Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal
Cruise ship terminal in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal (Chinese: 高雄港旅運中心) is a cruise ship terminal located in Lingya District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It forms part of the Asia New Bay Area redevelopment project.[1]
| Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal | |
|---|---|
高雄港旅運中心 | |
 Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal in 2023 | |
 Interactive map of the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal area | |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Cruise terminal |
| Location | 5 Haibian Road, Lingya District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan |
| Coordinates | 22°36′42″N 120°17′33″E |
| Construction started | 9 November 2013 |
| Completed | 31 August 2022 |
| Opened | 6 March 2023 |
| Cost | NT$4.5 billion |
| Owner | Taiwan International Ports Corporation |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 15 (above ground) + 2 basement levels |
| Floor area | 80,774 m2 (869,440 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Reiser + Umemoto |
| Main contractor | Chun Yuan Construction |
The terminal has a total floor area of 80,774 m2 (869,440 sq ft) and consists of 15 above-ground floors and two basement levels.[2] The structure is primarily composed of a steel frame, with a design inspired by a silver-white ship hull and chimney form.[3]
The facility can accommodate two large cruise ships of up to 225,000 gross tons simultaneously, each capable of carrying approximately 5,400 passengers and 2,400 crew members.[4] The terminal has a passenger handling capacity of up to 2,000 people per hour.[4]
The design emphasises integration between port transportation functions and the surrounding urban environment, while also supporting commercial and leisure activities along the waterfront.[1]
History
An international design competition for the terminal was completed on 10 December 2010, with the winning proposal submitted by Taiwan-based Zong Mai Architects in collaboration with the American firm Reiser + Umemoto.[2]
On 27 August 2013, Chun Yuan Construction was awarded the main construction contract.[2] Construction began on 9 November 2013 and was completed on 31 August 2022. The terminal officially opened on 6 March 2023.[5]
Architecture
The terminal was designed by Reiser + Umemoto (RUR Architecture) as a multifunctional piece of infrastructure combining cruise operations, public space, and commercial functions into a single integrated complex.[6]
The design is based on the concept of “dynamic three-dimensional urbanism”, in which circulation, program, and structure are layered vertically to separate secure passenger flows from public access areas while maintaining spatial continuity.[2][7]
A continuous elevated public promenade runs along the waterfront, allowing pedestrian movement to flow uninterrupted above the terminal’s operational zones.[2] Below this level, cruise and ferry functions are organized to maintain security and efficiency for embarking and disembarking passengers.[2]
The building is composed of three principal elements: the cruise terminal, a semi-outdoor public plaza, and office facilities, arranged to create a transitional space between city and port.[8] The undulating roof form and shifting volumes accommodate different programmatic requirements while producing a distinctive, fluid silhouette.[8]
The building’s flowing, organic form has been described as resembling a ship hull or a whale, and has been referred to as a “whale-shaped” structure in official publications.[9][10]
Architecturally, the structure emphasises the relationship between land and sea, functioning as both a transportation hub and a civic waterfront space that integrates urban activity with port infrastructure.[6][11]
Transportation
The terminal is within walking distance south of the Cruise Terminal light rail station on the Kaohsiung Light Rail.
Gallery
Terminal with cruise ships (2023)
Cruise ships docked at terminal
View from the north (2024)
