The warehouses that outlived the cargo

Kaohsiung's harbour was developed under Japanese rule and expanded rapidly after 1945. The warehouses at Pier-2 were built in 1973, when the port was handling a growing share of the island's exports. They were long, low sheds with loading doors facing the water, used for storing goods before they went onto ships. As container shipping grew, the old break-bulk warehouses became obsolete, and the port's cargo activity shifted to newer terminals further south. By the 1990s the sheds were empty, and the harbour front had become a barrier between the city and the water.

Local artists began using the empty warehouses in the early 2000s, attracted by the space and the low rents. The city government eventually released the site, and in 2006 the cultural affairs bureau took over its management with two local partners, starting a programme of exhibitions. The warehouses were repaired but not rebuilt, and the industrial fittings, rails and concrete floors were left visible. A fire in March 2021 destroyed one building, leaving only its concrete walls and metal frame; the rest of the row continued to operate. The mix of art, ruin and harbour gives the place its character.

The row now holds galleries, studios, shops and cafes, spread across buildings identified by letters and numbers. The Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway occupies warehouses 7 and 8, and tells the story of the harbour railway that once ran along these quays. The West Coast Bike Path passes the site, and two light rail stations opened in 2017. The art centre is busiest at weekends, when families come to walk, cycle and look at the installations. The harbour is still working behind the sheds: ferries leave from a nearby pier, and the cranes of the container terminals are visible along the shore.