Qishan, formerly Fanshuliao, boomed in the Japanese era exporting bananas to Japan, earning the title 'Banana Kingdom'. Zhongshan Road, laid out as the main street then, keeps Baroque shophouse facades and a rare stone-arch arcade, both listed historic buildings. The quaint station served the sugar railway; when the banana trade faded the street reinvented itself with banana cakes and ice pops.
Architecture
Baroque facadesArcadesJapanese-era
Themes
Japanese eraRailwayFarming
Getting there
Where
Around Zhongshan Road and Fuxin Street, Qishan District, Kaohsiung
Getting there
Kaohsiung Bus from HSR Zuoying Station or Kaohsiung Station to Qishan stop, then a short walk
Time needed
Half a day
Best time
Livelier on weekends; combine with a Meinong day trip
