Love River (Love River)

Previously when the riverside area was not urbanized, the river was a small canal used for irrigation of nearby agricultural farms. During the Qing Dynasty, the river was named Takao. In 1895, the Japanese started dredging and expanding the Takao Canal to transport wooden furniture from Southeast Asia to Taiwan. The embankment along with Cao Hong port (at present day estuary) was also funded to build in 1908. In 1945, when Taiwan was under the rule of the Republic of China, the parks along the riverbank were established. formed. However, when Taiwan's economy began to transform from agriculture to industry, the river began to become polluted, the first pollution incident occurred during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan when paper mills dumping waste into the river and culminating in 1965 the river was subjected to raw sewage from newly established export processing zones in the vicinity. Recently with the efforts of the city government, the water quality of the Aihe River has improved significantly and has become one of the most ideal places in the city to take a stroll and enjoy the fresh air. In 2018, mayor Han Kuo-yu proposed to build a love wheel built on the riverbank, contributing to affirming a romantic destination for couples.

For those who love outdoor activities, immersing themselves in the fresh and airy air, the Ai Ha riverbank is a great choice. You can walk or even rent a bicycle on the streets along the river. From 5 pm, the river becomes more shimmering and fanciful when the city lights up. This is the best time for tourists to enjoy the beautiful scenery on the river by boat. On weekends, the riverside will be quite busy with live music programs and art performances. You can choose for yourself a cafe, a quiet restaurant with a beautiful view of the gentle river, slowly enjoy a cup of coffee, cocktail, Taiwanese milk tea or traditional specialties tradition of Taiwan.

With a peaceful scene, Ai Ha River has witnessed many romantic marriage proposals. Especially when night falls, this place will gradually become more bustling, there will be people sitting on chairs watching the surrounding street, some people walking hand in hand and chatting. The landscape becomes so peaceful and warm, helping us to temporarily get away from the noisy, bustling life and experience nature.

Aihe River is located near Kaohsiung Port, right in the city center. From the city center of Kaohsiung, you can take the subway to Yancheng Station or to Chengguan Station, get off the train and walk for about 5 minutes to reach the Aihe River.