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Sizihwan
西子灣 | |
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Coordinates: 22°37′33″N 120°15′51″E / 22.625809°N 120.264044°E | |
Country | Taiwan |
Administrative divisions | Kaohsiung City |
Sizihwan | |||||||||||||||
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Chinese name | |||||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 西子灣 | ||||||||||||||
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Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 西仔灣 | ||||||||||||||
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Japanese name | |||||||||||||||
Kanji | 西子湾 | ||||||||||||||
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Sizihwan (Chinese: 西子灣; Hanyu Pinyin: Xīzǐwān; Tongyong Pinyin: Sizǐhwan) is a community and sightseeing spot in Gushan District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, named for the adjacent bay of the Taiwan Strait, also called Sizihwan.[1]
The name Sizih (西子) can also refer to Xi Shi, an alternative name used by the poet Su Dongpo of the Song dynasty referring to the famous ancient beauty, which somehow implies the view in this scenic area is as beautiful as the lady.
Historical names include:
Located on the Taiwan Strait at the north of the entrance to Kaohsiung Harbor, Sizihwan is surrounded by mountains with Shoushan to the northeast and Shaochuantou Hill (哨船頭山), a spur of Shoushan to the east. The area is dominated by the campus of National Sun Yat-sen University which faces the open waters of the Taiwan Strait. Sizihwan Beach (known as Takao Beach during Japanese rule) is a black sand beach that sits right at the edge of the campus and is a popular recreation area. The Former British Consulate at Takao and the historic Lingsing Temple at the peak of Shaochuantou overlook Sizihwan Bay.
Sizihwan is directly accessible by bicycle and on foot through the Sizihwan Tunnel (through Shaochuantou mountain). Built from 1927 to 1933, the tunnel is itself a tourist attraction. Larger vehicular traffic can reach the area by two other more circuitous routes around the mountain. Public bus service to the area is available from G-Bus #99 and O1(橘1) metro shuttle bus . The nearest Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit station is the Orange Line's terminus at Hamasen station which was known as Sizihwan station until it was renamed in 2024 to better reflect its location.[2]