Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung, officially Kaohsiung City, is a special municipality located in southern Taiwan. With a population of approximately 2.7 million people, it is Taiwan's third most populous city and the largest city in southern Taiwan. After annexing the entirety of Kaohsiung County in 2010, the city's administrative boundaries range from the coastal urban center across wide rural stretches and into the wilderness of the Yushan Range, making it the largest city in Taiwan by area at 2,952 km2 (1,140 mi2). Founded in the 17th century as a small trading village named Tancoia, a name of uncertain origins, the city has since grown into the economic center of southern Taiwan, with key industries such as manufacturing, steel-making, oil refining, freight transport and shipbuilding. It is classified as a "Sufficiency" level global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, with some of the most prominent infrastructures in Taiwan. Kaohsiung is of strategic importance to the nation as the main port city of Taiwan; the Port of Kaohsiung is the largest and busiest harbor in Taiwan: more than 67% of the nation's export and import container volume passes through Kaohsiung. Kaohsiung International Airport is the second busiest airport by number of passengers in Taiwan. The city is well-connected to other major cities by high speed and conventional rail, as well as several national freeways. It also hosts the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) fleet headquarters and its naval academy. More recent public works such as Pier-2 Art Center, National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts and Kaohsiung Music Center have been aimed at growing the tourism and cultural industries of the city.