Keelung 基隆 (pronounced as Cheelong), sometimes written as Jilong, Chilong or Kelang, is the biggest and only city on Taiwan's northern coast. It's approximately 1h away from Taipei City, if you take the usual train.
The history of the name of the city is pretty interesting. The current pronunciation originates from Taiwanese "kelang" or 雞籠, which means "chicken cage", "hencoop" or "hennery".
However, during the Qing dynasty (in 1875), the Chinese characters were changed to 基隆. The current name, which means "prosperous base", but it's pronounced same as 雞籠 (jilong). So only the Characters were changed (and the meaning became more dignified), but the pronunciation is the same.
We went to the various stalls to savor the local delicacies.
Head to the Gold Ecological Park in Jinguashi, easily accessible by direct bus or train/bus from Taipei City, and 21st-century life will fast be far behind you. Snuggled into a hillside on Taiwan's blustery north coast, the town of Jinguashi is eminently charming, memorable not least for the world's largest statue of Guan Gong, the God of War, a god known to help in the making of money. A little further up the valley, the Gold Ecological Park awaits.
The park's landscaped grounds are beautiful..
In the 1960s, there were 500 active mining companies in Taiwan. Thousands made their living in the sweltering, cramped tunnels. They worked seven-hour days in the dark, wet, and dusty mines, their labor powering Taiwan's power stations. By the turn of the century, the local mining industry had collapsed after cheap imports flooded the market. Were it not for the dedication of mining enthusiasts, this world would have been entirely swept away.
Coal mining in Taiwan was a hard business, with coal seams just 40-60 centimeters thick.
Situated between the mountains and the coastline, the local scenery is exclusively beautiful, with the abundance of historical relics from the mining days, Jinguashi has become the ideal retreat in Northern Taiwan.
As we went up to the top of the mountains, I got more afraid. Why? Because I am afraid of heights. I tried to overcome my fears by admiring the beautiful scenery which eventually works.
Gold Ecological Park (黃金博物館區)
Add: 8 Jinguang Rd., Jinguashi, Ruifang District, New Taipei City (新北市瑞芳區金瓜石金光路8號)
Tel: (02) 2496-2800
Website: www.gep.tpc.gov.tw
