Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) has now renovated and repurposed two 1950s-era warehouse buildings (Warehouses 9-2 and 8-2) into an integrated new terminal for cruise passengers and port visitors. The renovated facility, in combination with adjacent waterfront leisure and recreation facilities, forms the all-new Port of Kaohsiung Penglai International Cruise Terminal (PICT).
Located in the port’s Penglai Commercial District, the terminal is a short walk from both Pier-2 Art District and Kaohsiung Port Warehouse No. 2 (KW2). The renovated facility adds nearly 900 m2 of arrival / departure processing space and some 700 m2 of new baggage claim space, and provides sufficient space for 14 manned immigration counters as well as 4 biometric e-Gates. The new terminal building’s larger immigration, waiting, rest, and activity spaces improve comfort for cruise passengers and enhance the quality of terminal amenities. Together with the nearby Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal (behind Wharf Nos. 19 and 20), the PICT sits at the entrance to scenic Love River, welcoming cruise ship visitors to engage with all the fun and energy the city beyond has on offer.
Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal, the nation’s only certified sustainable building designed with aesthetically curved curtain walls, operates 22 manned immigration counters and 4 biometric e-Gates. With both cruise terminals now fully operational, Port of Kaohsiung can handle up to four international cruise ships at a time, with high capacity public transportation systems, including the city’s Circular Light Rail system (easily accessed from PICT at Dayi Pier-2 Station and from KPCT at Cruise Terminal Station), ready to whisk passengers to popular attractions across the Kaohsiung metropolitan area.
Warehouse 9-2, originally used for lumber and plywood storage and shipping, was retooled and repurposed as a passenger clearance station with the decline of Taiwan’s forestry industry, reopening as the Penglai International Passenger Terminal in October 2014. Responding to the steady growth in both Kaohsiung City tourism and international cruise ship arrivals, Port of Kaohsiung planners proposed expanding the existing terminal by incorporating the adjacent Warehouse 8-2 building. Extant walls were removed, structural elements were reinforced, electrical systems were rewired, and the interior of the combined facility was completely refinished. Also, a central corridor was built to connect the two original buildings and an all-weather canopy was installed over the shuttle pickup / drop-off area for the convenience and comfort of travelers.
Operations at the newly completed PICT were inaugurated with the visit to Port of Kaohsiung by Holland-America Line’s MS Westerdam on March 8th of this year (2026). The smooth handling through the terminal of the 285m-long, 32.2m-wide Westerdam’s more than 1,900 passengers attests well to the newly reopened terminal’s world-class passenger handling capabilities.
Beyond its role as a key gateway for arriving and departing cruise ship passengers, TIPC hopes to establish the PICT as a popular draw for city residents and visitors as well. Thus, space on the second and third floor central corridor has been designated for use by retail businesses (e.g., cafes, F&B establishments, culture-creative shops) that will complement the “waterfront fun” theme envisioned for the district by the Port of Kaohsiung. The terminal as well as nearby keynote attractions such as the Pier-2 Art District, Great Harbor Bridge, Kaohsiung Music Center, Glory Pier, and Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal represent both the new centerpiece of Greater Kaohsiung tourism and a rising star in the East Asia port-city constellation.
Provided by：Construction Mgmt. & Engineering Dept., Port of Kaohsiung, TIPC
Contact Person：Chun-hao Chen, Supervisor
Telephone No.：886-7-5622259
E-mail Address：T02629@twport.com.tw
Image 1. Exterior view of the Penglai International Cruise Terminal
Image 2. Penglai International Cruise Terminal Main Hall
Image 3. Cruise passengers may easily walk from Penglai International Cruise Terminal to nearby attractions such as the Pier-2 Art District and Kaohsiung Port Warehouse No. 2 (KW2) complex
