Love River

Love River
Love River in Downtown Kaohsiung
Native name	Ai He (Chinese)
Location
Country	Taiwan
City	Kaohsiung
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Renwu District, Kaohsiung City
Mouth	Taiwan Strait
• location	Kaohsiung
• coordinates	22°37′25″N 120°17′23″E / 22.62361°N 120.28972°E / 22.62361; 120.28972
• elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Length	7.46 mi (12.01 km)
Basin size	21.62 sq mi (56.0 km2)
Discharge
• location	Kaohsiung Harbor
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Houbi Channel
• right	Ta Kang Creek

The Love River or Ai River (simplified Chinese: 爱河; traditional Chinese: 愛河; pinyin: Ài Hé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ài-hô) is a river (canal) in southern Taiwan. It originates in Renwu District, Kaohsiung City, and flows 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) through Kaohsiung to Kaohsiung Harbor. Love River is the spine of Kaohsiung, playing a similar role to the River Thames of London. It is of great cultural significance to the people of Kaohsiung and plays an important role in its economy and tourism. A riverside park, the Love River Park, runs along the riverbank in downtown Kaohsiung City. A night market operates in the park, and there are three outdoor cafés, often with live bands. Boats which hold about fifteen people take tourists up and down the river. The scenery is enhanced by attractive city structures near the river, such as the Holy Rosary Cathedral, Kaohsiung Bridge, and the Kaohsiung District Court. Cultural events such as concerts and the Lantern Festival are often held by the river.

The Love River was once heavily polluted, when raw sewage and industrial waste water flowed untreated into the river. Recent efforts by the city government to divert the waste water to the treatment plant in Cijin District has resulted in significantly improved water quality. Love River is now used for sightseeing, and there are duck boats, love boats and gondola rides for tourists to enjoy the city view. In 2018, mayor Han Kuo-yu proposed that a ferris wheel be built on the bank of Love River to create a romance industry and improve the economy.^[1]