Cijin Tunnel

Cijin Tunnel gettyhesse (Atlas Obscura User)

Initially built during the Japanese colonial era as a military tunnel, Cijin Tunnel, also called the “Tunnel of Stars,” is now known to locals in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for its psychedelic art.

The tunnel’s walls are painted with murals of sea life, and all along the walls and ceiling are hundreds of LED lights that constantly change colors, creating a hallucinatory experience.

The tunnel is located in Cijin District, a small island in Kaohsiung Harbor, where it connects Cijin Beach to a bike trail on the other side of Cihou Mountain. The tunnel lies directly underneath a Qing-era fort nestled on the slope. Also on Cihou Mountain stands the 19th-century Kaohsiung Lighthouse, a popular tourist attraction.

Know Before You Go

The tunnel is available 24 hours to pedestrians and cyclists, but the last ferry to the mainland is at 2 am. Should you miss it, the first ferry in the morning is at 5 am.