Kenting Aquarium Chaos: My Wild Ride to Taiwan’s Southern Coast

So, I’ve been to Kenting twice. Honestly? Neither trip was a total blast.

My first visit was back in 2015. I was on a three-week work trip in Taiwan. I taught the same course three times! We hit Taipei, Taichung, then Kaohsiung. By the time I reached Kaohsiung, I was totally wiped. I mean, 2 AM bedtimes and 6 AM wake-ups? No beach for me. Instead, I just hopped on a bus. My goal? The Kenting Aquarium to see some corals.

The National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium is Taiwan’s biggest. It boasts the most diverse aquatic species. This massive aquarium has three main exhibition halls for you to explore:

①Taiwan Waters Pavilion: First, there’s the Taiwan Waters Pavilion. You’ll follow a “water droplet’s journey.” This shows you Taiwan’s super diverse aquatic ecosystems.

②Coral Kingdom Pavilion: Next, check out the Coral Kingdom Pavilion. Walk through the underwater tunnel. Here, you’ll see gorgeous corals and colorful tropical fish.

③World Waters Pavilion: Finally, there’s the World Waters Pavilion. This hall showcases ancient oceans and kelp forests. You’ll also see deep-sea creatures and polar marine life. They even offer special experiences! Think overnight stays or penguin care, but those cost extra.

My main goal at the aquarium was to see corals. Mission accomplished, I’d say! Besides the corals, two fish really caught my eye. One was the lionfish. The other? An ocellated eagle ray. They looked like they were smiling, seriously adorable!

FYI: This is a “Lionfish.” Word on the street is they’re venomous. Still, they’re pretty stunning!

Heads up: This is an “Ocellated Eagle Ray.” Seriously, it looks like it’s smiling. Super adorable, right?

The day I visited, the aquarium had a 3D show. It was all about the “History of Ocean Development.” They showed a dinosaur from some ancient era hunting. The 3D was so realistic. I seriously thought it was lunging at me! Its mouth was wide open, coming right for me.

Naturally, I let out a huge scream. All the little kids nearby started staring. Before I could even recover, an even bigger one charged! I screamed again, even louder. I totally ducked and hid on the floor.

By this point, everyone in the theater was looking at me. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about their weird looks. But I just couldn’t face a third attack! So, I literally crawled and scrambled out of that hall. I returned the 3D glasses and bolted back to Kaohsiung. No regrets, no looking back!

I recall a variety show, “Dad, Where Are We Going?”, that year. Zheng Jun and Tang Zhizhong took their kids for an overnight stay at the aquarium. I had planned to book that experience myself. After that 3D dinosaur ordeal? Nope. I decided to pass. I was just too scared!

My second Kenting trip was in April 2018. Another three-week business trip, same drill: Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung. I taught the same class in each city. This time, I had zero plans to see the ocean. However, a client from CHT changed everything. It all started a year earlier during a lecture…

Client: “Teacher, where are you from?”

Me: “Mainland China!”

Client: “…I know. But which province?”

Me: “Hebei Province.”

Client: “So, does the Yellow River run through your home?”

Me: “Well, the ‘He’ in Henan and Hebei does refer to the Yellow River. But it doesn’t flow through Hebei. It goes through Henan.” I remember this vividly. In elementary school geography, I specifically noted it. I was so bummed it didn’t flow past Hebei!

A little later, Client: “Teacher, is Shaolin Temple in Hebei?”

Me: “Shaolin Temple is also in Henan.”

Client: “Oh.”

One year later, same client. We were chatting after lunch.

Client: “Teacher, I remember you’re from Henan?”

My home is in Hebei, not Henan.

Client: “Oh… So, teacher, do you have an ocean near your home?”

It was just casual chatter. But that last question? It felt like a knife twisting in my heart! So, naturally, I had to see the ocean.

Here’s the thing: most Taiwanese folks aren’t crazy about Kenting. I get it. The public transport is a pain. From Kaohsiung, it’s at least a 3.5-hour bus ride. I left at 9 AM, ready for a day.

Forget Eluanbi, Taiwan’s southernmost tip. I didn’t even care about Baishawan, the famous beach from “Life of Pi.” I just got off at Nanwan. Then, I grabbed some instant noodles at 7-Eleven.

I didn’t explore further. I just kicked off my shoes and waded in the water right across the street. After about an hour, I was done. By 2 PM, I was on a bus heading straight back to Kaohsiung.

We got to Zuoying, I grabbed dinner, and finally made it back to my hotel. It was already 7 PM. That was a solid 10 hours of travel. I was absolutely exhausted!

Since I was mixing work and play, I had to stay in Kaohsiung. The trek to Kenting was a hassle. Consequently, my experience wasn’t ideal. However, my colleagues who specifically vacationed there actually stayed in Kenting. I heard they had a pretty good time. Our company’s hotel in Kaohsiung was the Grand Hi-Lai. It’s in the 85 Sky Tower. On clear days, the view of Kaohsiung Port from my window was actually quite stunning.

My Taiwanese colleagues grew up on an island. They can see the ocean within an hour’s drive! So, they always chuckled when I made a big fuss about seeing the sea. They’d always ask, “Why bother?”

On the other hand, my Beijing-born colleagues often challenged me. They’d say, “What’s so great about the ocean anyway?” I always had my excuses ready. I’d claim curiosity, or that a fortune teller said I had a “great ocean water” destiny.

However, the real reason hit me when I took my parents to Taiwan. They were absolutely thrilled to see the ocean! Turns out, genetics truly is the most fundamental reason.

 

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