Kaohsiung's 'Great Port Ice' festival to feature 50 vendors, historical tours

Kaohsiung is set to host its fifth "Great Port Ice" festival, a highly anticipated summer event showcasing over 50 popular ice cream and dessert brands. The festival will take place on July 18 and 19 at "Shinbin Station Front" next to the Hamaxing MRT station, running from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. This year's event promises a diverse array of treats, from traditional Taiwanese shaved ice to Italian gelato, Japanese kakigori, and Southeast Asian specialties.

Kaohsiung Mayor Kao Min-lin highlighted that "Great Port Ice" has become a signature summer tourism brand for the city, having attracted over 160,000 visitors in its previous four editions. Beyond the expansive ice cream market, the festival integrates with the Hamaxing commercial district and the Takao Historical Association. Visitors can join guided "Hamaxing Walking Tours" to explore the area's century-old history and urban allure, or participate in a "dessert-themed running tour" that combines sightseeing with tasting.

This year's vendor lineup features a mix of local favorites and international flavors. Notable local participants include the long-standing "Chih-Kan Ice City" from Cishan, "Taiwan Youth Banana Creative Workshop" promoting banana-based dishes, "Shan Heng Yi Shu" showcasing the unique flavors of Shanlin, and "Orchid Garden Little Angel Small Farmer Fruit Ice Cream" offering farm-fresh ingredients. Popular city brands like "Ice Tower" and "He Yuan Sliced Ice" will also present their signature creations. International offerings come from "Malaysian Daily," "MAMA Thai Milk Tea," "Sakura Japanese Shaved Ice," and "Frozen Heart Fried Ice Cream."

In addition to the ice cream, attendees can enjoy light meals from "Mishi Ka," a peach-flavored sparkling drink from "Deng Ba Mai Jiu" (a gold medalist at the World Sparkling Wine Competition), and grilled small squid from "Cijin Shun." A special promotion offers a "gift ice coupon" to fans of the K-pop group EXO who present their concert tickets, redeemable at the festival and participating Hamaxing businesses. The festival also features appearances by Japanese competitive eater Angela Sato and YouTuber Iku-sensei. A "Best Popular Ice Cream Award" voting event, in collaboration with the "Kaohsiung Digital Citizen" platform, allows attendees to cast their votes for their favorite vendor after completing a survey.

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Great Port Ice has become Kaohsiung's most representative summer tourism brand.