Looking for a perfect day trip that blends art, harbor views, and railway nostalgia? The area from Hamasen to Pier-2 in Kaohsiung is absolutely unmissable.
This place used to be a bustling port and railway hub, but now it’s been transformed into southern Taiwan’s most iconic artsy hangout spot. The area is pretty spacious and you can get there by MRT or Light Rail – the Light Rail actually connects all the different zones together. The whole route is flat and easy to walk, stretching from Pier-2 Art Center all the way to Hamasen. Along the way you’ll get sea breezes, vintage warehouses, grassy railway tracks, mini trains, and local shops – perfect for families, couples, or backpackers looking for a chill exploration.
Pier-2 Art Center is divided into three main areas: Dayi, Dayong, and Penglai, each with its own vibe. Whether you’re into exhibitions, browsing creative shops, grabbing coffee, or taking Instagram shots, there’s plenty to see. Over at Hamasen Railway Cultural Park, the mini train experience is super popular – a must-do for railway enthusiasts and families with kids. Plus, there’s this hidden gem of grassy railway tracks where greenery and old rails create scenes straight out of a movie. If you visit on weekends or during special exhibitions, you might catch pop-up markets and performances – it’s one of those rare slow-paced travel experiences you can find in the city.
Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00
Admission: Mostly free, exhibitions charged separately
Recommended Stay: 2–3 hours
Official Website
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Table of Contents
Getting There: What’s the Most Convenient Way?
Want to reach Pier-2 and Hamasen without the hassle of driving and parking? Taking the MRT + Light Rail combo is definitely the way to go.
- First, take Kaohsiung MRT Orange Line to Sizihwan Station, then head out – the Light Rail station is right there (connected to the MRT exit)
- Switch to Kaohsiung Light Rail (C Line) heading towards Pier-2 Dayi Station (C11) – it’s just one stop away. You could also start from Hamasen Station (C14) and work your way back
- Or you could ride all the way to True Love Pier Station and walk into Pier-2 – the seaside route is more chill
Recommended Walking/Cycling Route
We suggest starting from Light Rail “Pier-2 Dayi Station” and visiting in this order: Dayi Area → Dayong Area → Penglai Area → Railway Park & Hamasen Station. End your trip at Kaohsiung Harbor, or grab dinner in Hamasen and head up to Shoushan for night views – both solid options. The entire route is flat with pedestrian-friendly spaces throughout, so even if you’re pushing a stroller with kids, no worries.
The whole route is perfect for YouBike or regular cycling – there are dedicated bike paths running through Pier-2 and the Railway Park, plus multiple YouBike stations (around Pier-2, Hamasen, Banana Pier area). Just note that some spots inside the parks require you to walk your bike. If the weather’s not too hot, cycling is pretty leisurely.
How to rent YouBike? Check this out: Ultimate Taiwan Travel Guide: 10 Types of Taiwan Transportation and How to Use Them
Complete Guide to Pier-2 Art Center
Pier-2 Art Center is mainly split into Dayi Area, Dayong Area, and Penglai Area – each has its own highlights. We recommend setting aside at least 2 hours to properly explore everything. If you’re into photography, exhibitions, and browsing design goods, you might easily end up spending a whole day here without realizing it!
Dayi Area: Exhibitions, Illustrations, Cafés – A Must for Art Lovers
Dayi Area is one of the most popular and bustling sections of Pier-2 Art Center. It’s famous for large permanent exhibitions, art installations, and trendy markets – basically the core hub of “urban creative energy” for the entire park. The old warehouses have been converted into creative spaces that still keep their red brick and grey wall industrial vibes, but now they’re brightened up with colorful murals, creating this thick artistic atmosphere. Whether you’re an Instagram fashionista, family tourist, or artsy backpacker, you’ll find your perfect photo angle here. It’s great for couples on dates or families with kids – definitely the best starting point for first-time Pier-2 visitors.
The exhibition content is rich and diverse. Dayi Area’s C5 warehouse (Pier-2 C5 Project) regularly hosts contemporary art, illustration, design, photography, and other varied exhibitions. The displays get updated frequently, so there’s always something new to experience each visit. Besides exhibitions, Dayi Area also houses many resident creative brands and independent designer shops selling handmade accessories, illustrated postcards, stationery, hand-drip coffee, etc. – it’s shopping heaven for artsy travelers.
On weekends, the plaza often hosts themed markets, handicraft stalls, street performer shows, and other activities – the atmosphere is relaxed and lively. The outdoor art installations, green walls, and painted murals in the plaza are perfect for photos and check-ins, making your stroll feel like wandering through an urban art museum.
Recommended Highlights:
- Original New Art Exhibition Center (C5/C6 Warehouses): Exhibitions change regularly, with styles ranging from illustration to street art to tech art – many Instagram-famous exhibitions come from here
- Wooderful Land Experience Center: A forest-themed playground made from raw wood that both kids and adults can enjoy. Experience the space made of logs, 7 experience areas, more than 50 kinds of wooden facilities
Dayong Area: Outdoor Installations, Railway Scenery – Top Choice for Harbor Strolls
Dayong Area is one of the three major zones in Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Art Center. Compared to the bustling “Dayi Area,” this place has a more spacious and comfortable vibe, focusing on permanent exhibition halls, family-friendly spaces, and distinctive art installations. It’s an ideal wandering spot for families, art lovers, and travelers looking to relax, take photos, and stroll around. The entire area centers around renovated old warehouses, extending into lots of green spaces and wide walkways that are perfect for walking, letting kids run around, or even sitting down for a picnic break.
One of Dayong Area’s core features is the riverside warehouse cluster, where P2 warehouse serves as the main exhibition and performance venue for the district. It regularly hosts large-scale art exhibitions, performances, and cross-industry collaboration projects – it’s the go-to venue for many heavyweight exhibitions and events. Throughout Dayong Area, you’ll find many large art installations full of whimsy and creativity, with the most iconic being the “Worker and Fisherwoman” and “Transformers” – they’re popular photo backdrops.
There’s no excessive commercial interference here. Instead, you get spacious warehouse areas, vibrant exhibition content, and a series of art installations that’ll make you smile. Whether you want to bring kids to burn off energy, take beautiful check-in photos, or just find a place to quietly view exhibitions and catch some sea breeze, Dayong Area can give you a relaxed yet fulfilling artistic holiday.
Recommended Highlights:
- Railway Track Grass Photography Area: Grassy areas along the preserved railway tracks where tons of people take wedding photos or artsy shots
- Warehouse Graffiti Walls & Art Installations: Each warehouse exterior wall features different style paintings + 3D art that catch your eye as you walk by
- Seaside Promenade & Sea Breeze Walkway: You can walk to the harbor to watch ships from afar and feel the sea breeze – very therapeutic
- Eslite Bookstore Pier-2 Branch: More locally distinctive than regular Eslite stores – book browsing, coffee, and sea breeze all in one
Penglai Area: Railway Enthusiast Paradise, Top Family Choice
This section is where Hamasen Railway Cultural Park is located. It used to be the old Kaohsiung Harbor Station site, and now it completely preserves station platforms, track systems, turntables and other facilities. It’s not just loved by railway fans – lots of families bring their kids here to ride the mini trains! This area is perfect for train lovers, families, and history buffs. The Penglai outdoor plaza also hosts regular markets – you can find detailed event info on the official website.
Recommended Highlights:
- Hamasen Railway Cultural Park: Free admission with huge outdoor spaces where you can see intersecting old tracks, turntables, maintenance garages, and other authentic relics
- Mini Train Experience: You can buy tickets to ride electric mini trains that circle around real railway routes – kids get super excited and adults find it therapeutic too
- Kaohsiung Harbor Station (Old Takao Station): Now converted into an exhibition hall + observation deck where you can get elevated views of the entire park
- Pop-up Food Trucks & Rest Plaza: Sometimes there are food trucks or performances, giving it a real local living vibe
Hamasen Taiwan Railway Museum: Journey into Railway Past and Future
Hamasen Taiwan Railway Museum is paradise for railway enthusiasts. The museum houses rich collections of train models, vintage railway equipment, and interactive exhibition areas. The most eye-catching pieces are definitely the old steam locomotives and train driving simulator cabins. The well-preserved steam locomotives are like time machines, letting you glimpse the majesty of these former railway beasts and the technological evolution behind them. The museum has detailed historical corridors introducing Taiwan railway development from Japanese colonial period construction to modern high-speed rail. It also displays how Taiwanese farmers used to transport agricultural products via railway and how residents built living communities along railway lines, helping you feel the close connection between railways and Taiwanese daily life.
People who love retro styles can’t miss the museum’s restored Japanese colonial period station office and waiting room. This place is like a time capsule – wooden structures, handwritten timetables, old typewriters and telephones, everything full of nostalgic atmosphere. The station area’s ticket counter and early ticket designs are completely preserved. Visitors can actually walk in and experience the working environment of station staff back then, while taking commemorative photos.
The most popular attraction here is a mini train that kids can actually ride! In Hamasen Railway Cultural Park (part of the park area adjacent to the Railway Museum), there’s a mini train experience zone that’s super popular with kids and railway fans. This scaled-down train circles around the park, with tracks designed to mimic real railway routes. The train exterior is also quite exquisite – it’s not just for show, you can actually ride it. Usually operated by staff members, it takes kids and parents around the railway park, and along the way you can see some vintage station scenery and railway tracks.
If you’re doing family tourism, Hamasen Taiwan Railway Museum is a great place where you can both learn history and have interactive gaming experiences.
Opening Hours: 09:00–17:00 (Closed Mondays)
Admission: Mini train ticket NT$99/person, Mini train + museum combo NT$199/person, Hamasen concession tickets (disabled, elderly, children under 7) NT$69/person
Recommended Stay: 1–1.5 hours
Conclusion: Perfect Blend of Art and Nostalgia
Pier-2 Art Center originally served as a port, so it’s located right by the sea – the scenery is amazing when the sun sets. If you come in the evening, you can catch the sunset perfectly. But nearby Sizihwan is also a great sunset spot, just a few minutes’ walk or YouBike ride from the park – it’s praised as one of Taiwan’s most beautiful sunsets.
Pier-2 Art Center is perfect for spending half a day slowly exploring. We recommend combining it with other nearby attractions for a full Kaohsiung day trip.
For more Kaohsiung attractions, check out: 6 Things to Do in Kaohsiung Taiwan? Kaohsiung 1-Day Trip Itinerary
