Kaohsiung ─ A City in Bloom

　Strolling down the paths that wind past Kaohsiung's riverbanks and the port will bring you face to face with the city's most distinctive scenery. Just as visually striking, however, is the city's rich urban ecology-the abundance of flowers and plants that fill the streets and parks. When they are in bloom, Kaohsiung bursts with color and vitality, becoming a true garden city by the sea!

Nanzih Nursery

　When springtime arrives, those who live in Kaohsiung can delight in the sweet buds blooming all over the city. And if they are looking for flower displays and arrangements to decorate their homes, there is no shortage of vendors who can supply them. But the people who have done the most to beautify the city's appearance and to "greenify" its residential areas would be the dedicated production brigade that maintains the Nanzih Nursery, the project site of the municipal Public Works Bureau. 

　At present, the nursery stocks 60 varieties of plants and trees. In one year, its workers can cultivate up to 25,000 tree seedlings that will eventually be planted along streets and around schools and municipal buildings. The nursery also has an area dedicated to exquisite ornamental blooms and grasses that could be considered the front line of defense in keeping the city beautiful. Best of all, requests for plants are not restricted to official institutions and schools. Any Kaohsiung residents who shows his or her identification card is allowed to take home three seedlings. The Nantze Nursery even provides consultation on planting plants around homes and buildings, as well as a guided survey as part of its outdoors education.

Singjhong Flower Street

　When it comes to buying flowers, Kaohsiung residents tend to head first to the Singjhong Flower Street, which is located between Yongding Street and nearby Jhongsiao Road. Lining both sides of Singjhong Street are flower shops that fill the entire strip with an explosion of color. Nearly fifty flower sellers are clustered tightly together in this relatively short stretch of road-hence its nickname, and its designation as a special business district more than ten years ago. The street is known for its astonishing variety of floral products. Some of the bigger shops have upwards of a hundred species of flowers and plants to choose from, and many also feature floral art studios, where flower lovers can immerse themselves in the exploration of floral design. 

Labor Park Holiday Flower Market

　In contrast to SingJhong Flower Street, whose vendors primarily offer cut flowers, the main attraction at the Labor Park Holiday Flower Market is bonsai trees. This outdoor market also stages themed floral exhibitions and events for various festival occasions. Whenever a holiday approaches, this market bustles with activity and excitement.

Kaohsiung International Flower Market

　Last but not least is the Kaohsiung International Flower Market, located on South Cuiheng Road in Cianjhen District. Sprawling over eight hectares, it is the fifth largest wholesale market of flowers and plants in the country, as well as the biggest domestic and international distribution hub in south Taiwan. With its advanced automated facilities and computerized operations, this large-scale commercial center has made trading more convenient and transparent, and allowed growers to reach more international markets. Currently, the Kaohsiung International Flower Market is adding 2,000 ping (6600 m ) of retail market space. Come summertime, city dwellers will have another holiday flower market where they can stroll and take in the sights!

高雄──充滿花與綠的城市

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　　走在高雄的街頭，河畔、港邊的水岸閒適氛圍，是最與眾不同的城市美景，除此之外，另一個最引人注目的特色，莫過於街道上、公園中，都充滿了各色花卉以及豐富的自然生態，讓高雄的市容繽紛多彩且充滿生機，整個城市儼然就是一座水岸花香城！

　　尤其時序進入春暖花開的季節，生活在高雄的人們不但可以在城市各角落發現美麗的花朵，更有許多地方提供各種花卉，妝點自己的生活。而說到高雄市容以及市民居家環境綠美化最大的功臣，就是市府工務局養護工程處養護大隊所經營的「楠梓苗圃」。

　　楠梓苗圃目前有60種花、樹，一年可以培育出25萬株樹苗，提供街道、學校機關與市民之用，園內也有小巧花草區，成為妝點市容最美麗的隊伍。更棒的是，不僅大樓、學校、機關可去函申請植物，高雄市民憑身分證可以至此領取三株花苗，楠梓苗圃更提供居家大樓的植栽諮詢，以及戶外教學的參觀導覽。

　　而想到買花，高雄人第一個一定是想到興中花卉街。走過介於永定街到忠孝路附近之間的興中街，兩旁花店讓整條街充滿了繽紛的色彩，不算太長的距離卻集中有五十家左右的花店，相當密集，因此這裡便有了「花卉街」的美名，並在十多年前被規劃為特色商圈。興中花卉街不但花卉種類多，大一點的店甚至有上百種花卉可挑選，更有許多花藝教室，讓愛花人士有更多提升花藝美學的空間。

　　對於興中花卉街以切花為主，位在勞工公園的假日花市，則是以盆栽為大宗，同時還不時因應各種節慶，推出主題花卉展覽，以及各式活動，因此只要假日一到，勞工公園假日花市也是人氣搶搶滾。

　　佔地8公頃的高雄國際花卉市場，位於前鎮區的翠亨南路上，是全台第五個花卉批發市場，也是南台灣最大的內外銷集散中心，擁有先進的自動化設施及電腦化作業系統的大型花卉交易中心，提供盤商方便、透明化且擁有國際化選擇的花卉市場。目前高雄國際花卉市場正在興建佔地2000坪的花卉零售市場，春天之後，市民朋友就又多一處假日花市可以逛了！