Southern Taiwan: A Different Lens on Meetings & Conventions

Tainan: Historic Layers, Modern Intent

Tainan, often described as Taiwan’s cultural capital, has long held a unique position in the island’s national identity. With a history stretching back 400 years—first under Dutch colonial influence, then Ming loyalists, and finally Qing administration—it is the oldest city in Taiwan. For international audiences accustomed to the millennia-old histories, four centuries may seem modest, but in East Asia’s fast-developing urban environments, this makes Tainan an outlier—offering a depth of narrative increasingly rare in the region’s megacities.

The opening of the ICC Tainan in 2022 marked a new phase in the city’s engagement with the global business events community. Designed to host exhibitions and conferences of international calibre, the venue stands a short distance from the Old Town, positioning it as a gateway between tradition and innovation. While the centre itself offers state-of-the-art infrastructure, its true value arguably lies in how seamlessly it integrates with its surroundings. For delegates, a visit to ICC Tainan isn’t only about business; it’s an immersion into a layered urban fabric—punctuated by temples, markets, and preserved historical sites like Anping Fort and Chihkan Tower.

Opportunities for post-event social functions further enhance Tainan’s appeal. Delegates can, for instance, host banquets at the Tainan Art Museum, located in the heart of the old city, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the area’s unique traditional atmosphere. Meanwhile, the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, with its colonial architecture and tranquil gardens, is an inspiring setting for literary-themed gatherings or cultural workshops. The Tainan Cultural Center, which combines modern facilities with historical context, is also ideal for larger social events or exhibitions that benefit from a culturally rich backdrop.

What anchors Tainan’s appeal is not heritage alone. The city has increasingly become a node for thematic events tied to culture, design, and regional sustainability—often drawing on its strong local identity. This creates an atmosphere where international content is refracted through a deeply local lens, producing events that are more reflective than performative.

Kaohsiung: Industrial Muscle, Urban Rebirth

Just a short high-speed train ride south, Kaohsiung presents a different model—one rooted in transformation. Once the gritty powerhouse of Taiwan’s port economy, the city has in recent decades reoriented itself toward technology, culture, and sustainability. This transformation is nowhere more visible than in Asia’s New Bay Area, a large-scale urban redevelopment project that seeks to combine industry, innovation, and public space in a coherent urban vision.

At the heart of this district is the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center, opened in 2014 and still the only waterfront convention facility in Taiwan. Though many venues around the world boast seaside locations, what sets this one apart is how deeply it connects with its maritime surroundings. In Kaohsiung, the sea is not merely a scenic backdrop—it’s a dynamic part of the city’s identity, linking its rich marine economy with forward-looking ambitions in green energy, biotechnology, and smart manufacturing.

This ocean-centric character extends to the event experience itself: activities can spill out onto the expansive lawn behind the center, while the adjacent marina opens up possibilities for hosting gatherings on yachts or incorporating water in any way you wish into social programmes. It’s this seamless integration of ocean, innovation, and infrastructure that defines Kaohsiung as a true ocean city.

Beyond the conventional meeting venues, Kaohsiung offers an eclectic range of social event locations. Cijin Island, just a short ferry ride away, combines sandy beaches, a historic lighthouse, and vibrant seafood markets, making it perfect for casual networking events or outdoor team-building activities. The Pier-2 Art Center—a repurposed industrial district turned cultural hotspot—offers flexible event space in a setting that sparks creativity and innovation, ideal for exhibitions, product launches, or design-focused forums.

The city has also invested heavily in arts and culture infrastructure to diversify its appeal. The Weiwuying National Center for the Performing Arts, located in a former military base, is now one of Asia’s most ambitious cultural complexes. With its wave-like architecture and immersive performance spaces, it embodies the blend of artistry and vision that defines modern Kaohsiung.

Further south, Kaohsiung’s rivers and port give way to the tropical landscapes of Kenting—a renowned getaway just two to three hours away. With its golden beaches, serene national parks, and relaxed pace, Kenting offers an appealing option for post-conference retreats, executive offsites, or leisure extensions. While primarily known as a tourist destination, Kenting also provides small-scale venues for business gatherings in a peaceful, rejuvenating setting.

A Shift in Perspective

What unites both Tainan and Kaohsiung is not flashiness or scale—but a sense of regional realism. Southern Taiwan is indeed carving out its own space in the business events ecosystem, and it’s all about nuance, experience, and locality—traits that are becoming increasingly important in a post-pandemic environment where audiences seek authenticity and intentionality in event design.

Southern Taiwan’s academic and industrial hubs—such as the Southern Taiwan Science Park—also support innovation-focused events, drawing on Tainan’s strengths in biotechnology and precision machinery, and Kaohsiung’s emerging leadership in AI and smart technologies.

This strategic rebalancing may reflect broader geopolitical and logistical trends. Taiwan is navigating an increasingly complex global position, and cities like Tainan and Kaohsiung offer planners an opportunity to engage with the island beyond its capital.

At a time when resilience, decentralisation, and regional relevance are gaining traction, southern Taiwan is positioning itself not as a substitute for the obvious, but as an alternative that makes sense.

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