You may have heard of the song “On a Rainy Night in a Harbor City”, but have you been to the “Harbor City”? Have you tasted the “seafood” mentioned in the lyrics?
The lyric describe a young man drifting along in a harbor city where rains all year around, Keelung, a nostalgic city full of stories. Surrounding a natural harbor, in addition to the salty air and the abundant supply of fish, there are many stories and secret places waiting to be explored in Keelung.
On this tour, you will visit two secret places in Keelung—Heping Island Park and Keelung Islet, exploring the unique landscapes and rock formations that will blow your mind. Besides the natural attractions, you will make a stop at the city’s most Instagrammable place—Zhengbin Fishing Harbor, a fishing harbor features a row of rainbow-colored houses. Since you are in a harbor city, of course you will not miss out on the freshly cooked seafood. You will have lunch at an indigenous restaurant, enjoying a special seafood meal cooked with local seafood and indigenous spices, savoring the flavor of the sea, and the mountain.
Meet your tour guide and driver at the hotel lobby, and then head off to Keelung City.
What is the image of Keelung in your mind? And when was the last time you visited Keelung? When Taiwanese people talk about Keelung, almost everyone has memories of his/her own. Let’s follow the guide on this tour, listen to the stories and fun facts of this harbor city, and discover the incredible natural wonders of Taiwan’s northern coast.
The first stop of Heping Island Park, a tourist spot that has been very popular in recent years, and has become an iconic landmark of Keelung. It is also the origin of name of Keelung City and first area developed in this city, which can be traced back to the early 17th century. As an offshore island of Keelung City, the shape of Heping Island looked like a chicken coop, hence the city was given the name “Keelung”. (Keelung literally means chicken coop)
Heping Island still preserves many historic remains, such as Dutch Cave, Sheliao East Fort, and the relics of the Ama diver culture, Yuanshan Culture, Iron Age, etc, witnessing different eras passing by.
The unique rock formations of coastal erosion are also the unmissable highlights in Heping Island, such as the wave-cut platform, the mushroom rocks, the chessboard rock, and many more, as if the sculpture works by the God. Besides, the diversified natural environment results in abundance of species and ecosystem diversity, which are worth discovering.
The next stop is the most Instagrammable spot in Keelung—Zhengbin Fishing Harbor. This small fishing harbor goes viral on the Internet because of a row of the colorful houses along the shore, attracting countless social media influencer, bloggers and media to visit. In fact, it was once a prosperous fishing harbor during Japanese colonization, but declined as time goes by. However, the tranquil harbor never loses its charm. The white fishing boats lined along the dock, the brightly painted houses and the water reflection and the sea sparkling in the sunlight, creating a picturesque scene, as if you are in Burano Island.
Agenna Shipyard Relics is just nearby, an abandoned shipyard built during Japanese colonization. If you look from afar, it looks like a modern industrial architecture. Its exposed reinforced concrete conveys a sense of decadence through the lens, making this place become a famous spot for photography. The Hollywood actor, Chris Evans, best known for playing “Captain America”, has been there to film a commercial.
After the morning tour, enjoy a special indigenous meal at Agenna Aboriginal Restaurant in Keelung City Indigenous Cultural Hall, giving you an opportunity to know about the aboriginal people in Keelung. The restaurant is near Bachimen Community, and the owner is from Amis Tribe; the restaurant serves food that combines the local seafood and indigenous ingredients, giving a unique flavor to your taste buds.
After lunch, if time permits, you can visit Keelung City Indigenous Cultural Hall by yourself. There are more than 200 collections, including clothes, hunting equipment, bamboo weavings, wood carvings, beadings, musical instruments and potteries, etc, allowing visitors to have a better understanding of Taiwanese indigenous peoples through the traditional appliances.
In the afternoon, visit the mysterious Keelung Islet by boat. Keelung Islet is an uninhabited island, which had been closed to public for 5 years because of the severe damage caused by the typhoon. It is also situated in a significant geological location. Every year, the islet is open to landing for 6 months, usually starting from late spring or early summer. It’s a secret island that many Taiwanese people have never been to. On the way to Keelung Islet, you can clearly see an ocean current called “Keelung Sill”. An ocean sill is a seafloor barrier, like a long and narrow sill which influences the water circulation, hence the name.
Keelung Islet is a volcanic island surrounded by towering cliffs, and there is barely any plain on it. After landing on the islet, there is a vast platform, where you can slowly climb to the top of the islet along the trail. Most of the time you have to walk uphill along the way, so you must pay attention to your physical condition and drink more water to prevent dehydration. After you reach the top of the islet, the snow-white Keelung Lighthouse and the vast blue ocean is right before your eyes, enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by the endless ocean. Here you can also take a look at the main island Taiwan from afar, appreciating Taiwan from a different angle.
Note: Landing Keelung Islet tour may be subject to change to adjust according to tidal currents, weather, and other factors. In case the sailing is cancelled, the itinerary will be altered to Chaojing Park, Shen’ao Cape, and Elephant Trunk Rock
After the tour, back to Taipei by private car, end this special day.
Adults
Child (age 2-11)
Infant
If you are interested in booking this tour, please fill out the form below and click submit for further information.
