Kaohsiung, Taiwan

This attractive city—Taiwan’s second largest and its largest port—offers visitors an alluring blend of ancient and modern culture. The architecture ranges from atmospheric temples and monasteries to soaring commercial skyscrapers and gleaming malls topped with Ferris wheels, and the city is home to funky boutiques, colorful metro stations and modern galleries. The wide streets are filled with cafés and restaurants, and the seafood and noodle stalls around Cijin Island and the Kaisyuan and Jin-Zuan night markets, which together form the largest night market in Taiwan, are especially worth a visit.Stroll along Kaohsiung’s impressive harbor, one of the largest container ports in the world; walk or cycle around scenic Lotus Lake, with its Chinese pagodas; or sit at a bankside café on the Love River. Farther afield, visitors wishing to beat the city bustle can explore the striking landscapes of Kenting National Park, relax at one of the city’s swimming beaches, or enjoy a hike through the city’s nearly 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of dense forest.