From a bird’s eye view, one sees the Gaoping River, originating from Taiwan’s highest elevation, Jade Mountain(Yushan), looking like a string of sparkling pearls. Upstream, the mountain townships of Maolin, Taoyuan, and Sanmin form the biggest group of natural hot springs in Taiwan. Mid-stream, in the Baolai area of Liouguei, the river acts as a vigorous youth forging ahead through turns and twists making it one of the most exciting spots for white water rafting in Southeast Asia. Going past the Cishan area, the river becomes a gentle mother nourishing expansive lands and countless living creatures. With endless love and the most charming smile, it flows into the sea.

　　The Gaoping River has brought Kaohsiung County a variety of natural and man-made sights. The mountains are beautiful and the landscapes are majestic. There are countless natural sights such as rivers and brooks, waterfalls, hot springs, mountains, forests, colorful butterflies, and chirping birds. The waves, beaches, sunshine, piers, fishing boats, fishing villages add to the area’s fascinating charm. The people and culture of the area will naturally touch the visitor. The well-known historical sites, the variety of ethnic cultures, the precious arts and culture will make leaving a difficult endeavor for any visitor.

　　Kaohsiung County government regards this land with humility. With a responsible attitude towards later generations, we are promoting long-term construction of tourist facilities and resources so that Kaohsiung County can become a beautiful homeland in the South that integrates the mountains and the sea. In this effort, we are surveying the area’s culture, natural environment and possibilities for industrial development. We are also constantly seeking consensus among the residents, joining together efforts and expertise at different levels of society, being inclusive in our way of thinking and integrating culture, arts, nature and landscapes. When this is done, we can say with confidence that with our efforts our hopes have been realized and our dreams have become a reality.

　　The beauty of a mountain stems from its cleanliness; the beauty of a town resides in its tidiness. The county government is aggressively promoting the planting of trees. We are moving full steam ahead with our goal of a million trees. Besides planting roadside trees and promoting forestation on the plains, we are also encouraging residents to plant trees in their yards. Complementing this with the construction of 120 hectares of man-made wetlands will infuse the county with luscious greenery, convert cities into balanced ecosystems and make streets cleaner and tidier. The scenic areas surrounding Fongshan City’s Flying Square and Niaosong Township’s Cheng Ching Lake, Cishan area’s historical streets and commercial area, and the Baolai Street reconstruction project are all successful examples of renovations of beautiful towns and villages.

　　With green space as the foundation, the spirit of the towns has become richer and more colorful. The development of Camp Weiwu Metropolitan Park, Camp Weiwu National Music Halls, and neighboring commercial areas will create in the South a modern metropolitan hub integrating entertainment, relaxation as well as ecological, commercial and residential amenities. The Meinong Hakka Cultural Festival and numerous events organized by the five townships of Mituo, Yongan, Zihguan, Jiading, Linyuan will place us on the international scene as a quality tourist location for the world to see. These include the Marine Cultural Festival, the Zihguan Mullet Festival, the Ciaotou Sugar Refinery International Art Festival, the White Rafting and Iron Man Competition in the Laonong River, the Baolai Hot Spring Leisure Tour, the Jiading Love Seaport, Stage on the Sea and Taiwan’s first Museum of Screws in Gangshan.

　　Its abundant natural and cultural resources, its privileged geographical location, its special local flavor, as well as its industrious, down-to-earth people are Kaohsiung County’s most valuable tourist resources and treasures. The area will become an important international tourist line in Taiwan, enhance the value of the tourism industry and exhibit unprecedented, surprising growth.

　　I invite you to beautiful, friendly, fascinating Kaohsiung County where you can travel, sightsee, relax, vacation and thoroughly enjoy Southern Taiwan under a golden sun. You will experience its passion and energy, embrace the beautiful scenery, and encounter charming people and culture. I guarantee that you will feel rewarded, happy to have made the trip and return home with unforgettable memories.