Is Kaohsiung Safe in January 2026?

Kaohsiung's Liuhe Night Market and Ruifeng Night Market see targeted phone and bag snatching in the dense pedestrian crowds. Thieves work in pairs — one creates a distraction or body contact while the other takes the item. The narrow lanes between stalls create conditions where movement is restricted and snatchers can disappear into the crowd quickly.

How to avoid: Use a wrist strap on your phone in night market crowds. Keep bags zipped and in front of your body. Be alert to anyone who bumps into you from behind — check your pockets immediately. Avoid holding your phone at your side while walking through narrow market lanes.

Some taxi drivers at Kaohsiung International Airport take circuitous routes to the city center or fail to use the meter, quoting fixed fares that substantially exceed what a metered ride would cost. The airport is relatively close to central Kaohsiung, making inflated fixed fares particularly unjustifiable. Visitors unfamiliar with the layout are most vulnerable.

How to avoid: Use the official metered taxi rank outside arrivals or take the Kaohsiung MRT from the airport directly into the city center — the station is connected to the terminal. If taking a taxi, insist on the meter before entering. The metered fare to the city center should be approximately NTD 200–350.

Seafood restaurants along the harbor in the Cijin and Gushan ferry areas price many items by weight without clear signage, resulting in bills significantly higher than visitors anticipated. Fish and shellfish presented live in tanks are sold per jin (600g) with prices displayed in small characters, and portions ordered casually can cost several times what the customer expected.

How to avoid: Always ask the price per unit and the approximate total before ordering any live seafood or weight-priced items. Request that the restaurant weigh the item and show you the price on the scale before cooking. Restaurants one or two streets back from the waterfront generally charge significantly less for equivalent seafood.

Liuhe Night Market is Kaohsiung's most tourist-facing night market, and certain stalls apply tourist pricing above posted rates or give incorrect change to distracted customers. Some vendors quote prices verbally that differ from the posted menu once the bill arrives. The busy, crowded environment makes it easy to lose track of transactions.

How to avoid: Point to menu prices before ordering to confirm what you are paying. Count your change before walking away from any stall. Learning "how much is this?" in Mandarin (duoshao qian?) and having the vendor show you the price rather than quote it verbally reduces discrepancies.

Foreign visitors and expats in Kaohsiung are targeted through LINE messaging app, where scammers posing as local friends or romantic interests introduce them to fake investment platforms, particularly cryptocurrency or forex schemes. Victims are shown fabricated profit dashboards and encouraged to invest increasing amounts. Withdrawals are denied once significant money is deposited.

How to avoid: Be skeptical of investment opportunities introduced through messaging apps by people you have only met online. Never send money or cryptocurrency to anyone you have not met in person and verified thoroughly. Consult a licensed financial advisor for investments.