Cijin Island is a very small island in Kaohsiung Taiwan. Kaohsiung is belong to the Southern area in Taiwan. It is just 15 minutes ferry ride outside the famous Kaohsiung Harbour to the Cijin Island. Although it is a very small Island, this island has become a favorited destination for those people whoever had visiting the city. The island is famous not just only for historical and cultural sites, but also for the fresh seafood around the night market. It really is perfect for any type of travelers; no matter if you are visiting for a hiking trip, sightseeing, cycling, photography etc. Cijin Island has something special for everyone.

Cijin Island is one of those destinations that always has visitors and it is the best tourists attractions in Taiwan, it is because there is so much trip to do in the island. Those who love a good hike usually make their way to the famous Cijin Lighthouse that is located on top of the hills. The hike is not difficult and it is easy to navigate around the trails, so it is very suitable for many people. Cycling around the island is also a preferred activity in Cijin Island; some of the best places that can be explored include the Cijin Windpower Park and the Cijin Seashore Park. Exploring an island is not completely without a dip in the water, and because the water in Cijin is quite warm, many love to relax while soaking their feet or taking a swim by the beach. Lastly, it is also important to try some seafood in the port area of Cijin since it is known to be very fresh.

Which Month and what season of the year will be the best for visit

There is four seasons in Taiwan. They are Winter, Autumn, Spring and Summer. Taiwan season is totally opposite with Australia seasons. For example, When Australia is on Winter, Taiwan is on the Summer season. Many people are wondering that which season would be the best visit Cijin Island. In my personal experience, the best time to visit Cijin Island would be between September and February of the years. That would be when the summer about to end. It is because Summer is the season of raining which is not able to explore much on the island while raining so it is very best to visit between September and February which was Autumn, Winter and Spring season. I am not recommended to visit between June and August as the weather is too heat with raining. You may wondering that why Winter would be good to visit. Well, Kaohsiung won’t be freezing during the winter. It is totally different with Taipei City.

Please note that during the summer seasons, the ocean wave is pretty strong due to the weather

Introduction of the Cijin Lighthouse

According to the photo taken above, it is taken from the Lighthouse in the Cijin Island. Aside from the scenery, Cijin is also famous for its historical sites, including the Cijin Lighthouse and the Cijin Fort. In 1883, British engineers built the Cijin Lighthouse, which was used for the military during their conflicts with France. The lighthouse went through several reconstructions during the Japanese colonisation, and it is now open to the public. The Cijin Fort is also a historical site in the island that must be on the itinerary. The fort was originally built in 1720 and has witnessed quite a lot during its time. Since it was destroyed in the war, the fort was reconstructed in 1991 and is now one of the most famous attractions in Cijin Island that offers a magnificent 360 view.

The History of Dr. James Laidlaw Maxwell Monument in the Cijin

Basically James Laidlaw Maxwell Senior Chinese name called 馬雅各 and he was born on 18 March 1836 in Scotland. March 1921 was the first Presbyterian Missionary to Formosa (Qing-era Taiwan). He served with the English Presbyterian Mission.

Maxwell studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and completed his degree in year 1858 with a graduation thesis of The Chemistry and Physiology of the Spleen. He worked in London at Brompton Hospital and at the Birmingham General Hospital. He was an elder in the Broad Street Presbyterian Church before being sent to Taiwan by the Presbyterian Church of England (now within the United Reformed Church) in 1864. He donated a small printing press to the church which was later used to print the Taiwan Church News.

On 16 June 1865, at the urging of missionaries H.L. Mackenzie and Carstairs Douglas, he established the first Presbyterian church in Taiwan, this date now celebrated by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan as its anniversary. First of his mission centred in the then-capital Taiwan Fu (now Tainan city); in 1868 he moved near Cijin and now part of Kaohsiung where his work place, both medical and missionary, became more welcomed. In early 1872 he advised Canadian Presbyterian missionary pioneer George Leslie Mackay to start his work in northern Taiwan, near Tamsui.

He married with Mary Anne Goodall who died on January 1918 of Handsworth on 7 April 1868 in HongKong. They had two sons, John Preston and James Laidlaw Jnr, both of whom later also became medical missionaries. He retired in London in 1885 where he formed and became the first secretary of the Medical Missionary Association. He and his sons oversaw the construction of Sin-Lau Hospital in Tainan, the first western-style hospital in Taiwan. The younger J. L. Maxwell served in the Tainan hospital from 1900 to 1923, during Taiwan’s Japanese Era.

How to travel down to the Cijin Island

How to travel down to the Cijin Island? Well, this would be depending on where will you be coming down from. Firstly, getting to the Cijin Island from Kaohsiung City is very easy. Just take the MRT orange line and get off at Sizihwan MRT Station. From there, just head to the harbour and take Cijin Ferry; instructions from the MRT station to the harbour are available around the streets and it will take about 10 minutes to get there on foot. The cost to the Cijin Ferry is roughly NT$15 (approximately 0.50 USD) and the journey is around 15 minutes. Travelers can take a bike on the ferry so if you prefer to rent a bike in Sizihwan, so it wouldn’t be an issue.

But if you are drive, you wouldn’t need to worry about the ferry and you can explore much more surround the island by car.

For instances, when traveling to Kaohsiung, do saving a day for Cijin Island is a definitely a no-brainer. This island offers varieties of activities and sights for many types of travelers, starting from hiking, cycling, sightseeing, to eating. How can anyone say not to that? So, if you are planning to travel in Taiwan and looking for something to do in Kaohsiung, be sure to take a day trip to Cijin Island. You won’t feel regret to visit as it is worth of travelling. #vacation #dream #summer #Cijinisland

Hope you enjoy your vacation when you get there one day. Stay tuned for my next post 🙂