Kaohsiung (高雄 Gāoxióng) is a city in southwestern Taiwan. the third largest city on the island with a population of about 2.7 million people. Major port and industrial center.
On December 25, 2010, the city was merged with the county of the same name, forming a larger municipality.

Geography and climate
Kaohsiung is located in the southwestern part of the island, on the shores of the Taiwan Strait. The central regions are concentrated around Kaohsiung Bay, in which Qijin Island is located, which serves as a natural pier. The Ai River flows through the Old City and the central regions, flowing into the bay. To the north of Kaohsiung Bay, there is also the Zhoying Military Bay. A characteristic feature of the city’s relief are the hills of Shoushan, located north of Kaohsiung Bay.

The city’s climate is characterized as tropical with average temperatures ranging from 18.6 to 28.7°C and average humidity from 60 to 81%. The average annual rainfall is about 1785 mm, most of which falls between May and September.

Economy
Kaohsiung is an important port and a major industrial center. The 2,200-hectare Linghai Industrial Park, built in the mid-1970s, is located on the coast and includes a steel plant, a shipbuilding plant, a petrochemical complex, and other industries. The city also has an oil refinery, the production of aluminum, cement, fertilizers, sugar, bricks, tiles, paper, etc. is developed. There is a canning industry, including the processing of fish and fruits.

The port of Kaohsiung has Taiwan’s largest natural bay. It is the island’s largest container port and the sixth largest in the world. As of 2007, the port had a throughput capacity of 10.2 million 20-foot units. A new container terminal, currently under construction, will allow the port to increase capacity by another 2 million TEUs by 2013.

Transport
Kaohsiung International Airport is the third largest airport in Taiwan, accounting for about 15% of all international flights in the country. Flights include destinations such as Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Osaka, Tokyo, Macau, Changsha, Taipei, etc.
There is a subway, the construction of which was started in 2001, and the first 2 lines started operating in 2008. In addition, there are light rail transport systems and a developed bus network. It is connected to the north of Kaohsiung Island by a high-speed railway.