Love River in Kaohsiung
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Love River
The Love River or Ai River or DPP river (simplified Chinese: 爱河; traditional Chinese: 愛河; pinyin: Ài Hé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ài-hô) is a river (canal) in southern Taiwan. It originates in Renwu District, Kaohsiung City, and flows 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) through Kaohsiung to Kaohsiung Harbor. Love River is the spine of Kaohsiung, playing a similar role to the River Thames of London. It is of great cultural significance to the people of Kaohsiung and plays an important role in its economy and tourism. A riverside park, the Love River Park, runs along the riverbank in downtown Kaohsiung City. A night market operates in the park, and there are three outdoor cafés, often with live bands. Boats which hold about fifteen people take tourists up and down the river. The scenery is enhanced by attractive city structures near the river, such as the Holy Rosary Cathedral, Kaohsiung Bridge, and the Kaohsiung District Court. Cultural events such as concerts and the Lantern Festival are often held by the river. The Love River was once heavily polluted, when raw sewage and industrial waste water flowed untreated into the river. Recent efforts by the city government to divert the waste water to the treatment plant in Cijin District has resulted in significantly improved water quality. History[edit] Before the urban development of the area, the river flowed in a wide and flat channel, used for irrigation and surrounded by farms. In the Qing Dynasty, it was called the Takao River. In 1895, the Japanese dredged the river and turned it into a canal to transport lumber from Southeast Asia. Embankments (levees) were built on the river and in 1908, Kaohsiung Harbor was constructed at the mouth of the Love River, replacing the mangrove forests. In 1945, Taiwan fell under the control the Republic of China and the riversides became parks. However, as Taiwan’s economy switched from agricultural to industrial, the river began to get increasingly polluted. (The first incident of pollution was halfway through the Japanese occupation of Taiwan when paper mills ejected waste into the river.) The urbanization created more waste, and in 1965, raw sewage began to flow into the river when an export processing zone was created. Treatment[edit] In 1979, the government started to clean the river. The water was black and had a sewer-like odor. A set of floodgates were built on the river to capture trash and sewage and send it to a treatment plant. Unfortunately, the system only works from October to April because in the rainy season, May to September, the treatment system cannot cope with the increased flow and the floodgates must be opened, sending pollution into the lower stretch of the Love River. (The river here is tidal and so is safe to swim in the dry season.)
Kaohsiung City ─ Love River
Flowing through Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, the Love River is a twelve-kilometer long river that features beautiful river sceneries and coffee shops along the riverbanks. With great efforts of eliminating pollutions and smells, the river has restored its beauty thus become a popular Kaohsiung tourist spot. Due to the picturesque sceneries and romantic ambience of Love River, various coffee shops and restaurants are established along the riverside for the enjoyments of all visitors. Visitors may sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee while appreciating the delightful sceneries at this area. In the evening, the Love River is decorated with neon lights, as well as the lights projecting on city structures that reflect upon the calm river forming a vivid and colorful river view. It is one of the most popular places in Kaohsiung that couples are fond of, they may stroll along the riverbanks to enjoy a romantic Kaohsiung travel. Other than appreciating joyful sceneries by the riverside, visitors may also enjoy cruising at the Love River in the evenings for a unique experience exploring the charms of Kaohsiung City surrounded by glittering neon lights and pleasant environment. As one of the landmarks of Kaohsiung, the Love River has similarities in roles of River Thames of London. Love River will leave you with enjoyments and relaxations for your Kaohsiung travel.
Kaohsiung City ─ Heart of Love River(Ruyi Lake)
As a world famous destination of Kaohsiung, the Heart of Love River is also a new landmark in Kaohsiung. It is also the terminal of the love boat travelling route. It is an artificial lake, which is divided into two parts: East and West. It is an ideal place for you to find a variety of plants and plankton. Also, the river is very close to the most prosperous downtown street, which is a good place for visitors to experience local culture. You can enjoy the natural beauty as well as the colorful city life, especially in the romantic night. For the convenience of your Kaohsiung Tourism in Taiwan, below is a selection of nearby Kaohsiung Hotels For more sightseeing attractions in Kaohsiung, please visit our Kaohsiung Tourism website to guide your Taiwan Tour and to find your ideal Taiwan Hotel
Knowledge Graph
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1 The Love River in Kaohsiung is the focal point of the city, running from the South of the city up to the North.
2 The Love River in Kaohsiung itself is stunning and peaceful. At one time it was very polluted, but the city council invested a lot of money and time cleaning it up.
3 Apart from the beautiful scenery provided by the Love River in Kaohsiung, it provides miles of walkways and bike paths.