Love River - KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN

The Love River is a river (canal) in southern Taiwan and the urban spine of Kaohsiung, often compared to the River Thames in London for its cultural and symbolic role. With a total length of just 12 kilometers, it holds great importance for the city’s economy, tourism, and everyday life.

Originally known as Takao River during the Japanese era and later as Kaohsiung River, it was renamed Love River following a series of events in the late 1940s. According to local history, a tragic lovers’ suicide and the growing popularity of riverside parks among young couples contributed to its romantic reputation. Boat cruises soon followed, turning the river into a social and leisure hub.

In 1948, the Love River Boat Cruise Company opened near Jhongjheng Bridge. After a typhoon destroyed the company’s signboard—leaving only the words Love River visible—the name gradually prevailed and was officially adopted in 1972.

Once heavily polluted, the Love River has undergone significant environmental restoration. Today, it stands as a symbol of Kaohsiung’s urban renewal, offering a calmer, greener face of the city.