Nestled between Zhongzheng Park and Ershawan fortress, amidst surrounding hikes and forests, stands the Keelung 228 memorial. In its subtle but powerful presence, it recalls a difficult past, and reminds locals and tourists alike of the struggles Taiwanese people have overcome, and the power of peace in our current times. Exploring Keelung through solo walks I recently took a walk … Read More
What is a container? Container transportation is an industry that seems far away from ordinary people. But if you think about it, a container ship in a port, a container truck running on the highway, or a container standing in the suburbs are not that far away from our daily life. So, what exactly is a container? How does it … Read More
The Sino-French war This document consists of correspondence between a young cabin boy in the French navy during the Sino-French War between August 1884 and June 1885. The letters are mainly addressed to his mother and occasionally to one of his friends. The cabin boy recounts the life on the ship, the battles, the waiting, and his relationship with his … Read More
Jian Temple: an unassuming temple, found in Keelung, nestled deep into the beautiful ecosystem of Hope Hills. Such a temple is often overlooked, though, especially being in the presence of the iconic Big Buddha Temple. This does nothing to detract from its beauty; instead, to those curious few, Jian Temple opens its doors, reciting age-old stories from within, and in … Read More
Walking through the villages surrounding Keelung all the way from Yehliu 野柳, Heping Island 和平島, and Badouzi 八斗子 to Longdong 龍洞 and Aodi 澳底, the golden braids of suntanned “stone flower vegetable” 石花菜 cover the empty street corners. Occasionally, there is a sign by the road advertising “stone flower jelly” 石花凍, sold by the enigmatic “sea women” 海女, whose “culture” … Read More
Not really often but sometimes, I still catch familiar sounds of our language or smell Vietnamese’s favorite food while wandering on Taiwan’s road. That is a very touching moment for me when traveling in another country. Being curious, I started looking more closely and that was the way an interesting story began. Promising land for Vietnamese women During the period … Read More
Formerly Taiwan’s public places, schools, parks, and government offices featured approximately 45,000 statues of the former president of the Republic of China (ROC), Chiang Kai-shek.[1] Although the removal of Chiang’s statues and symbols of oppression began in the late 1980s and 1990s, thousands of statues still stood in public spaces well into the 21st century. Since the start of Taiwan’s … Read More
The Culture of Traditional Markets: History Lessons from a Butcher in Huilong Market Culture of Taiwan’s Traditional Markets | Characteristics of Taiwan’s Traditional Markets | Disappearing Traditional Markets | History of Taiwan’s Traditional Markets Compared its heydays, Huilong Market is finding it harder to attract passerby and a steady stream of patrons. The vendors instead rely on their regulars to … Read More
Keelung is one of the few places I’ve visited where I’ve spent days without seeing another tourist, and it’s one of the reasons I’ve loved staying here. Sometimes it can be hard to get off the beaten track and find somewhere truly authentic; yet Keelung is a place that I feel really offers that experience (as well as being very … Read More
There’s something so exciting about escaping the busy streets of a city and discovering a piece of forgotten and abandoned history. If you’re interested in urban exploration, the ruins of this Keelung’s abandoned mansion called the Khóo Tsú-song Old House (Qingyu Hall) are well worth a visit! Walking through the streets of Keelung, I had noticed a few eerie-looking old … Read More
