The Love River or Ai River (simplified Chinese: 爱河; traditional Chinese: 愛河; pinyin: Ài Hé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ài-hô) is a river (canal) in southern Taiwan. It originates in Renwu District, Kaohsiung City, and flows 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) through Kaohsiung to Kaohsiung Harbor. Love River is the spine of Kaohsiung, playing a similar role to the River Thames of London. It is of great cultural significance to the people of Kaohsiung and plays an important role in its economy and tourism. A riverside park, the Love River Park, runs along the riverbank in downtown Kaohsiung City. A night market operates in the park, and there are three outdoor cafés, often with live bands. Boats which hold about fifteen people take tourists up and down the river. The scenery is enhanced by attractive city structures near the river, such as the Holy Rosary Cathedral, Kaohsiung Bridge, and the Kaohsiung District Court. Cultural events such as concerts and the Lantern Festival are often held by the river.
The Love River was once heavily polluted, when raw sewage and industrial waste water flowed untreated into the river. Recent efforts by the city government to divert the waste water to the treatment plant in Cijin District has resulted in significantly improved water quality. Love River is now used for sightseeing, and there are duck boats, love boats and gondola rides for tourists to enjoy the city view. In 2018, mayor Han Kuo-yu proposed that a ferris wheel be built on the bank of Love River to create a romance industry and improve the economy.[1]
Before the urban development of the area, the river flowed in a wide and flat channel, used for irrigation and surrounded by farms. During the Qing dynasty, it was called the Takao River. In 1895, the Japanese dredged the river and turned it into a canal to transport lumber from Southeast Asia. Embankments (levees) were built on the river and in 1908, Kaohsiung Harbor was constructed at the mouth of the Love River, replacing the mangrove forests. In 1945, Taiwan fell under the control of the Republic of China and the riversides became parks. However, as Taiwan's economy switched from agricultural to industrial, the river began to get increasingly polluted. (The first incident of pollution was halfway through the Japanese occupation of Taiwan when paper mills ejected waste into the river.) The urbanization created more waste, and in 1965, raw sewage began to flow into the river when an export processing zone was created.
Name
It was originally called Takao River, from the Makato language of the Pingpu tribe, and later the Kaohsiung River. In the late 1940s, the name Love River came into popular usage after a pair of lovers died by suicide in its depths. Also, it's the time after the KMT took over Taiwan, tourists began to gather around a newly built riverside park. Boat companies start running a business of rowing and cruising. One of them is named Love River Cruise. However, a typhoon blew off the signboard of the shop, with only the first two characters "Love River" left on it. Nowadays it has become the official name of the river.[2]
Love River was designated the official name in 1972.[3] Previously, in 1968, the Kaohsiung mayor, Yang Chin-hu, had unsuccessfully tried to put forward an alternative of Jen Ai River – to commemorate the birthday of Chiang Kai-Shek.[3]
Treatment
In 1979, the government started to clean the river. The water was black and had a sewer-like odor. A set of floodgates were built on the river to capture trash and sewage and send it to a treatment plant. Unfortunately, the system only works from October to April because in the rainy season, May to September, the treatment system cannot cope with the increased flow and the floodgates must be opened, sending pollution into the lower stretch of the Love River. (The river here is tidal and so is safe to swim in the dry season.)
In 2008, the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival was held along the Love River. Since then, the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival becomes the most popular tourist attraction in Kaohsiung City every year. The festival usually begins a few days before the Lantern Festival and crosses the Western Valentine's Day on February 14 and ends after the Lantern Festival. The festival includes water dance, fireworks and art installations of lights and lanterns.
Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boat Festival is an important holiday and event in Taiwan. Many cities conduct dragon boat races and the Love River is the venue for Kaohsiung. In the 2009 World Games the dragon boat race has included in the competition.
On November 24, 2018, the Kuomintang mayoral candidate Han Kuo-yu was elected mayor of Kaohsiung. On December 25, 2018, an inauguration ceremony was held on the banks of Love River.[5]
^ abFrancis Chia-Hui Lin (9 January 2015). Heteroglossic Asia: The Transformation of Urban Taiwan. Routledge. pp. 126. Please also refer to footnotes on page 143. ISBN978-1-317-62638-1.
^Articles> The River Running Through It: Kaohsiung'S Love River.
^"Han Kuo-yu Sworn In as Kaohsiung Mayor|韓國瑜就職典禮 首開先例選在愛河畔".
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Love River.
Wilma Chou, , Taiwan Journal, August 23, 2002
August 18, 2023
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The Love River or Ai River simplified Chinese 爱河 traditional Chinese 愛河 pinyin Ai He Pe h ōe ji Ai ho is a river canal in southern Taiwan It originates in Renwu District Kaohsiung City and flows 12 kilometers 7 5 mi through Kaohsiung to Kaohsiung Harbor Love River is the spine of Kaohsiung playing a similar role to the River Thames of London It is of great cultural significance to the people of Kaohsiung and plays an important role in its economy and tourism A riverside park the Love River Park runs along the riverbank in downtown Kaohsiung City A night market operates in the park and there are three outdoor cafes often with live bands Boats which hold about fifteen people take tourists up and down the river The scenery is enhanced by attractive city structures near the river such as the Holy Rosary Cathedral Kaohsiung Bridge and the Kaohsiung District Court Cultural events such as concerts and the Lantern Festival are often held by the river Love RiverLove River in Downtown KaohsiungNative nameAi He Chinese LocationCountryTaiwanCityKaohsiungPhysical characteristicsSource locationRenwu District Kaohsiung CityMouthTaiwan Strait locationKaohsiung coordinates22 37 25 N 120 17 23 E 22 62361 N 120 28972 E 22 62361 120 28972 elevation0 ft 0 m Length7 46 mi 12 01 km Basin size21 62 sq mi 56 0 km2 Discharge locationKaohsiung HarborBasin featuresTributaries leftHoubi Channel rightTa Kang CreekThe Love River was once heavily polluted when raw sewage and industrial waste water flowed untreated into the river Recent efforts by the city government to divert the waste water to the treatment plant in Cijin District has resulted in significantly improved water quality Love River is now used for sightseeing and there are duck boats love boats and gondola rides for tourists to enjoy the city view In 2018 mayor Han Kuo yu proposed that a ferris wheel be built on the bank of Love River to create a romance industry and improve the economy 1 Sailboats on the Love River Contents 1 History 2 Name 3 Treatment 4 Tributaries 5 Festivals and Events 5 1 Lantern Festival 5 2 Dragon Boat Festival 5 3 Kaohsiung World Games 5 4 2018 Kaohsiung mayor s inauguration ceremony 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditBefore the urban development of the area the river flowed in a wide and flat channel used for irrigation and surrounded by farms During the Qing dynasty it was called the Takao River In 1895 the Japanese dredged the river and turned it into a canal to transport lumber from Southeast Asia Embankments levees were built on the river and in 1908 Kaohsiung Harbor was constructed at the mouth of the Love River replacing the mangrove forests In 1945 Taiwan fell under the control of the Republic of China and the riversides became parks However as Taiwan s economy switched from agricultural to industrial the river began to get increasingly polluted The first incident of pollution was halfway through the Japanese occupation of Taiwan when paper mills ejected waste into the river The urbanization created more waste and in 1965 raw sewage began to flow into the river when an export processing zone was created Name EditIt was originally called Takao River from the Makato language of the Pingpu tribe and later the Kaohsiung River In the late 1940s the name Love River came into popular usage after a pair of lovers died by suicide in its depths Also it s the time after the KMT took over Taiwan tourists began to gather around a newly built riverside park Boat companies start running a business of rowing and cruising One of them is named Love River Cruise However a typhoon blew off the signboard of the shop with only the first two characters Love River left on it Nowadays it has become the official name of the river 2 Love River was designated the official name in 1972 3 Previously in 1968 the Kaohsiung mayor Yang Chin hu had unsuccessfully tried to put forward an alternative of Jen Ai River to commemorate the birthday of Chiang Kai Shek 3 Treatment EditIn 1979 the government started to clean the river The water was black and had a sewer like odor A set of floodgates were built on the river to capture trash and sewage and send it to a treatment plant Unfortunately the system only works from October to April because in the rainy season May to September the treatment system cannot cope with the increased flow and the floodgates must be opened sending pollution into the lower stretch of the Love River The river here is tidal and so is safe to swim in the dry season Tributaries EditTa Kang Creek Houbi Channel 4 Kaohsiung Night view along the Love River Ferry rides are popular along the Love River Hesi Road becomes lively at night View of the River from Jhongjheng Bridge Hesi Road early morning Love River early morning Sailboats on the Love River Night viewFestivals and Events EditLantern Festival Edit In 2008 the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival was held along the Love River Since then the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival becomes the most popular tourist attraction in Kaohsiung City every year The festival usually begins a few days before the Lantern Festival and crosses the Western Valentine s Day on February 14 and ends after the Lantern Festival The festival includes water dance fireworks and art installations of lights and lanterns Dragon Boat Festival Edit Dragon Boat Festival is an important holiday and event in Taiwan Many cities conduct dragon boat races and the Love River is the venue for Kaohsiung In the 2009 World Games the dragon boat race has included in the competition Kaohsiung World Games Edit In 2009 the World Games hosted by the Kaohsiung City Government and the Love River becomes the first dragon boat race venue 2018 Kaohsiung mayor s inauguration ceremony Edit On November 24 2018 the Kuomintang mayoral candidate Han Kuo yu was elected mayor of Kaohsiung On December 25 2018 an inauguration ceremony was held on the banks of Love River 5 References Edit 魯永明 2018 11 22 韓國瑜推愛情摩天輪 台師大教授林保淳 不是天馬行空 UDN 聯合新聞網 Love River Round Taiwan Round a b Francis Chia Hui Lin 9 January 2015 Heteroglossic Asia The Transformation of Urban Taiwan Routledge pp 126 Please also refer to footnotes on page 143 ISBN 978 1 317 62638 1 Articles gt The River Running Through It Kaohsiung S Love River Han Kuo yu Sworn In as Kaohsiung Mayor 韓國瑜就職典禮 首開先例選在愛河畔 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Love River Wilma Chou Kaohsiung City s Love River brought back from the dead Taiwan Journal August 23 2002 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Love River amp oldid 1134568165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
