Taiwan Cityscape: Kaohsiung｜A Century in 3 Highlights: From Port Origins to Smart Innovation

Kaohsiung is a city that has redefined itself across eras — from maritime gateway to industrial heartland to innovation waterfront metropolis. (general history, read more @ WIKI)

There are 3 Highlights* across eras:

Highlight Period	Milestone & Impact
1908	Hamasen founded: Kaohsiung emerges as a modern colonial port city
1970s–2020s	Elevated to direct-controlled municipality; industrial boom; transition to high-tech sector
2010–Present	Asia New Bay Area launches; Kaohsiung repositions as a smart city and innovation hub

(Compiled by ChatGPT)

1908 - The Birth of Hamasen: Foundations of a Port City

• With the completion of the First Stage of Kaohsiung Harbor under Japanese colonial rule, Hamasen (from “Hama-sen”) was built on reclaimed land.

• It became the earliest modern urban area in Kaohsiung, featuring:

  • Grid-planned streets and modern infrastructure

  • Dagou Train Station (now Kaohsiung Port Station)

  • Japanese civic and residential architecture

• Hamasen marked Kaohsiung’s transformation into a strategic colonial port city, blending trade, rail, and maritime functions.

Photo Credit | Chi Hsu

1970s～2020s — From Industrial Ascent to Technological Reinvention

• 1973: The Nanzih Export Processing Zone (EPZ) was established to support Taiwan’s export-led growth, becoming a hub for electronics, garments, and plastics.

• 1979: Kaohsiung was officially elevated to a direct-controlled municipality, recognizing its status as Taiwan’s industrial and maritime capital.

• The city boomed through shipbuilding, petrochemicals, and heavy industry, contributing to Taiwan’s "economic miracle".

• In the 2000s, traditional industries declined, prompting a gradual shift toward precision manufacturing and ICT sectors.

• 2021: TSMC announced its new fab in Nanzih, utilizing the former CPC oil refinery site, signifying Kaohsiung’s integration into the global semiconductor supply chain.

• This era reflects Kaohsiung’s dual journey of urban governance elevation and economic reinvention.

TSMC's Fab 22 in Nanzih | Photo Credit - Chi Hsu

2010～Present — The Rise of the Asia New Bay Area (ANBA)

• Following the 2010 merger of Kaohsiung City and County, the city launched the Asia New Bay Area initiative to redevelop old port districts.

• Aimed at transitioning Kaohsiung toward a smart, livable, and innovation-driven city, ANBA introduced:

  • Kaohsiung Exhibition Center

  • Pop Music Center

  • Light Rail Transit & Maritime Cruise Terminal

  • 5G AIoT Innovation Park

• ANBA 2.0, launched in 2022, deepens investment in startup ecosystems, digital economy, and creative industries.

• This stage signifies Kaohsiung’s transformation into a “smart waterfront city”, fusing culture, technology, and global vision.

Source | Internet media photo

Photo Credit | Chi Hsu

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*TCSCRE is pleased to have a catch up gathering in Kaohsiung and inspired the concept of Kaohsiung's 3 highlights over a century by Johnson Chiu (first one from right), Chairman of Oone Asset Consulting.