Ride the Light Rail into Kaohsiung's Green Fantasy

　On the Kaohsiung Light Rail Transit (LRT), you can roam across the city between early morning and late evening. If the beauty of the line's Totoro Tunnel has captivated you, then come and be one of the first to see the recently unveiled Green Giant Tunnel. 
　Construction of the Kaohsiung LRT commenced in 2013. Following a decade of work, and the commencement of services along one lengthy segment in 2017, the entire Circular Line was opened to the public on New Year's Day 2024. This was not only a great step forward in terms of public-transportation equality for those living in different parts of the city, but also a significant milestone in the country's green transportation. In the future, with the addition of the Yellow Line of the metro, the Gangshan-Lujhu extension line（岡山路竹延伸線）, and the Siaogang-Linyuan line（小港林園線）, Kaohsiung's transportation network will make life even more convenient.
　The LRT connects many of the city's attractions, including the Great Harbor Bridge（大港橋）near Dayi Pier-2 Station（駁二大義站）,Love River Bay（愛河灣）near Love Pier Station（真愛碼頭站）, Totoro Tunnel near TRA Museum of Fine Arts Station（美術館站）, and the European-style urban landscape between Wucyuan Elementary School Station（五權國小站）and Kaisyuan Wuchang Station（凱旋武昌站）. In addition, the much-anticipated Sinshang Elementary School Station（新上國小站） to Shu-Te Home Economics & Commercial High School Station（樹德家商站）section features the Green Giant Tunnel, surrounded by towering rain trees (Samanea saman) that make it a must-visit spot for photography enthusiasts.
When designing the section from TRA Museum of Fine Arts Station to Neiwei Arts Center Station（內惟藝術中心站）, preserving and incorporating existing trees was a priority. The tracks are cleverly placed within an existing grove of large Madagascar almond trees (Terminalia mantaly H. Perrier), creating a shady corridor approximately 500m long and reminiscent charming scenes in Studio Ghibli（吉卜力）animations from Japan.
　The same design ethos was applied to the section from Sinshang Elementary School Station to Shu-Te Home Economics & Commercial High School Station. The track area features grass paving, preserving 318 mighty rain trees along Dashun Road, creating a unique Green Giant Tunnel rich in lushness and shade. The platforms at each station also showcase clever ideas, with the theme of “Five Blessings Coming to the Door” – symbolizing good fortune with the bat, prosperity with the deer, longevity with the crane, happiness with the magpie, and wealth with the cat. This not only allows passengers to experience the unique beauty and blessings of Kaohsiung while waiting for the train, but also adds a distinctive artistic atmosphere to the city.

　　搭乘高雄輕軌，隨時隨地都能說走就走，如果龍貓隧道的美令你流連忘返，那麼你一定要來搶先體驗最新亮相的綠巨人隧道。
高雄輕軌自2013年起興建，歷經10年，今（2024）年元旦迎來輕軌成圓的好消息，不僅落實交通平權，更是臺灣綠色交通重要里程碑。未來再加上捷運黃線、岡山路竹延伸線及小港林園線，高雄交通運輸路網「四線齊發」，讓生活更便利。
　　高雄輕軌周邊串連不少景點，包含駁二大義站的大港橋、真愛碼頭站的愛河灣、美術館站的龍貓隧道、五權國小站至凱旋武昌站沿線的城市歐風景觀，還有眾所期待的新上國小站至樹德家商站，沿路參天雨豆樹林環抱列車於其中的綠巨人隧道，都是攝影愛好者搶拍的地方。
　　尤其在輕軌美術館站到內惟藝術中心站路段，以就地保護、以站就樹為設計，將軌道巧妙安置在原有的大型小葉欖仁樹叢中，形成一道長約500公尺的林蔭，彷彿日本吉卜力動畫裡的可愛場景。
　　新上國小站至樹德家商站間的路段，也以相同設計概念，軌道區採用植草鋪面，保留行經大順路上的318棵雨豆樹，參天茂密的樹蔭形成獨特的綠巨人隧道。而各站新設月台設計也頗富巧思，以「福祿壽禧財」五福臨門為主題，取諧音分別以「蝙蝠」代表福氣、「鹿」代表祿、「鶴」代表壽、「喜鵲」代表禧、「貓」代表財，讓民眾每次候車時，感受高雄獨特之美和祝福，也增添城市獨特的藝術氣息。