The 85 Sky Tower and the Kaohsiung City Hall are located here.

The district is named after a traditional community on the coast called "Lingyaliao" (苓雅寮; pinyin: Língyǎliáo; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lêng-ngá-liâu) or 苓仔寮 (Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lêng-á-liâu), after the similar-sounding 苓仔 (Pe̍h-ōe-jī: lêng-á), which refers to a place where fishermen would put their nets after use.

After 1945, the community was combined with "Guotianzi" (過田子), "Lingdeguan" (林德官), and "Wukuaicuo" (五塊厝) to form "Lienya District" (連雅區).

Traditionally, Lingya is divided into 4 areas, although they are rarely used today.

They are: Villages in the district are Boren, Lingzhou, Lingsheng, Lingzhong, Lingya, Lingtung, Chengbei, Chengxi, Chengtung, Yicheng, Guzhong, Tianxi, Renhe, Renzheng, Guangze, Meitian, Huatang, Rizhong, Puzhao, Hexu, Qinglang, Putian, Linfu, Linwei, Linan, Guanghua, Linxing, Linhua, Linxi, Linzhong, Linquan, Linnan, Zhongzheng, Shangyi, Tongqing, Kaixuan, Anxiang, Zoujie, Fushou, Funan, Wuquan, Minzhu, Linde, Lingui, Linrong, Yingming, Linjing, Zhaoyang, Fulong, Fuxiang, Fuhai, Fukang, Furen, Fude, Fuju, Futung, Fuxi, Yongkang, Zhengwen, Zhengyan, Zhengda, Wufu, Zhengxin, Zhengdao, Zhengyi, Zhengren, Wenchang, Jianjun and Weiwu Village.