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
How Curry Arrived in Keelung As a native Keelunger, our taste for curry is much stronger than for other foods with curry-based dishes found throughout the city. Some popular types of curry in Keelung include pan-fried buns filled with curried minced meat, curry fried rice, as well as curry satay noodles. Originating in India and derived from the word kari … 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
Visiting Keelung History Up Close Before we get to the Ershawan Fort in Keelung, let’s talk history. If you’ve ever been sightseeing in Taipei, you’ve probably noticed that there are hardly any pre-World War II sites left. Taipei is, generally speaking, a city that was deprived of its historical shape by the politics Kuomintang Party governing after the war. It … Read More
Jiufen is one of the most touristic spots in Taiwan and a must visit place for many travellers. It is barely 15 km away from Keelung and you can easily get there by bus in around 50 minutes (Bus number 788 stops right in front of Jiufen’s Old Street). Another great option is to rent a car or motorbike for … Read More
Baimiweng Fort Baimiweng Fort is located at the western entrance to the port of Keelung. It is the smallest of the four forts of Keelung, but in exchange offers a wonderful view of the sea and on the harbor (from a small hill next to the fort). The fort served as an artillery battery and was used in this role … Read More
The window of Keelung is always facing the ocean, and over the past few centuries, the oceanic culture of the region has accumulated rich and diverse imprints and experiences. In the mid-nineteenth century (1863), Keelung Port opened, and it served an important role in the strategy and trade that attracted attention overseas. During the Japanese colonial period, Keelung Port was … Read More
Apart from buying fish at the Kanziding fish market in the middle of the night, there are many bustling “snappers” floating out of Yi 2nd Rd “Keelung Ginza” in the afternoon. From the beginning of junior high school, I went to school every day on the street, and I made it a point to buy Taiyaki at Yi 2nd Rd. … Read More
The Taiwan street food scene is a wonderland filled with delicious and affordable food treats that every traveler should try. They offer insight into Taiwan’s checkered history showcasing food influences from China, Hong Kong, Japan, and even France. Around every street corner in Taiwan, you will find families and friends talking, laughing and sharing street food together. Keelung’s Night Market … Read More