KAOHSIUNG -- area code (886-7)

Kaohsiung sports some of Taipei's concrete canyon looks in its quickly redeveloping downtown area, but it still retains a breezy spaciousness accented by its landscaped river and harbor. There is a charming traditional fresh goods arcade, some well-worn local temples and a bustling night market. Mostly used as a gateway for industry and tourists winging in or out of its gorgeous modern international airport, Kaohsiung is well worth exploring for a day or two, particularly if you've hooked up online with a new friend who can show you around.

The population of Kaohsiung is 1.5 million (that's about 60,000 Utopians who live in the vicinity).

• Kaohsiung Gay Scene Updates message forum
• Lesbian listings
• Men in Kaohsiung message forum

The updated and expanded 2nd Edition of the Utopia Guide to Taiwan offers a fresh insider's glimpse at the gay and lesbian scene in 12 cities including Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan and Taichung. Listings include organizations, bars, discos, accommodations, spas, restaurants, and more. A special section highlights venues that are especially welcoming for women. Enjoy savvy comments and recommendations from local Utopians and gay travelers. Click here to order

• GAMA&LAMA
  P.O. Box 1282, Kaohsiung. Gay and lesbian organization promoting the development of homosexual identity and the improvement of G&L life in society.

Click here for Kaohsiung hotels and accommodations.

• Cai Se Min
  5 Da Yong St, 551-3757, 561-7276
• Honey
  281-0846, 281-0845.

  Made in Taiwan (mixed) 2-2 Yuzhu 1st St, map and directions, 282-8567, email. A friendly, gay-owned BBQ and beer bar in a cozy, rustic country style atmosphere. Recommended as a good first-stop on an evening out. Reasonably priced and popular with local gays. Busiest after 9pm Sat. The owner speaks English and is full of useful information. Drop by and tell them Utopia sent you! Utopia Member Discount

  Comments from Utopians:

  "There's new bar called 69 Bar. The address is easy to find: No. 69 Min-sheng 2 Rd, not far away from Made in Taiwan beer bar. They have cute young staff." -- Jaytaipei, Apr 13, 2009

• No. 10 Gay Book Store
  800 N0. 120 Honan 1st Rd, 236-3834, email. Kaohsiung's gay-only bookshop. Near Kaohsiung Train Station and Yi Sauna. Magazines, books, toys and more gay goods.

• Ba Zhun (men), 215-2025.
• Colorful Pad Pub
  2/F, 5 Tayou St, Yen Chen District, 551-3757, 561-7276.
• Da Heng Game
  No. 8, Lane 56, Wu Fu 3rd Rd, 215-5512. Club for mature men and their admirers.
• Girls? (transexuals and transvestites), 225-8882.
• Marui
  No. 120 Shing Tieb Rd, 271-4523. Stylish gay-owned coffee shop with karaoke club downstairs. The owner speaks Japanese. Gay magazines on sale. Monthly special shows. Gay and lesbian clientele.
• Ming Chiang
  7/F, No.249, Chi Hsien 2nd Rd, 215-8335.
• Possible
  2/F, No.461, Chung Shen 2nd Rd, 330-3083. Very friendly, cozy karaoke pub with tiny dance floor for doing the cha-cha.
• Private Life
  B/F No.278, Chi Hsien 3rd Rd, 561-1100, email. The staff here are very friendly and helpful. They do no speak much English but will try to communicate with you or locate someone who can speak English. Average age is 40+. Fri and Sat nights are the busiest.

• Holly Men Spa Workshop
  Yi-Xing Rd at Ling-Sheng Rd, appointments: 098-124-1691, 098-081-8362, email. Five minutes walk from Kaohsiung MRT San Dou Shopping District R8 Station, exit #4. The place is not on streel level, so you need to ring them when you get to the Family Mart shop at the intersection of Yi-Xing Rd and Ling-Sheng Rd. Experienced therapists offer customised massage therapies. Deep tissue and relaxing massage treatments to help retrieve healthy skin, free your body and mind, and improve the quality of your life. Please make an appointment at least two hours in advance. Utopia Member Discount

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I went to Holly Men Spa Workshop. It was gorgeous. Good location, good atmosphere, very good and experienced masseurs (I had a wonderful time with Kai...I was dreaming away under his hands)." -- mike1957, Mar 20, 2010

  "Nice people and good atmosphere. Warm and fragrant decoration. Staff there are really nice and with good massage skill, too. I enjoyed relaxing there and would like to recommend this place to everyone who is visiting Kaohsiung." -- Nick123, Aug 16, 2009

• Kaohsiung Man Aromatherapy Massage
  Near Kaohsiung Station nearby, 0918-293-691, email. Gay-friendly massage for men. Good looking, friendly masseurs.

• Black Forrest
  Difficult to find. Ask a local to show you. Path through the trees that gets busy at night. "Rush hour" is 11pm-midnight, but stays active until 2am.
• Kuo-gong Cinema
  6/F Da-you St. Opposite Colorful Pan Pub (see under Karaoke). The cinema shows straight adult movies but mostly gay audience. Busy facilities. Open daily.
• Love River
  He-xi Rd, between Zhong-zheng Bridge and Qi-xian Bridge. Go along Zhong-zheng 4th Rd, after crossing over Zhong-zheng bridge, make a right turn, or go along Qi-xian 2nd Rd, after crossing over Q9-xian bridge, make a left turn. Small park, nights.

• Milky Way
  253 Chi Shien 3rd Rd, Yen Chen Dist. (next to Shou Shin Cinema), 532-5366. Formerly Han Chin Guan. Older men go here.
• Station Sauna
  226 Nan-Hwa Rd, 235-4612. Close to the train station and a 15-20 minute walk from the popular Liu He night market (you can get a pass so you can enjoy going out for dinner and back again for sleep and fun at night). This is a friendly, working class bath complex that out-of-town Chinese also overnight in as a cheap alternative to a hotel. Five floor facility attracts more robust types of grass-roots guys, gorgeous sporty hunks, workers, mature men and bear/bulk types. G/F has free Internet access, gym, a karaoke room, and a snack lounge (free breakfast and afternoon tea served). 2/F has lockers, steam, showers, and bathing pools. 3/F and 4/F have dark lounges, cabins, and massage rooms for those who want a rub down. Rooftop garden area for warm summer nights. Staff are very friendly. Safety supplies available at the counter. Very busy on Sat night and Sun afternoon.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I was here on Thu evening and there were less than 10 people for the whole night. Most guys were middle-aged, working class with average to chubby build. I thought the place was not so clean and definately not the clever option to crush in. Maybe could be fun on weekends, but considering the relatively high admission of NT$400, that's just not worth it." -- Philly, Feb 4, 2010

  "Station Sauna has a friendly staff, clean rooms and public areas, low price and many, many guys, even on a weeknight. Conveniently located one block from the main railroad (not HSR) station and well worth visiting. Large facility, with fun on every floor. Great place to spend a night or two." -- spup, Dec 19, 2009