree spherical panorama above or here.
Check out more photos of the area in the photo gallery above.
Qiming Temple is also a Taoist temple that dates back to the Japanese era in Taiwan.
The Spring and Autumn Pavilions feature two pagodas that are both 8 stories high, and there is also a dragon that you can walk through to get to Wuli Pavilion. Inside the dragon cave are a series of Taoist murals, and the Buddhist Goddess Guanyin sits atop the dragon.
Wuli Pavilion is a nice place to relax and enjoy the nearby scenery and features two stories.
Dragon and Tiger Pagodas 龍虎塔
Dragon and Tiger pagodas were completed in 1976 and are connected to the Ciji Temple (慈濟宮) which dates back to
1719. These two pagodas are perhaps the most popular part of the Lotus Pond, and some of the most popular tourist attractions in Kaohsiung.
360 degree view of the Dragon and Tiger pagodas and Lotus Pond, in Zuoying District of Kaohsiung. #龍虎塔 #蓮花池潭 #左營 #高雄
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Or check out the 360 degree spherical panorama above or here.
Remember to enter the dragon and exit the tiger, so that your bad luck can be turned into good fortune. This place can get pretty crowded, especially in front of the tiger and dragon heads, and many people want to make poses.
Inside the dragon and tiger are a series of Taoist murals, and the tunnels lead to the pagodas behind.
There are so many beautiful scenes and wildlife to see next to the lake.
If you are lucky, you might even see a lotus flower in bloom.
Little Guishan 小龜山
Near the dragon and tiger pagodas is Little Guishan, which is just a small hill. It was part of the old city of Fengshan and you can find some of the ruined walls here.
Sadly at the top of the hill, there is not much of a view, better to see the view from the pagodas.
View of the dragon and tiger pagodas through the bushes.
If you have time you should also check out the Zuoying Confucious Temple nearby.
The Zuoying Confucius Temple (aka Kaohsiung Zuoying Confucius Temple) is a large Confucius Temple in Taiwan. It sits near the beautiful Lotus Pond and is surrounded by countless other temples in the area. Today it is an important place for Confucian learning and a popular tourist attraction in Kaohsiung City. ..
(read more)We will post a blog about this place soon.
The Old City of Fengshan in Zuoying is the oldest walled city on the island of Taiwan. It has survived rebellions, raids, and changes of power, and now stands as a well-preserved monument to the past, from when the Qing Dynasty ruled western Taiwan. It is definitely worth a visit on your trip to Kaohsiung…(read more)
Places we missed around the Lotus Pond:
- Zuoying Tianfu Temple 左營天府宮
- Shengmen Lingxiao Temple 聖門靈霄寶殿
- Xianshu Sanshan Temple 仙樹三山宮
- Fengyi Old City God Temple 鳳邑舊城城隍廟
- Zhenfu Temple 鎮福廟
- Zuoying Zhouzai Qingshui Temple 左營洲仔清水宮
- Zuoying Dianzaiding Cide Temple 左營店仔頂慈德宮
- Kaohsiung Products Center 高雄物產館
- Banping Mountain 半屏山
- Zhouzai Wetland Park 洲仔濕地公園
You can book water sports activities at the Lotus Pond on Klook here or KKday here.
You can find more tours and activities in Kaohsiung such as wakeboarding, water skiing, SUP paddle boarding, Pier 2, i-Ride Kaohsiung Visual 5D Flying Theater, Ski School Indoor Ski Slope, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
You can check out our full travel guide to Kaohsiung here.
You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
