Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal () is a cruise ship terminal located in Lingya District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It forms part of the Asia New Bay Area redevelopment project.
The terminal has a total floor area of and consists of 15 above-ground floors and two basement levels. The structure is primarily composed of a steel frame, with a design inspired by a silver-white ship hull and chimney form.
The facility can accommodate two large cruise ships of up to 225,000 gross tons simultaneously, each capable of carrying approximately 5,400 passengers and 2,400 crew members. The terminal has a passenger handling capacity of up to 2,000 people per hour.
The design emphasises integration between port transportation functions and the surrounding urban environment, while also supporting commercial and leisure activities along the waterfront.
An international design competition for the terminal was completed on 10 December 2010, with the winning proposal submitted by Taiwan-based Zong Mai Architects in collaboration with the American firm Reiser + Umemoto.
On 27 August 2013, Chun Yuan Construction was awarded the main construction contract. Construction began on 9 November 2013 and was completed on 31 August 2022. The terminal officially opened on 6 March 2023.
The terminal was designed by Reiser + Umemoto (RUR Architecture) as a multifunctional piece of infrastructure combining cruise operations, public space, and commercial functions into a single integrated complex.
The design is based on the concept of âÂÂdynamic three-dimensional urbanismâÂÂ, in which circulation, program, and structure are layered vertically to separate secure passenger flows from public access areas while maintaining spatial continuity.
A continuous elevated public promenade runs along the waterfront, allowing pedestrian movement to flow uninterrupted above the terminalâÂÂs operational zones. Below this level, cruise and ferry functions are organized to maintain security and efficiency for embarking and disembarking passengers.
The building is composed of three principal elements: the cruise terminal, a semi-outdoor public plaza, and office facilities, arranged to create a transitional space between city and port. The undulating roof form and shifting volumes accommodate different programmatic requirements while producing a distinctive, fluid silhouette.
The buildingâÂÂs flowing, organic form has been described as resembling a ship hull or a whale, and has been referred to as a âÂÂwhale-shapedâ structure in official publications.
Architecturally, the structure emphasises the relationship between land and sea, functioning as both a transportation hub and a civic waterfront space that integrates urban activity with port infrastructure.
The terminal is within walking distance south of the Cruise Terminal light rail station on the Kaohsiung Light Rail.