Love River

The Love River (simplified Chinese: 爱河; traditional Chinese: 愛河; pinyin: Ài Hé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ài-hô) is a river in southern Taiwan. It originates in Renwu District, Kaohsiung City, and flows 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) through Kaohsiung to Kaohsiung Harbor. The Love River plays an important role in the city's economy and tourism. A riverside park, the Love River Park, runs along the riverbank in downtown Kaohsiung City. A night market operates in the park, and there are outdoor cafés, often with live bands. The scenery is enhanced by structures near the river, such as the Holy Rosary Cathedral, Kaohsiung Bridge, and the Kaohsiung District Court. Cultural events such as concerts and the Lantern Festival are held by the river. The Love River was once heavily polluted, when raw sewage and industrial waste water flowed into it untreated. Efforts by the city government to divert the waste water to the treatment plant in Cijin District resulted in significantly improved water quality. The Love River is used for sightseeing, and there are boats and gondola rides for visitors. In 2018, mayor Han Kuo-yu proposed that a ferris wheel be built on the bank of the Love River.