The aims of this study are to investigate and analyze the river terraces and alluvial fans of the Nantzuhsien River basin in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan. We will: (1) characterize the Nantzuhsien river terraces based on field data, (2) reconstruct the history of behavior of the Nantzuhsien river, (3) interpret and discuss the geomorphic evolution of the Nantzuhsien drainage basin. The upper and lower reaches of the Nantzuhsien River are divided by the Shiao-lin gorge. The terraces of the upper reaches, mostly alluvial fan terraces and strath terraces, are marked by continuity. The terraces of the lower reaches are mainly strath terraces that, are fragmented except for those developed downstream from Jia-shian. Field evidence shows that there are four stages of terrace development in this area, and their characteristics include: (1) river terraces are developed mainly in the eastern part of the drainage basin (2) the alluvial fan terraces are mainly developed in the upper reaches, and the strath terraces are mainly developed in the lower reaches, (3) four stages of terraces evolution can observed, with strath terraces and larger fan terraces found in the two earlier stages while only strath terraces are developed in the two later stages, (4) the height of the bedrock and the river downcutting show greater variations in the two earlier stages (5) the process of river downcutting is still progressing today.