The Great Tipsy Hotel
3 Drinks × 5 Guests × 90 Minutes
The Great Tipsy is an immersive experience housed in Kaohsiung’s Hamasing Trading Building, a structure with a deep historical heritage. Over the course of 90 minutes, you will traverse four floors, drink three tipsy cocktails, and meet five guests who have long remained in this space. It is part theatrical performance, part interactive storytelling, and part journey through a building that holds memories within its walls.
Everyone who has visited will remember someone; who will you remember?
Time moves differently inside. You will be situated within the past, present, and future, pushing open door after door to meet him and his passion, some guests who cannot leave, and those who have lingered in your memories for a long time. Some yearnings only happen here; some words can only be told here. It is an experience designed to unsettle, comfort, and provoke—and one that leaves a lasting impression long after you step back into the streets of Gushan District.
A Classic Restart Recognized by the “Golden Point Design Award” and the “German Red Dot Design Award”
The Great Tipsy first premiered in Taipei in 2019, with a cumulative total of over 55,000 people entering the experience. One out of every two guests walked out of the hotel in tears. The production’s accolades reflect the care behind its design: it has been recognized by both the Golden Point Design Award and the German Red Dot Design Award. Now, after several years, it returns in an upgraded form in Kaohsiung.
Returning visitors have shared their recollections:
“After it ended, I still couldn’t get enough; my mood has been shaken these few days, but I choose to continue being tipsy in my dreams.”
“The problems the guests faced touched upon things I have always been afraid to face.”
“As for what the answer to the question truly is, I think it varies from person to person; the guests who cannot leave make me believe that every choice has a reason for existing.”
If you missed the Taipei run, this is your opportunity. In 2026, The Great Tipsy will be available in Kaohsiung, with an upgraded version of the experience running for over a year.
Event Details
- Event Dates: 2025/10/01 – 2026/12/31
- Event Location: Hamasing Trading Building (No. 5, Linhai 3rd Rd., Gushan Dist., Kaohsiung City)
- Transportation Information: 1-minute walk from Hamasing MRT Station Exit 2 / 5-minute walk from Hamasing Light Rail Station Exit 2
What is the Hamasing Trading Building?
The Hamasing Trading Building is a commercial building in Kaohsiung’s Hamasen district, the area around the old harbor and railway terminus. It was built in the early 20th century, when the district handled trade in sugar, rice, and timber between the port and the rest of southern Taiwan. The name “Hamasing” comes from the old local designation for the area. The district’s position between the sea and the rail line made it a practical hub for shipping agents, wholesalers, and other merchants.
For decades, the building was used for the routine work of that trade. Shipping agents and wholesalers kept offices there; cargo was documented, boxes inspected, and transactions closed. Travelers and dockworkers moved through its verandas, and the building’s design reflected these functions. Wide verandas shaded the interior, deep-set windows admitted light without direct heat, and the Japanese-colonial detailing gave the facade a formal, durable appearance appropriate for a place where business agreements were made.
The building later lost its commercial role and fell into decline. A recent restoration returned the exterior and main structure to their original condition, while adapting the interior for a new use. It now houses The Great Tipsy Hotel. The hotel’s design uses sound, scent, and stagecraft to evoke the trade routes that once passed through the district. The building no longer stores crates or ledgers, but that history remains visible in its proportions and planning, and it now provides the context for a different kind of hospitality.
