Kaohsiung is a southern city in the tiny but proud nation of Taiwan with quite the cultural atmosphere. There are several attractions in the city worth visiting but one stop you definitely shouldn’t miss is Dome of Light. A true hidden gem in the city, Dome of Light is located under a train station. As people casually go about their day passing through the Formosa Boulevard Station, a colorful display of lights and art come together to bring a sight worth stopping for. Dome of Light, which was built by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata in Germany before being transported to Taiwan, is not just an attraction but is also a relevant portrayal of Taiwan’s astounding history. The Dome of Light is a reminder of how Taiwan fought for the democracy it enjoys today. This definitely makes it even more worth a visit. Should you find yourself passing through Kaohsiung, find time to stop by. Learn more about this lovely attraction by checking out our guide to Dome of Light, Kaohsiung below.
Things to do / Highlights
Colored glass artworks
The very heart of Dome of Light is the colorful display of art. Made from 4,500 glass panels, be marveled at the vibrant flashes of art that many consider the “largest work of glass art” in the world. Watch as the rainbow hues illuminate the story of humanity through four themes in the same order: Water: The Womb of Life, Earth: Prosperity and Growth, Light: The Creative Spirit, and Fire: Destruction and Rebirth. If you’re a photographer, this might just be heaven for you. With the playful exchange of lights and colors, you’ll never run out of angles and shots to take home with you. Add to that the daily passersby either as accents or subjects to your photo and you’ve got yourself a stellar image.
The dome is also dedicated to the Formosa Incident, a democratic protest that took place near present-day Formosa Boulevard Station. This protest was a turning point in Taiwan’s history and it helped shaped the proud nation we know today.
Musical lights show
Aside from the permanent display of colors at the dome, be sure not to miss the daily musical lights show either. The show takes place thrice daily, one in the morning at 11am, in the afternoon at 3pm, and in the evening at 8pm. Watch as the colors change in sync with the background music and be delighted with an amazing performance. The best part is that the show is free!
Travelers tips
Free attraction
Dome of Light is an amazing attraction and the experience is even more worthwhile due to the fact that it’s completely free. There’s no need to pay any admission of sorts to see the colorful displays. The dome is located within the transfer section between the Red Line and Orange Line of the Taiwanese MRT at Formosa Boulevard Station so it’s actually a just regular thing people pass by on a daily basis, if you think about it.
Speaking of which, be mindful of the crowds as well since this is a public space. Some people may be rushing to go to work so if you’re standing in awe at the center of the station, be sure to not block people’s way of passing through. It’s an exchange between two train lines so it is guaranteed to be a busy place. Keep in mind too that the attraction is accessible all throughout the day.
Photography
While still on the topic of passersby, don’t get upset if your photos have a lot of them photobombing your shot. Again, it’s a public place, so you can’t really ask people to step aside so you can have the perfect shot. Besides, that’s the beauty of Dome of Light - the people are, in a way, part of the art. Also, if you’re a professional photographer, try to use a wide lens to fully capture the magic of the dome. If not, then that’s okay too. You can still surely take many beautiful photographs of this remarkable attraction.
How to get there
At this point, it’s probably a no-brainer on how to get to Dome of Light. Kaohsiung is a relatively small city in Taiwan so it’s easy to get around. You simply board either the Red Line or the Orange Line, the only two lines of the Taiwanese MRT serving Kaohsiung. You will then have to get off at their only intersection, which is Formosa Boulevard Station. Head up over to the B1 level of the station and lo and behold, you will find the beautiful Dome of Light. It’s also important to note that there are several hotels and hostels near the station so it’s really quite difficult to miss.
Dome of Light information
Dome of Light
Address: Formosa Boulevard Station, Zhongzheng 3rd Rd. & Zhongshan 1st Rd. intersection, Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Department of tourism: Visit Taiwan
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
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Duration: 8hr - 9hrDuration
History
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