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
As tourists, it’s easy to get caught up running from one attraction to another, barely processing what’s happening around us. But today, we’re going to take a slow and quiet stroll, retracing the steps of the industrial miners. I hope this article can provide some guidance for smaller attractions and stops in Keelung that you can visit while enjoying a … Read More
Swimming in Winter? I arrived in Keelung at the start of winter in Taiwan (January), and I was told that it would be too cold to swim in the ocean just outside of my window (more or less). I, of course, felt an inconsolable sadness after hearing this as one of my favorite hobbies was to swim with aquatic … 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
There are only a handful of countries in the world that have survived to the modern day while having been coveted by so many major powers. Some famous ones like Poland springs to mind. Sandwiched between larger neighbors and even disappearing off the map for a good century, they’ve had a less than enviable history. Or Vietnam, a country that’s … 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
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
The Rich Taiwanese Culture During the warm season in Keelung, you can enjoy the real Taiwanese culture and it’s lively atmosphere. The streets are populated by merry celebrations such as the carnival procession in memory of the birth of Keelung harbour. You can especially see the life of religious festivals brightening small towns like this. These events are kept quite secret, and … Read More
Visit Keelung Not so long ago, Keelung was known as the town of butterflies. What I like about this city, although it is not as big as Taipei, is that you can find everything: typical city attractions like squares, restaurants and shops, historic buildings and markets are just a short walk away. But if you want to get away from … Read More
Surrounded by high mountains and a beautiful ocean there are endless things to do in Keelung. One thing Keelung is perfectly situated for is hiking. A short thirty minute bus ride (NT15) can bring you to some of the more well-known trails, including Heping Island Park, Chaojing Island, and Lover’s Lake Park. Visitors can walk on worn dirt paths and … Read More