Taiwan Itinerary: Lotus Pond, Kaohsiung
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The Lotus Pond is a popular tourist spot for visitors and residents of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. My girlfriend and I went last week to find out why!
The Lotus Pond or “蓮池潭” to the locals is a man-made lake surrounded by temples, pagodas, statues, and did I say temples? There’s a lot of temples.
Having recently enjoyed our visit to the Fo Guang Shan Monastery, we were excited to discover more sights here in Kaohsiung.
It doesn’t seem to be the most exciting place in Kaohsiung. But if you want to get your tourist on, Lotus Pond is the best place to do it. It is rich with Buddhist and Confucius culture, artistic stories and religious sculptures.
For more to do in the city itself, see my guide to things to do in Kaohsiung, and for the wider island browse our Taiwan travel guides. If you are visiting during typhoon season, it is also worth reading how to prepare for a super typhoon, which we lived through here in Kaohsiung.
Getting to the Lotus Pond from Kaohsiung
The Lotus Pond is located in Kaohsiung’s Zuoying District, and predictably closest to the Zuoying high speed rail station.
You can jump on a public bicycle or catch the number 35 Red Line bus directly outside the station for just TWD $12 (~£0.30)!
There are plenty of attractions in the area, including my favourite; thePei Chi Pavilion (北極亭). As well as the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (龍虎塔), the Confucius Temple (孔廟), and the Spring and Autumn Pavilions (春秋閣).
Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (龍虎塔)
South of the Lotus Pond, you will find the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. To walk through the dragon’s mouth and out through the tiger symbolises is said to turn bad luck into good fortune!
After several years behind scaffolding, the pagodas fully reopened in 2025, so you can once again climb the seven storeys of each tower for the view back across the lake. Entry is free.
Inside, ghoulish paintings depict ancient stories of heaven and hell to inspire visitors to do good deeds during their lifetime.
Spring and Autumn Pavilions (春秋閣)
Another temple and Chinese palace-style pavilions. You can also walk through this dragon. It is longer than it looks!
Pei Chi Pavilion (北極亭)
My favourite pavilion of the Lotus Pond, honours the Taoist “God Emperor of the North Pole”. At 72 meters tall, it is also the highest water statue in East Asia!
