The Most Fortified City Keelung is the most fortified part of Taiwan.[1] The landscape is a strategic masterpiece evidenced by its history of defensive positions in each era of occupation. For example, the Japanese occupation beginning in 1895 spawned nearly 700 bomb shelters resulting in Keelung’s claim to the highest density of hiding spots in all of Taiwan. [2] Hidden … Read More
Finding a little quiet time for yourself in Keelung After a full day of visiting Keelung’s Renai day market, the E-square mall, and the many stores, cafes, and little restaurants in the downtown core, you might want to find a little place to sit down and have a little quiet time for yourself. Recommend: Keelung’s Lido Butterfly Garden Keelung’s … Read More
4 Historical Lighthouses in Keelung Lighthouses have long had a unique hold on the human imagination. They are neither of the sea nor of the land. They exist in a liminal zone on the border between the elements, between the known world of houses, streets and hills and the dark, unknowable depths of the ocean. On the one hand, they … Read More
There is so much to see and do in and around Keelung. The city itself is home to a lively fish market, bustling night markets and a long multicultural history. One place of particular interest is the lovely Heping Island. There are so many things to do on Heping Island. With its beautiful coastline, park and fort, it is worth … Read More
What do fallen empires leave behind? The Keelung remains from previous empires that can be found around town are astonishing. In a scene of the movie “The Life of Brian”, a zealot asked an assembled group of other zealots: “What have the Romans given us?” The round answers in turn: “The aqueduct?” “And the sanitation.” Et cetera. Finally, the zealot … Read More
Have you ever wondered what happened to the Shinto shrines built by the Japanese colonial regime in Taiwan after World War II? Why were there Shinto shrines in Taiwan? There existed a de facto state religion in the Japanese Empire, the so-called State Shinto 国家 神道 (kokka shintou). In Japanese colonies, as well as areas occupied by Japan during the … Read More
Best Taipei day trip: Why Keelung is the best day trip from Taipei Taipei is the perfect city to escape from, located just a short distance beautiful mountains and sleepy seaside villages, so there are many day trips to choose from. Keelung is a city often overlooked by tourists, yet it has so many wonderful things to offer someone looking … Read More
Similarities in Faraway Places It is a rare wintry sunny morning in the often rainy port town of Keelung. I ascend the rooftop of Keelung For A Walk, sticky aromas of coffee and cigarettes clinging around me as I gaze upon the hills that cradle the town and welcome in the sea air. The morning sun graces us with her … Read More
Busy, noisy, rainy, and smelly – this is what you’ll hear about Keelung from locals and tourists alike, and all of this is true. Due to its past and present as a major port in Taiwan, Keelung isn’t a city shaped for the kind of easy, fancy tourism you read about in guidebooks. The famous touristic spot in Keelung: Miaokou … Read More
Keelung’s Hidden Museum: Mayor’s Mansion If you’re tired of touristy museums, Keelung Mayor’s Mansion, painted with decades of history, is perfect for you. Anyone who has spent some time on walks through Taipei or other cities in Taiwan will surely have noticed the countless abandoned and decayed old Japanese homes and thought: It’s a shame that nobody takes care of … Read More
