Riding on the Kaohsiung Yellow Duck Light Rail and visiting Pier-2 Art Center, International City Delegation from six cities praise Kaohsiung's revitalized energy

During the limited period of boarding Yellow Duck Light Rail Train to visit the Pier-2 Art Center, representatives from six sister, friendly and partner cities, enthusiastically participated, including Mbabane in Eswatini, Portland in the United States, Busan in South Korea, Kumamoto Prefecture and City in Japan, and Sado City in Japan. They experienced the diverse urban planning, green transportation, and cultural heritage of Kaohsiung, while explored the achievements and transformations of Kaohsiung's construction and development over the past decade. The city government also hosted a gourmet feast featuring local agricultural and fishery specialties of Kaohsiung for the distinguished guests. Secretary-General Kuo Tien-Kuei of Kaohsiung City Government, representing Mayor Chen Chi-Mai, attended the luncheon and expressed Kaohsiung's dedication to urban diplomacy. Last year, Kaohsiung established sister city and friendly city relationships respectively with Mbabane and Sado City. In the future, Kaohsiung will continue to expand opportunities for cooperation and exchanges with international cities, hoping that the friendship and cooperation between Kaohsiung and these cities will grow deeper and stronger.

On February 19, the international city delegates boarded the limited edition of Yellow Duck Light Rail, launched in collaboration with the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival's "2024 Kaohsiung Wonderland" theme. They rode from the Light Rail Train Depot Station all the way to the Penglai Pier-2 Station. The members of the Japanese delegation exclaimed "kawaii" upon seeing the yellow duck-themed carriage. They were impressed to learn that Kaohsiung offers NT$399 monthly Commuter Pass, which allows unlimited rides on the metro, light rail, buses, and other public transportation. Members of the Kumamoto Prefecture delegation mentioned that they had visited Kaohsiung three years ago, but this visit felt completely different. They were amazed by the views from the light rail, including the Kaohsiung Music Center, Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal, and other architectural marvels and harbor developments.

The popular landmark, Pier-2 Art Center, has allowed delegates to experience the vibrancy of Kaohsiung's cultural innovation. Director General Park Keun-Lock of the Busan Tourism and MICE Bureau, which is also an important port city in South Korea, showed particular interest in the transformation of Pier-2. He mentioned that Busan also has similar cultural and creative parks. He praised Kaohsiung for successfully transforming old banks and warehouses into collaborative bases, creative spaces, and shared offices. The transformation of Pier-2 warehouses into an arts, exhibition, and cultural district was highly acclaimed, with Director Park acknowledging Kaohsiung's abundant urban regeneration energy.

During the welcome luncheon, the city government specially invited local indigenous youth groups from Kaohsiung, the NibunChorus and the Liou-Guei Senior High School Choir, to perform. They presented a suite of Bunun tribal folk songs and songs from the Puyuma Tribe, showcasing Kaohsiung's diverse ethnic cultures and warm hospitality. Guests from sister, friendly and partner cities also emotionally shared their experiences during their visit to Kaohsiung in recent days. Mayor Vusi Tembe of Mbabane, Kingdom of Eswatini, expressed that this trip was the first visit to Kaohsiung since the alliance formed between the two cities last year. He hoped to enhance interactions in culture, education and other fields in the future. Commissioner Dan Ryan of Portland, Oregon, in the U.S., who visited Kaohsiung for the first time, exclaimed that seeing the yellow robber duck was particularly endearing because the mascot of the University of Oregon is a duck, and their slogan is "Go Ducks." He also admired the transformation of Kaohsiung's waterfront district over the past decade and extended an invitation for Kaohsiung to participate in the Portland Rose Festival in June.

The luncheon was a gathering of friends with gourmet food, which incorporated local ingredients from various districts in Kaohsiung, including mullet roe from Cieding, seafood from Cianjhen Fishing Harbor, Giant grouper from Yongan, taro from Jiasian, and goat meat from Gangshan, allowing the guests from various countries to savor Kaohsiung's gastronomic delights. Secretary-General Guo presented the visiting delegation with red envelopes for the Year of Dragon and Little Cute Dragon lanterns, and especially mentioned the two yellow ducks from this year's lantern festival, wishing the guests double happiness and double luck. He expressed special wishes for continued support from international friends for Kaohsiung's future development, aiming to expand Kaohsiung's international presence.