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
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 these beautiful old buildings. An old Japanese residence with a long history was recently renovated in Keelung and opened to the public as … Read More
For musician Chen Wen-Ji, Beiguan music was a chance discovery that led to a lifelong love affair. Origins of Beiguan Music In a cramped room with no heating or light, I sat with my friend Mila across Chen Wen-Ji in an informal interview setting. Distant suonas (嗩呐) cut through the air with its uniquely loud screeching, gus (鼓; drums) … Read More
Taiwanese Culture: Origins of the Ghost Festival There is a rich history attached to Taiwanese culture. The seventh month of the lunar calendar is recognized as Taiwanese Ghost Month. In the northeastern part of Taiwan stands the sleepy port city of Keelung. For over 163 years, the small city has mobilized to host an entire lunar month of rituals that … Read More
The Keelung Heartbeat series is based on snippets of conversations we hear from the amazing Keelung locals when out and about in the city. We love telling you about the beautiful places in our city, its culture and its food—but what makes Keelung Keelung is the people. By capturing short moments of interaction between Keelung locals in an everyday setting, … Read More
The Keelung Heartbeat series is based on snippets of conversations we hear when out and about in the city among the Keelung locals. We love telling you about the beautiful places in our city, its culture and its food—but what makes Keelung Keelung is the people. By capturing short moments of interaction between everyday people in an everyday setting, we … Read More
I came to visit Keelung directly after I lived in Beijing for a year. I taught English and hung out mostly with Westerners, so a huge chunk of that year was spent in my native tongue. I still picked up a little bit of the language, so I guess I’m like a 2 on a scale of 10 in Mandarin. … Read More
Keelungers have always had their own cherished stores of “secret spots.” Different from most popular tourist destinations, these places usually host relatively few people, and as such are quiet, serene, and clean. I call these spots “Shangri-La.” On the coastal junction of Keelung and Ruifang, there is such a place. Want to step into the mist of the sea? You … Read More
It was out of love for the place and for each other that Zoe and Abra have chosen to call Keelung their home. Together, with Zoe in charge of design and Abra in charge of marketing, they have built My Glück, their very own design brand. They produce small batches of cloth bags and accessories featuring quirky illustrations revolving around … Read More
In addition to the Asahikawa River, another covered river flows into the Keelung Port: the Xi Ding River. Its basin is known as the Oyster Shell River, and it now refers to the major area of the Anle District. Here every lunar April, you will find the unknown but lively festival, welcoming Guandu Mazu (the Chinese Goddess of the Sea). … Read More
