Keelung: A City Born Looking Out to Sea When you arrive in Keelung, it is easy to think that you are simply looking at a port city in northern Taiwan: mountains very close by, streets that climb and descend, frequent rain, ships coming and going, and a harbor that constantly appears between the buildings. But Keelung’s sea is not simply … Read More
A JOURNEY FROM FO GUANG SHAN TO MIAOKOU A route to understand what you are seeing, not just to take photographs In the previous article, we talked about a city built around the sea and how its history is connected to the people who arrived here, the communities they formed, and the beliefs that gradually shaped life in Keelung. Now … Read More
Searching for Moon Goddesses, Finding Celestial Maidens. Download Article PDF [link] Author: Tang Long. Local Cultural Advisor: Mila, S. Pictures by: Olivia, Tang Long & Zhong. Figure 1A.] (Above) Celestial Maidens (Lasses of the Divine Court). Heavenly Palace Corridor – [Photoshop by Tang Long]. Abstract After recording the night parade on the 14th night of the 8th lunar … Read More
Learn everything you need to know about the Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival at this newly opened museum!
In a city where the rain is a constant companion, a clear sky feels almost ceremonial. When Guillaume and I woke up to a horizon of uninterrupted blue, our carefully planned café workday dissolved without hesitation. In Keelung, sunshine doesn’t feel like a backdrop to productivity; it feels like a reason to step outside and move. This is how our … Read More
Keelung Art Stroll Keelung is known for rain, seafood, and a lively port—but tucked between markets, alleys, and hillside stairways is another side of the city: street art. Keelung is a city of color, as you can read about in this previous blog post, and to prove it, playful illustrations and art pieces have transformed unexpected corners into miniature outdoor … Read More
Download Article PDF [link] The Lín (林) and Wú (吳) Families. When the Hàn (漢) migrants settled in Keelung, Taiwan, during the Qīngcháo (清朝) within the early sixteenth-century, they brought with them their Chinese customs and traditions (Lín, 2025). There are now still twenty-one families, which comprise fifteen clans, who trace their descendancy to these settlers (Lín, 2025). It is … Read More
Keelung for Bookworms Tucked between misty green hills and a bustling harbor, Keelung—Taiwan’s storied “Rainy Port”—has long inspired writers. From maritime legends and ghostly folk tales to contemporary fiction and vivid travel sketches, this coastal city offers a world of stories waiting to be discovered. For story-tellers and book enthusiasts, Keelung is the perfect place to turn a rainy afternoon … Read More
Download Article PDF [link] Introduction Duānwǔ jié (端午節), also referred to as Lóngzhōu jié (龍舟節), literally translating as Dragon Boat Festival, is celebrated as a national holiday in China (Yuan, 2009), as well as Taiwan. As a traditional Hàn (漢) Chinese celebration, it is calculated by the dates of the lunar calendar (Nónglì, 農曆) and always occurs on the … Read More
Be a traveler, not just a tourist By default, we are all tourists when we visit a new country as foreigners. But throughout my many months of travel around the world, I have increasingly strived to not merely be a tourist but a traveler. What that means is to truly experience the destination and not “just” visit it. Immersing yourself … Read More
