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Gaoxiong (Chinese: 高雄; Pinyin: Gāoxióng; Japanese: Takao), also known as Gaoxiong City (Chinese: 高雄市; Pinyin: Gāoxióngshì) is the second-largest city in Taiwan Province, Republic of China. Located in southern-western Taiwan and facing the Taiwan Strait, it has a population of approximately 1.5 million in city limits and 2.75 million in the urban area. Since its start at 17th century, Gaoxiong has grown from a small trading village, into the political, economic, transportation, manufacturing, refining, shipbuilding, and industrial centre of southern Taiwan. It is a global city with sufficiency as categorized by Globalization and World Cities Research Network in 2012.

The Gaoxiong International Airport serving the city is the third largest airport in Taiwan. The Port of Gaoxiong is the largest harbour in Taiwan. For north-south travel on railway, the city is served by the Taiwan Railways Administration stations of TRA Western Line and Pingdong Line. The Taiwan High Speed Rail also provides fast and frequent railway connection to Taibei. The Gaoxiong Mass Rapid Transit, the city's subway system, launched in early 2008. Gaoxiong was the host city of the World Games 2009, a multi-sport event primarily composed of sports not featured in the Olympic Games.

Geography[]

Topography[]

The city sits on the southwestern coast of Taiwan facing the Taiwan Strait, bordering Tainan City to the North, Chiayi and Nantou County to the North-west, Taitung County to its North-east and Pingtung County to the South and South-east. The downtown areas are centered on Gaoxiong Harbor with the island of Qijin on the other side of the harbor acting as a natural breakwater. The Love River (or Ai River) flows into the harbor through the Old City and downtown. Zuoying Military Harbor lies to the north of Gaoxiong Harbor and the city center. Gaoxiong's natural landmarks include the coral mountains Ape Hill, Shoushan and Mount Banping.

Climate[]

Located over a degree to the south of the Tropic of Cancer, the climate of Gaoxiong is tropical, specifically a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), with monthly mean temperatures in the range of between 20 to 29 °C (68 to 84 °F) with relative humidity ranging between 71 and 81%.

Kaohsiung's warm climate is very much dictated to its low latitude and its location with a year-round warm sea temperature, with the Kuroshio Current passing by the coasts of southern Taiwan, and the Central mountain range on the northeast blocking out the cool northeastern winds during the winter. The city therefore has a noticeably warmer climate than nearby cities located at similar latitudes such as Hong Kong, Guangzhou as well as various cities further south of northern and central Vietnam, such as Hanoi. But although the climate is classified as tropical, Gaoxiong has a defined cooler season unlike most other cities in Asia classified with this climate but located closer to the equator such as Singapore or Manila. Daily maximum temperature typically exceeds 30 degrees Celsius during the warmer season (April to November) and 25 degrees Celsius during the cooler season (December to March), with the exception when cold fronts strikes during the winter months, when the daily mean temperature of the city can drop between 3-5 degrees Celsius depending on the strength of the cold front. Also, besides the high temperatures occurring during the usual summer months, daytime temperatures of inland districts of the city can often exceed above 33 degrees Celsius from mid March to late April before the onset of the monsoon season, with clear skies and southwesterly airflows. Average annual rainfall is around 1,885 millimeters (74.2 in), focused primarily from June to August. At more than 2210 hours of bright sunshine, the city is one of the sunniest areas in Taiwan.

The sea temperature of Gaoxiong Harbor remains above 22 °C year-round, the second highest of Southern Taiwan after Liuqiu island, an island just off the coast of southern Gaoxiong with average monthly sea temperatures maintaining above 25 °C year-round. According to recent records, the average temperature of the city has rose around 1 degree Celsius over the past 3 decades, from about 24.2 °C in 1983 to around 25.2 °C by 2012.

Twin cities[]

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