The city of Kaohsiung, located on Taiwan’s southwestern coast, is one of the oldest cities in the country. It has a long and rich history, beginning with its earliest inhabitants and continuing to the present day. Kaohsiung has been an important port city for centuries, and its strategic location has made it a major center of trade and commerce. Here is a brief overview of Kaohsiung’s history.
The earliest inhabitants of the area were the Pingpu people, an ethnic group of Austronesian origin who lived in the area for thousands of years before the arrival of Chinese settlers. The first Chinese settlers arrived in the area in the 17th century, and the city was officially established in 1661. During the Qing Dynasty, the city was known as Takao and served as the regional capital of the area.
In the late 19th century, Kaohsiung was an important port city and the main gateway to Taiwan for foreign traders. It was also an important center of industry, with a number of factories and businesses located in the city. After the Japanese occupation of Taiwan in 1895, Kaohsiung became an important center for the Japanese military and the city was heavily fortified.
During the Second World War, Kaohsiung was heavily bombed by Allied forces. After the war, Kaohsiung was rebuilt and experienced a period of rapid economic growth. In the 1950s and 1960s, the city was transformed into an industrial powerhouse, with factories producing textiles, electronics, and chemicals.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Kaohsiung was one of the fastest growing cities in Taiwan and was transformed into a modern metropolis. In the 1990s, the city was chosen as the site of the World Games, a major international sports event. Today, Kaohsiung is a major port city and a popular tourist destination. It is home to a number of world-class attractions, including the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, and the Fo Guang Shan Monastery. Kaohsiung is also a major industrial and commercial center, with a number of high-tech and manufacturing companies located in the city.