Discovery Series Ornament – Kaohsiung

The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Kaohsiung focuses on a few symbols closely connected with this major port city in southern Taiwan. Kaohsiung developed from a small harbor settlement into one of Taiwan’s largest cities and an important center for shipping, industry, and trade. In recent decades, the waterfront has been transformed with new public spaces, cultural attractions, light rail, and pedestrian areas, while the wider municipality also includes coastal districts, agricultural towns, and mountain landscapes.

– The large bunch of Cishan bananas refers to one of Kaohsiung’s best-known agricultural specialties. Cishan was once an important center for the banana trade and is still famous for banana-based snacks, desserts, and souvenirs. The area’s historic old street continues to celebrate this agricultural connection.

– The two scooters reflect a very familiar part of everyday transportation in Taiwan. Scooters are widely used throughout Kaohsiung for commuting and short trips, and they remain one of the most characteristic sights on the city’s streets.

– The waterfront scene appears to highlight Kaohsiung Harbor, one of the defining features of the city. The harbor has shaped Kaohsiung’s growth for more than a century, while newer attractions around the waterfront, including Pier-2 and the Great Harbor Bridge, have turned the former industrial port area into one of the city’s most popular places to explore. The Great Harbor Bridge itself is Taiwan’s first horizontal rotating landscape bridge and connects two major harbor attractions.

– The large bowl of shaved ice is another very local choice. Kaohsiung is particularly known for oversized bowls of shaved ice, especially around the Gushan and Cijin harbor area, where the dessert became a popular way to cool down in the city’s hot climate. Local tourism materials even describe the famous “jumbo bowl shaved ice” as being many times larger than a normal serving.

– The small ferry refers to the short boat ride between Gushan and Cijin. The crossing takes only a few minutes and remains one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to reach Cijin, where visitors can explore the old streets, seafood stalls, lighthouse, beach, and other coastal attractions.