Nature · Yancheng
Love River
愛河
Photo: lienyuan lee, CC BY 3.0The river through central Kaohsiung, with riverside parks, boat rides and the cathedral near its banks.
History
Under Qing rule it was called the Takao River and later the Kaohsiung River. The name Love River came into use in the late 1940s and became official in 1972. Pollution grew with industry from the 1960s. A clean-up began in 1979, and in 2002 the city declared the river clean.
Eat nearby
港園牛肉麵Gang Yuan Beef Noodles
Queues form at opening time at this no-frills Yancheng beef noodle hall. Get the beef noodles, dry-tossed or in soup, or the braised pork-trotter noodles.
小堤咖啡Hsiao Ti Coffee
A 40-plus-year-old alley café often called Yancheng's oldest. Order a fresh-brewed black coffee and the toast topped with a soft egg and a dash of soy sauce.
阿婆彈珠汽水綜合茶Grandma's Marble Soda Mixed Tea
This 50-plus-year-old drinks stand near Pier-2 sells one thing: mixed tea of winter melon tea, kumquat-plum tea and fizzy marble soda. Just order a cup.
前金肉燥飯Cianjin Braised Pork Rice
Braised pork rice comes topped with crunchy milkfish floss at this decades-old breakfast spot. Mix in a runny fried duck egg.
牛老大涮牛肉（自強二路）NIU LAO DA (Zihciang 2nd Road)
Open until midnight, this lively beef hot pot house serves hand-cut fresh Tainan beef for dipping in a light, sweet broth. Add a stir-fried beef plate.
鄭家切仔麵Cheng's Noodles
An old Yancheng noodle shop, now run by the third generation, serving noodles or rice noodles in a rich pork-and-chicken broth with plates of sliced pork offal on the side.