Gaoping River

TRA bridge crossing the Gaoping River

Map of the Gaoping River watershed

The Kaoping or Gaoping River is a major river in Taiwan. It flows through Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County for 171 kilometres (106 mi), draining a basin of 3,285 square kilometres (1,268 sq mi), with an average discharge of 241 cubic metres per second (8,500 cu ft/s).

The river rises in forks in the southern part of the central Taiwan cordillera, several of which begin just south of Yushan. These forks combine near Provincial Highway No. 20 and flow southwards, past Liouguei and Gaoshu Townships. At Gaoshu, the river runs out of its canyon and the Ligang Cable-stayed Bridge crosses the Kaoping on the Second Southern Freeway {Now known as Formosa Fwy}, entering Pingtung City. It is the longest in Southeastern Asia with the second longest span in the world, measuring 2617 meters long. The tower is 183.5 meters tall (at the height of a 65-storied building). The side span is 180 meters long, while the main span is 330 meters long. After Pingtung, the Kaoping flows generally south about 20 kilometres (12 mi), emptying into the Taiwan Strait at Linyuan.

The Kaoping is one of the most extensively used watersheds of Taiwan, and is heavily polluted, especially in its lower course.

Tributaries

• Chishan River - Kaohsiung City, Pingtung County - 30km
• Ailiao River - Kaohsiung City, Pingtung County - 76km
• Wulo River - Pingtung County - 48km
• Fantzuliao River - Pingtung County - 26km
• Chokou River - Kaohsiung City - 59km
• Laonung River - Kaohsiung City - 100km
• Kumai River - Kaohsiung City - 48km

See also

• List of rivers in Taiwan