On February 11, 2022, the Office of International Affairs (OIA) organized a day trip to Keelung for international students. Led by Associate Professor Lin Yatin, Dean of International Affairs, the OIA team brought together international students from Switzerland, South America, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, and China. On this trip, our international students were able to discover the richness and diversity of Keelung and go on an in-depth cultural trip together.
On this trip, we invited a local youth organization that values the cultural development of Keelung, “Keelung For A Walk,” to plan and guide the journey. Mila Su, one of the leaders of “Keelung For A Walk,” is also an alumnus of the International Master Program in Cultural and Creative Industries at Taipei National University of Arts. On this day in Keelung, the weather was good, allowing the group to explore many of Keelung’s unique landscapes and cultures under the clear blue sky and enjoy the entire Keelung harbor and urban settlements from high on the hillside. We also walked through the streets and alleys to get close to the local life.
The first site is the Keelung Lighthouse, from there we could enjoy a magnificent view of the sea and Keelung Islet, and at the same time feel the active scene of loading and discharging shipping at West Passenger Terminal. After that, about ten minutes away from the Keelung Lighthouse, we reached the Huzishan Keelung landmark and the Bleu&Book Bookstore. The building of Bleu&Book was initially a school of Taiping Elementary School, which was abolished in 2017 due to the trend of child reduction. Under the creative project promoted by Keelung City Government, it has been transformed into the most beautiful bookstore overlooking the sea in Keelung, becoming the cultural strength of the local community.
After visiting the bookstore, we slowly descended along the winding lane ramp of Zengziliao, passing through the quiet community due to the out-migration of population and a few unused spaces that were creatively revitalized. The most surprising moment was when we met the elders of the Zhongshanli office building during their dance and music event. The residents enthusiastically invited us to play the drums and dance together, making this short but warm encounter memorable.
If the morning tour gave us a glimpse of the contours of Keelung, then the afternoon route was a further exploration of the city’s texture. The Maritime Plaza gave us an up-close view of the harborside landscape, with eagles soaring in the sky and the sea reflecting off the ships. From Hsiao-San Road, we strolled into the quiet Columbus Lane and the commission store area, reminiscent of the bar culture and foreign goods trend that was once a part of the U.S. military’s visit to Keelung during the Vietnam War.
Walking through the narrow gaps in the buildings, we came across a hundred-year-old air-raid shelter hidden deep in the community, as if we had come to a time tunnel. Lastly, I arrived at the Renai Market and the Keelung Night Market, which are must-visit pilgrimage sites in Keelung, and opened our senses to enjoy food’s most authentic atmosphere and fragrance. We could not try all the local food such as sashimi, dumplings, curry fried noodles, and ding-tiao, so we will enjoy them all when we revisit Keelung in the future.
In Taiwan, where the epidemic is relatively under control, it was a blessing to be able to travel at the end of the winter break. Under the careful arrangement of Office of International Affairs, the students experienced a full and unique day in Keelung. We look forward to more trips in the future to explore the diverse local and cultural treasures of Taiwan.