Dragon & Tiger Pagodas, Lotus Pond

Why the symbol of Kaohsiung

Twin 7-story pagodas built 1976 by Zuoying Ciji Palace on 42-hectare Lotus Pond, ringed with Taoist temples. Dragon is luckiest, tiger unluckiest—in the dragon, out the tiger for fortune. Fully reopened after 2025 renovation.

Highlights

1. Twin pagodas: climb for pond panoramas. Inside: 24 filial tales, hell-court murals, heaven palaces—three faiths in one. Free entry; zigzag causeway wards off evil.
2. Spring-Autumn Pavilions: Guanyin rides a 78m dragon; 108 steps inside with arhat murals.
3. Arctic Xuantian God statue: mid-lake, trampling turtle and snake, giant sword. A shrine inside.
4. Ciji Palace + Old City North Gate: 1722 first earthen-wall city of Taiwan nearby.

Food

• San-Niu Beef Noodles between the pagodas and Zuoying TRA station: huge clay-pot soy beef noodles.

Access & time needed

• ~10 min walk from TRA Zuoying; or MRT Ecological District + Red 35 bus to "Lianchi Tan (Shengli Rd)".
• Stay 1.5–2.5 hrs. Go early morning to beat heat and crowds.
• Pair with Pier2 and Formosa Boulevard same day via HSR Zuoying.

Tips

• No elevator, spiral stairs only. Brutal summer heat—bring water and a hat.

Photo spots

Dragon-tiger mouths front-on, tiger-tower panorama, dragon pavilion, mid-lake god statue.