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Key Information

Keelung City
Chinese name
Chinese基隆市
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinJīlóng Shì
Bopomofoㄐㄧ   ㄌㄨㄥˊ   ㄕˋ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhJilong Shyh
Wade–GilesChi1-lung2 Shih4
Tongyong PinyinJilóng Shìh
Yale RomanizationJīlúng Shr̀
MPS2Jīlúng Shr̀
IPA[tɕí.lʊ̌ŋ ʂɻ̩̂]
Hakka
Pha̍k-fa-sṳKî-lùng-sṳ
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinggei1 lung4 si5
IPA[kej˥ lʊŋ˩ si˩˧]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJKe-lâng-chhī
Tâi-lôKe-lâng-tshī
Taiwanese Hokkien Name
Traditional Chinese雞籠市
Simplified Chinese鸡笼市
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinJīlóng Shì
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinggaai1 lung4 si5
IPA[kaj˥ lʊŋ˩ si˩˧]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJKe-lâng-chhī/Koe-lâng-chhī
Japanese name
Kanji基隆市
Kanaキールンし
Hiraganaきーるんし
Katakanaキールンシ
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnKiirun-shi
Kunrei-shikiKîrun-si
Above: Panoramic view of central Keelung and Keelung Port Second left: Main gate of Chung Cheng Park Second right: Start of Sun Yat-sen Freeway Third left: North coast of Keelung Third right: Keelung Port Bottom left: A windmill wind squid (Loliginidae) in the center Right: Keelung Island

Keelung (/kiːˈlʊŋ/ kee-LUUNG;[3] Chinese: 基隆; pinyin: Jīlóng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ke-lâng), Chilung or Jilong (/dʒiːˈlʊŋ/ jee-LUUNG), officially known as Keelung City, is a major port city in northeastern Taiwan. The city is part of the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area with neighboring New Taipei City and Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport (after Kaohsiung), and was the world's 7th largest port in 1984.

In 1626, the Spanish established Fort San Salvador at present-day Keelung, an area inhabited by Taiwanese indigenous peoples. Control of the area eventually passed to the Qing dynasty. Fighting between China and Europeans around Keelung occurred in the 19th century during the First Opium War and the Sino-French War. The island of Taiwan was ceded to the Empire of Japan in 1895 after the First Sino-Japanese War; under Japanese rule the city was called Kirun. Keelung became part of Taiwan Province under the Republic of China after 1945. Administratively, the city became a first-level subdivision in 2018 after the provincial government was abolished.

Name

[edit]

According to early Chinese accounts, this northern coastal area was originally called Pak-kang (Chinese: 北港; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Pak-káng).[4] By the early 20th century, the city was known to the Western world as Kelung,[5] as well as the variants Kiloung, Kilang and Keelung.[6] In his 1903 general history of Taiwan, US Consul to Formosa (1898–1904) James W. Davidson related that "Kelung" was among the few well-known names, thus warranting no alternate Japanese romanization.[7]

However, the Taiwanese people have long called the city Kelang (Chinese: 雞籠; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ke-lâng/Koe-lâng; lit. 'rooster cage', 'hencoop" or "chicken coop'[8]). While it has been proposed that this name was derived from the local mountain that took the shape of a rooster cage, it is more likely that the name was derived from the first inhabitants of the region, as are the names of many other Taiwanese cities. In this case, the Ketagalan people were the first inhabitants, and early Han settlers probably approximated "Ketagalan" with Ke-lâng (Ketagalan: ke- -an, "domain marker circumfix" + Taiwanese Hokkien 儂／人; lâng; 'person'), with the noun root and the suffix part of the circumfix replaced together with the common Taiwanese Hokkien term for people, shortening the circumfix to just its prefix part.

In 1875, during the late Qing era, a new official name was given (Chinese: 基隆; pinyin: Jīlóng; lit. 'base prosperous').[9] In Mandarin, probably the working language of Chinese government at the time, both the old and new names were likely pronounced Gīlóng (hence "Keelung").

Under Japanese rule (1895–1945), the city was also known to the west by the Japanese romanization Kiirun.[10]

In Taiwanese Hokkien, the native language of the area, the city is called Ke-lâng. In Hanyu Pinyin, the most common romanization system for Mandarin Chinese, the name of Keelung is written as Jīlóng (the shift from g [k] to j [t͡ɕ] is a recent development in the Beijing dialect; see Old Mandarin).[11][12]

History

[edit]

Early history

[edit]
1626 Map of Keelung under Spanish Formosa
Taiwanese natives in Keelung under Spanish Formosa

Keelung was first inhabited by the Ketagalan, a tribe of Taiwanese aborigine. The Spanish expedition to Formosa in the early 17th century was its first contact with the West; by 1624 the Spanish had built San Salvador de Quelung, a fort in Keelung serving as an outpost of the Manila-based Spanish East Indies.[13] The Spanish ruled it as a part of Spanish Formosa. Besides the native Taiwanese aborigines, the Spanish authorities from Spanish Manila settled North Taiwan (especially Keelung and Tamsui) with a mixture of Sangley Chinese (primarily Fujianese traders), Christian Japanese, native Filipinos (e.g. Kapampangan, Tagalogs, etc.) as merchants and laborers,[14] and some Mexican Mestizos, Mulattos, Blacks, Mexican Amerindians as soldiers and laborers and a few Spanish Filipinos from Spanish Philippines and rarely Mexican Criollo Spaniards from New Spain (Mexico) as Catholic friar missionaries and colonial leaders, with the Latin Americans from New Spain (Mexico) brought over to North Taiwan from Manila through the Manila-Acapulco Galleons.[15] From 1642 to 1661 and 1663–1668, Keelung was under Dutch control.[16][17] The Dutch East India Company took over the Spanish Fort San Salvador at Santissima Trinidad. They reduced its size and renamed it Fort Noort-Hollant.[17] The Dutch had three more minor fortifications in Keelung and also a little school and a preacher.

When Ming dynasty loyalist Koxinga successfully attacked the Dutch in southern Taiwan (Siege of Fort Zeelandia), the crew of the Keelung forts fled to the Dutch trading post in Japan. The Dutch came back in 1663 and re-occupied and strengthened their earlier forts. However, trade with Qing China through Keelung was not what they hoped it would be and, in 1668, they left after getting harassed by aboriginals.[18]

Qing dynasty

[edit]
Map of Keelung in 1856

First Opium War

[edit]
Main articles: First Opium War and Nerbudda incident

During the First Opium War, the British merchant ship Nerbudda shipwrecked near the port of Keelung due to a typhoon in September 1841. Several months later, another British merchantman, the brig Ann, also shipwrecked near Keelung on March 1842. Hundreds of survivors from both ships were captured by Chinese authorities and transferred to Taiwan. Two senior Chinese officials, Dahonga and Yao Ying, filed a false report to the Daoguang Emperor, claiming to have beaten off a British attack against Keelung. In October 1841, the Royal Navy sloop HMS Nimrod sailed to Keelung to search for survivors of Nerbudda, but after they found out the Chinese sent them south for imprisonment, Nimrod bombarded the city's port, destroying 27 cannon before returning to British Hong Kong. Most of the survivors—over 130 from the Nerbudda and 54 from the Ann—were summarily executed by the Chinese in August 1842.[19][20]

In 1863, the Qing Empire opened up Keelung as a trading port and the city enjoyed rapid development due to the abundant commodities such as placer gold and high quality coal found in the drainage area of Keelung River. In 1875, Taipeh Prefecture was created and included Keelung. In 1878, Keelung was formed into a ting or sub-prefecture.[21] Around the same time, the name was changed from Ke-lang (雞籠廳) to Kilong (基隆廳), which means "rich and prosperous land".[9]

The city suffered serious damage and lost hundreds of inhabitants during an earthquake and tsunami in 1867. The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 7.0 and was caused by movement on a nearby fault.[22]

Sino-French War

[edit]
Main articles: Sino-French War and Keelung Campaign
French forces landed at Keelung on 1 October 1884.

During the Sino-French War (1884–85), the French attempted an invasion of Taiwan during the Keelung Campaign. Liu Mingchuan, who led the defence of Taiwan, recruited Aboriginals to serve alongside the Chinese soldiers in fighting against the French of Colonel Jacques Duchesne's Formosa Expeditionary Corps. The French were defeated at the Battle of Tamsui and the Qing forces pinned the French down at Keelung in an eight-month-long campaign before the French withdrew.[23][verification needed]

Empire of Japan

[edit]

A systematic city development started during the Japanese Era, after the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki, which handed all Taiwan over to Japan. A five-phase construction of Keelung Harbor was initiated, and in by 1916 trade volume had exceeded even those of Tamsui and Kaohsiung Harbors to become one of the major commercial harbors of Taiwan.[24]

Keelung was governed as Kīrun town (基隆街), Kīrun District, Taihoku Prefecture in 1920 and was upgraded to a city in 1924.[24] The Pacific War broke out in 1941, and Keelung became one of the first targets of Allied bombers and was nearly destroyed as a result.[24][25]

Republic of China

[edit]

After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in October 1945, Keelung was established as a provincial city of Taiwan Province. The Keelung City Government worked with the Keelung Harbor Bureau[26] to rebuild the city and the harbor and by 1984, the harbor became the 7th largest container harbor in the world.[27] The city became directly governed by the Executive Yuan after Taiwan Province was streamlined in 1998 and became a de facto first level division in 2018 following the dissolution of the Taiwan Provincial Government.

Geography

[edit]
Map of Keelung (labeled as CHI-LUNG-SHIH (KIIRUN-SHI) 基隆市) area (1950)
Map of Keelung (labeled as CHI-LUNG SHIH (KIIRUN SHI) 基隆市) and vicinity (1950s)

Keelung City is located in the northern part of Taiwan Island. It occupies an area of 132.76 km2 (51.26 sq mi) and is separated from its neighboring county by mountains in the east, west and south. The northern part of the city faces the ocean and is a great deep water harbor since early times.[28] Keelung also administers the nearby Keelung Islet as well as the more distant and strategically important Pengjia Islet, Mianhua Islet and Huaping Islet.[29][30]

Climate

[edit]

Keelung has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) with a yearly rainfall average upwards of 3,700 millimetres (146 in). It has long been noted as one of the wettest and gloomiest cities in the world; the effect is related to the Kuroshio Current.[31] Although it is one of the coolest cities of Taiwan, winters are still short and warm, whilst summers are long, relatively dry and hot, temperatures can peek above 26 °C during a warm winter day, while it can dip below 27 °C during a rainy summer day, much like the rest of northern Taiwan. However its location on northern mountain slopes means that due to orographic lift, rainfall is heavier during fall and winter, the latter during which a northeasterly flow prevails. During summer, southwesterly winds dominate and thus there is a slight rain shadow effect. Fog is most serious during winter and spring, when relative humidity levels are also highest.

Climate data for Keelung (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1946–present）
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32.1
(89.8) 		31.2
(88.2) 		33.0
(91.4) 		35.2
(95.4) 		37.3
(99.1) 		37.6
(99.7) 		38.8
(101.8) 		38.5
(101.3) 		37.0
(98.6) 		34.3
(93.7) 		32.4
(90.3) 		30.0
(86.0) 		38.8
(101.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 18.4
(65.1) 		19.1
(66.4) 		21.0
(69.8) 		24.7
(76.5) 		28.0
(82.4) 		31.2
(88.2) 		33.3
(91.9) 		32.5
(90.5) 		29.8
(85.6) 		26.1
(79.0) 		23.6
(74.5) 		20.1
(68.2) 		25.7
(78.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 16.1
(61.0) 		16.4
(61.5) 		18.1
(64.6) 		21.6
(70.9) 		24.8
(76.6) 		27.6
(81.7) 		29.5
(85.1) 		29.1
(84.4) 		27.2
(81.0) 		24.2
(75.6) 		21.5
(70.7) 		18.0
(64.4) 		22.8
(73.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 14.2
(57.6) 		14.3
(57.7) 		15.7
(60.3) 		19.0
(66.2) 		22.3
(72.1) 		25.0
(77.0) 		26.7
(80.1) 		26.5
(79.7) 		25.0
(77.0) 		22.4
(72.3) 		19.6
(67.3) 		16.1
(61.0) 		20.6
(69.0)
Record low °C (°F) 3.9
(39.0) 		5.6
(42.1) 		3.9
(39.0) 		9.2
(48.6) 		13.9
(57.0) 		16.7
(62.1) 		21.4
(70.5) 		20.1
(68.2) 		17.1
(62.8) 		12.2
(54.0) 		9.7
(49.5) 		4.6
(40.3) 		3.9
(39.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 327.8
(12.91) 		349.8
(13.77) 		274.4
(10.80) 		211.0
(8.31) 		284.1
(11.19) 		290.4
(11.43) 		119.5
(4.70) 		211.4
(8.32) 		390.1
(15.36) 		377.6
(14.87) 		396.9
(15.63) 		356.6
(14.04) 		3,589.6
(141.33)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 19.6 17.9 18.7 16.0 16.1 14.8 8.5 11.6 15.2 17.1 18.6 19.5 193.6
Average relative humidity (%) 78.5 79.5 79.0 77.4 77.4 76.9 71.9 73.6 75.3 75.6 77.1 76.6 76.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 52.6 57.9 80.6 91.2 111.9 138.4 229.2 208.2 147.4 85.7 65.3 48.5 1,316.9
Source: Central Weather Bureau[32][33][34][35][36]

Administration

[edit]
Main article: Keelung City Government
Keelung City Hall in Zhongzheng District
George Hsieh, the incumbent Mayor of Keelung City

Zhongzheng District is the seat of Keelung City which houses the Keelung City Government and Keelung City Council. The current Mayor of Keelung is George Hsieh of the Kuomintang.

Administrative divisions

[edit]

Keelung has seven (7) districts:[1]

Map Name Chinese Taiwanese Hakka Population (October 2023) Area (km²)
Zhongzheng 中正區 Tiong-chèng Tsûng-tsang 50,693 10.2118
Zhongshan 中山區 Tiong-san Tsûng-sân 45,523 10.5238
Ren-ai[1][37] 仁愛區 Jîn-ài Yìn-oi 41,159 4.2335
Xinyi (Sinyi) 信義區 Sìn-gī Sin-ngi 53,399 10.6706
Anle 安樂區 An-lo̍k Ôn-lo̍k 80,452 18.0250
Nuannuan 暖暖區 Loán-loán Nôn-nôn 38,455 22.8283
Qidu 七堵區 Chhit-tó͘ Tshit-tù 52,806 56.2659

Politics

[edit]

Keelung City is represented in the Legislative Yuan by Lin Pei-hsiang, or Jonathan Lin,[38] of the Kuomintang, who was elected in 2024.

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960234,442—    
1970324,040+38.2%
1980344,867+6.4%
1990348,586+1.1%
2000387,504+11.2%
2010381,809−1.5%
2020367,264−3.8%
Source: [39][40]

In 2023, Keelung had a population of 362,255, a year-on-year increase of 2.02% but a decrease of 2.90% from 2014. About 70.11% were of working age (15-64 years), 9.65% were children (0-14 years), and 20.24% were above 65. The city's dependency ratio grew slightly to 42.64% while its aged-child ratio rose 13 percentage points to 209.87%. Of the 327,310 Keelung residents aged 15 and above, 45.20% had a bachelor’s degree. Household income averaged NT$1,182,233.[41]

Keelung became the “loneliest” city in Taiwan in 2024, with more than 41 percent of its households comprising one person living alone.[42] Indigenous peoples made up 3,617 of its households.[41]

Population growth

[edit]
Year Population Notes
1840
700 households
1897
9,500
1904
17,710
 Ranked 6th[43]
1924
58,000
1943
100,000
1944
92,000
 Decrease due to Allied air bombings
1948
130,000
 28,000 mainlander influx
1970
324,040
1990
352,919
2010
384,134
2020
367,577

Festivals

[edit]

One of the most popular festivals in Taiwan is the mid-summer Ghost Festival. The Keelung Ghost Festival is among the oldest and largest in Taiwan, dating back to 1855 after bitter clashes between rival clans, which claimed many lives before mediators stepped in.[44] A truce was negotiated and the two sides agreed to bury their dead together and to maintain communal peace through competition in folk performances.[45] The Keelung Ghost Festival is the first folklore custom to be included in Taiwan's national cultural heritage list.[46] Today, the festivities are organized on a rotation basis by the city's 15 major clan associations, which are formed by people sharing the same surname.[44] The highlight of the festival comes on the evening of the 14th day of the Ghost Month. Clan associations display elaborate floats in a parade, which culminates in the release of lit water lanterns into the sea to honor the dead.[45] The event has become a major attraction drawing visitors from home and abroad.[44]

Economy

[edit]

When Taiwan shifted from import substitution to an export-oriented economy after the Second World War, Keelung became increasingly important for foreign trade, serving as a major logistics hub in northern Taiwan and a crucial point for international shipping. As Taiwan’s trade volume rose steadily in the 1970s, transport, warehousing, customs brokerage, and other ports logistics services expanded in Keelung, as did the shipbuilding and ship maintenance industry.[47] The city developed quickly and by 1984, the Port of Keelung became the 7th largest container port in the world.[27]

However, in the 1990s, Keelung Port’s overall throughput began to decline as a result of intense domestic and international competition and geographical constraints limiting its expansion. The port gradually opened to tourism. It attracted major cruise operators such as Star Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Costa Cruises, positioning itself as a home port for cruise liners.[48] In 2017, Keelung earned the title of Asia’s best cruise home port at the Asia Cruise Forum Jeju in South Korea. At the same event five years later, Keelung won a Special Achievement Award from Jeju-based Asia Cruise Leaders Network for its post-pandemic business recovery.[49] In 2024, Keelung Port recorded 331 cruise calls and served 787,000 passengers. Although the figures had yet to reach the 2019 level before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a slight increase in the number of foreign visitors.[50]

  • Keelung Port Croquis (in 1894)
    Keelung Port Croquis (in 1894)
  • Keelung Landmark
    Keelung Landmark
  • Keelung City and Harbor, between 1860 and 1880
    Keelung City and Harbor, between 1860 and 1880
Panorama view of central Keelung and harbor area

Education

[edit]
National Taiwan Ocean University

Education in Keelung City is governed by the Department of Education of Keelung City Government.

Universities and colleges

[edit]

Keelung City houses three universities and colleges, namely the National Taiwan Ocean University, Deh Yu College of Nursing and Health and Chungyu University of Film and Arts.

About 45 percent of city residents aged 15 and above have a bachelor’s degree.[41]

High schools

[edit]

Keelung has 12 senior high schools—eight public and four private, which are attended by about 7,000 students.[41]

Energy

[edit]
Hsieh-ho Power Plant

Keelung City houses the only fully oil-fired power plant in Taiwan, the Hsieh-ho Power Plant, which is located in Zhongshan District. The installed capacity of the power plant is 2,000 MW.

Tourist attractions

[edit]
Keelung Cultural Center

Ports

[edit]

Parks

[edit]

Cultural centers

[edit]

Museums

[edit]

Historical structures

[edit]

Baimiweng Fort, Dawulun Fort, Gongzi Liao Fort, Keelung Fort Commander's Official Residence, Nuannuan Ande Temple, Pengjia Lighthouse, Uhrshawan Battery and Xian Dong Yan.

Night markets

[edit]

Keelung Miaokou Night Market

Transportation

[edit]
Keelung Station
Port of Keelung

Keelung is easily accessible by train, bus, and freeway. It is about a half-hour drive from Taipei via National Freeway 1 and 3. Taiwan Railway commuter trains from Taipei to the Keelung Main Station take about 40 minutes. Intercity buses serve multiple points within the city.

Rail

[edit]

Water

[edit]

Taiwan's second largest port, the Port of Keelung, is located in the city. The port serves destinations to Matsu Islands, Xiamen and Okinawa.

International relations

[edit]
Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Taiwan (Republic of China)

Twin towns – Sister cities

[edit]

Keelung is twinned with:

Notable people

[edit]

Notable people from Keelung include:

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Keelung

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Keelung is a city and special municipality situated at the northern tip of Taiwan's main island, approximately 25 kilometers northeast of . It encompasses an area of 132.76 square kilometers, predominantly hilly terrain, and had a of 362,487 as of 2023. Keelung Harbor, the city's defining feature, is Taiwan's second-largest international after , functioning as a critical hub for container shipping, bulk cargo, cruise passengers, and ferries to offshore islands, , and since its official opening in 1863. The 's natural deep-water basin and strategic position along Northeast Asian shipping routes have historically driven , from in the Qing era to modern trade volumes that once ranked it seventh globally for containers in 1984. Known locally as the "Rain Port" for its abundant rainfall—averaging over 2,000 millimeters annually—Keelung features a compact urban core integrated with its harbor, seven administrative districts, and nearby offshore islands like Heping Island, supporting industries in shipping, , and amid a backdrop of Austronesian indigenous heritage and successive colonial influences from Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, and Chinese administrations.

Etymology

Historical and Linguistic Origins

The name Keelung traces its roots to the of the , the indigenous group that inhabited the northeastern coastal region of prior to widespread settlement. Early European contact in the late recorded phonetic approximations of local indigenous terms, such as "Cheylam" in the Spanish of 1590, which depicted a couple from the Keelung area and labeled their origin accordingly, reflecting the sound of the Ketagalan designation for the harbor locale. This transcription suggests a harbor- or settlement-related term in the extinct Ketagalan tongue, part of the Northern Taiwanese subgroup, though precise semantic reconstruction remains limited due to the extinction by the . Subsequent Dutch records from their control of the area between 1642 and 1668 employed variants like "Kelang" or "Kilang," preserving the indigenous phonetic core while adapting it for European mapping and administration; for instance, Dutch fortifications at the site, such as the renamed Fort Noort-Hollant on nearby Palm Island (now Heping Island), referenced the surrounding harbor's nomenclature. Han Chinese arrivals in the further adapted the sound into Hokkien "Ke-lâng," a direct that evolved into the Mandarin "Jīlóng" (基隆), first documented in late Ming and early Qing maritime records as an approximation of the local Austronesian pronunciation. The 基隆, selected for phonetic matching, were later folk-etymologized to mean "rooster cage," purportedly alluding to the shape of Heping Island's terrain resembling a enclosure, but this interpretation postdates the name's adoption and does not reflect the original indigenous derivation. Qing-era maps from the , such as those depicting 's western coast, consistently rendered the site as "Jilong," confirming the stabilization of this transliteration amid expanding Chinese documentation, without altering the underlying Austronesian phonetic base.

Modern Designations and Usage

Following the Republic of China's assumption of administrative control over Taiwan in 1945, Keelung was designated as a provincial city under the official Chinese name 基隆市 (Jīlóng Shì), with the English rendering standardized as Keelung City to reflect Mandarin pronunciation in romanization systems such as Wade-Giles. This post-war standardization aligned local place names with national linguistic policies emphasizing Mandarin, supplanting earlier Japanese-era designations like Kiirun while preserving the core characters 基隆. In international contexts, particularly shipping and port operations, Keelung is designated as the Port of Keelung with the UN/LOCODE TWKEL, appearing in manifests and maritime documentation as "Keelung" and phonetically approximated in English as /ˈkiːlʌŋ/ (KEE-lung). Locally, among speakers, the pronunciation Ke-lâng endures in everyday and cultural usage, underscoring the persistence of Minnan linguistic traditions despite official Mandarin-centric reforms. This variation highlights the dual layers of formal administrative labeling and vernacular application in contemporary .

History

Indigenous Era and Early European Contact

The Keelung region was part of the territory inhabited by the Ketagalan, a plains indigenous Austronesian people who occupied northern from areas extending to Keelung and southward to Taoyuan. Archaeological investigations, including sites linked to the Shihsanhang culture near the Taipei Basin, reveal evidence of Ketagalan-associated settlements featuring a mixed reliant on , , , and rudimentary agriculture adapted to coastal and riverine environments. European contact began in the early 17th century amid rivalry between the Spanish and Dutch East India Companies. In 1626, Spanish expeditions from established Fort on off Keelung's coast, aiming to secure northern against Dutch expansion in the south and facilitate trade in deerskins, , and with local indigenous groups like the Ketagalan. Spanish records document initial alliances and exchanges, though missionary efforts yielded limited conversions due to cultural resistance and logistical challenges. The Spanish foothold proved tenuous; by 1642, Dutch forces, responding to perceived threats to their southern operations, assaulted and captured Fort and other northern outposts, effectively ending Spanish presence in the area. Dutch engagement in Keelung remained minimal thereafter, with no sustained settlements or forts established, as their focus prioritized the lucrative Tayouan () base for agriculture and trade. This period of early contact left no lasting European administrative control, preserving indigenous autonomy until later Qing incursions.

Qing Dynasty Period (1683–1895)

Following the Qing dynasty's military victory over the Ming loyalist Kingdom of Tungning in 1683, led by Admiral Shi Lang, Taiwan was annexed and administratively integrated into Fujian Province as Taiwan Prefecture, with Keelung placed under the jurisdiction of Danshui County. This incorporation marked the beginning of formalized Qing governance over northern Taiwan's coastal regions, including Keelung, which functioned primarily as a local port for fishing and limited inter-island trade rather than extensive foreign commerce. Early Qing policies emphasized control over maritime activities to prevent rebellion, restricting large-scale settlement and export-oriented development in peripheral areas like Keelung. Despite official bans on Han Chinese migration to maintain stability, clandestine inflows from Fujian and Guangdong provinces steadily increased the local population, fostering the growth of small fishing villages along Keelung's harbor by the mid-18th century. These communities relied on the harbor's natural shelter for coastal fishing and the transport of timber and agricultural goods, with tea cultivation introduced from Fujian migrants supporting modest exports through Keelung to mainland markets. By the late 18th century, de facto tolerance of migration had swelled Taiwan's overall Han population to over one million, contributing to Keelung's emergence as a secondary hub for northern Taiwan's rudimentary economy centered on fisheries and light extraction industries. Administrative oversight remained light, with local officials in Danshui managing tax collection on salt, , and emerging cash crops like , while infrastructure development lagged due to the Qing's inland-focused priorities and periodic epidemics that disrupted settlement patterns. Keelung's harbor, though advantageous for its depth and protection from typhoons, faced navigational challenges from accumulation, as documented in regional surveys, limiting larger vessel access without . This period established Keelung's baseline role as a peripheral , with economic activity tied to Han agrarian expansion rather than urban or heavy , setting the stage for later treaty-port openings in 1863 that amplified its trade in and .

First Opium War Involvement (1841–1842)

In September 1841, amid the , the British transport ship Nerbudda, carrying approximately 271 personnel including soldiers, seamen, and , shipwrecked on a near Keelung harbor during a while supporting British operations against Qing forces. Local Qing authorities and indigenous groups captured around 240 survivors who reached shore, with reports of resistance leading to deaths among the captives and possibly some locals during initial confrontations. This event drew British naval attention to Keelung's coastal defenses, revealing empirical vulnerabilities in Qing monitoring of the , as the warship had evaded detection until grounding. The British responded by dispatching HMS , a from the under overall direction of the China Squadron commanded by Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, to Keelung between 19 and 27 October 1841. Captain Joseph Pearse offered rewards of 100 dollars per survivor but received no cooperation from Qing officials, who had transported the captives southward to for interrogation on suspicions of . No landing or sustained engagement occurred; Nimrod departed without territorial gains or significant disruption to local fortifications, underscoring Keelung's peripheral strategic value amid Britain's focus on mainland targets. The incident demonstrated local and Qing administrative resilience, as authorities swiftly secured and relocated the prisoners despite logistical strains across , preventing any British foothold. Post-event repairs to coastal batteries proceeded routinely, with no major escalations reported. The war's in 1842 formalized openings at mainland ports including but excluded , bypassing Keelung entirely and affirming its limited role in the conflict's causal dynamics of trade coercion and naval pressure.

Sino-French War (1884–1885)

In the , sparked by French expansion in (), Keelung emerged as a strategic target for to coerce Qing into concessions, given its coal-rich harbor vital for naval operations in the region. On August 5, 1884, French naval forces under Admiral Sébastien Lespès bombarded Keelung's defenses and attempted a landing to destroy the port's coal facilities, but Qing troops commanded by Governor Liu Mingchuan repelled the assault, preventing establishment of a . Undeterred, French reinforcements enabled a renewed amphibious operation on October 1, 1884, with warships bombarding Qing positions while 2,000 troops, including Annamite riflemen and French Foreign Legionnaires, landed successfully over the next week, capturing the harbor after Liu's defenses, hampered by inadequate and fortifications, faltered under sustained pressure. The French secured Keelung as a forward base, destroying mines and infrastructure to deny resources to Qing forces, though advances inland stalled amid guerrilla resistance and harsh terrain. French occupation persisted into 1885, with a failed push toward Tamsui in exposing vulnerabilities to Qing counterattacks, resulting in French casualties of 21 dead and 62 wounded in those clashes alone, while Qing losses exceeded these figures due to inferior firepower. Stalemate in prompted to seek peace; the in April 1885 ended hostilities without territorial gains for in , leading to evacuation of Keelung on June 23, 1885, and Qing reassertion of control. The campaign inflicted significant damage on Keelung's port facilities and highlighted Qing defensive shortcomings, prompting Liu Mingchuan to initiate fortification upgrades, including modern batteries that influenced subsequent coastal defenses.

Japanese Colonial Rule (1895–1945)

Following the Treaty of Shimonoseki signed on April 17, 1895, which concluded the First Sino-Japanese War, China ceded Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan in perpetuity, incorporating Keelung as a key northern port within the newly acquired territory. Japanese forces under Admiral Kabayama Sukenori landed near Keelung on May 29, 1895, encountering initial armed resistance from local Qing loyalists and militias, which was swiftly suppressed through military operations that established control over the harbor area. The administration designated Keelung, renamed Jilong, as the primary maritime gateway linking Taiwan to Japan, prioritizing its role in resource extraction and trade logistics. Under Governor-General Kodama Gentarō (1898–1906), Japanese authorities initiated extensive infrastructure projects, including the extension of rail lines from Keelung southward and eastward into the Yilan plain, facilitating coal transport from interior mines to the port. Between 1899 and 1944, five phases of harbor construction enhanced Keelung's capacity, involving breakwater extensions and basin expansions to accommodate larger vessels and increased cargo throughput, transforming it from a shallow anchorage into a vital export hub. These developments supported the colony's overall railway network, which by the early 20th century spanned from Keelung to Kaohsiung, totaling thousands of kilometers and integrating previously isolated regions for efficient resource mobilization. Economically, Japanese rule emphasized Keelung's sector, with expanded operations in nearby fields driving exports to and fueling industrial growth; colonial records indicate Taiwan's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 1.9% during this period, attributable in part to such extractive industries and enhancements. The 's strategic positioning boosted trade volumes, serving as the entry point for Japanese investments in processing and other agro-industries linked by rail, though benefits primarily accrued to imperial interests through resource outflows rather than local reinvestment. This modernization, while yielding measurable infrastructural gains, reflected a causal of Japan's metropolitan over indigenous welfare, as evidenced by persistent disparities in colonial fiscal allocations. Resistance to Japanese authority persisted, with early uprisings in northern , including around Keelung, met by forceful pacification campaigns that quelled organized opposition through superior firepower and administrative reforms. Broader island-wide events, such as the 1915 Tapani Incident in the south, underscored ongoing and indigenous discontent with land expropriations and policies, though Keelung-specific revolts were more fragmented and effectively contained by garrison forces. During , as mobilized for the Pacific theater, Keelung's port handled the arrival of over 4,000 Allied prisoners of war for labor camps, alongside widespread of local Taiwanese into forced labor for , , and support roles, often under coercive conditions without compensation. By 1945, Allied bombings targeted Keelung's harbor and rail infrastructure, severely damaging facilities built over decades and contributing to Japan's surrender on , after which Taiwan's administration transitioned to Allied oversight pending Republic of assumption. The era's legacy encompasses empirical advancements in connectivity and output metrics, juxtaposed against exploitative labor practices and suppressive governance that prioritized imperial extraction, as documented in contemporary administrative reports and accounts.

Republic of China Administration (1945–Present)

Following Japan's surrender on September 2, 1945, , including Keelung, came under the administration of the Republic of China as per the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation outcomes. Local authorities in Keelung immediately initiated reconstruction efforts for the city and harbor, which had sustained damage during Allied bombings in , prioritizing restoration of port operations to resume trade and logistics functions. The Republic of China's central government relocated to in December 1949 amid defeat in the , with Keelung's strategic harbor playing a critical role in receiving evacuees, military assets, and gold reserves transported from the mainland to bolster . Approximately 1.2 million individuals, including government officials and military personnel, arrived in during this period, straining but ultimately enhancing the port's for defense and supply chain purposes. From the 1950s onward, Keelung transitioned toward commercial primacy, emerging as a vital export gateway during Taiwan's recovery and industrialization. Container terminal development commenced after Kaohsiung's in 1972, with Keelung's facilities expanding to handle growing international volumes aligned with the island's export-led growth in and sectors. This integration supported Taiwan's merchandise trade expansion, where exports reached $584.87 billion in August 2025, though Keelung-specific throughput contributed to northern regional amid competition from southern ports. By the late , Keelung's facilitated increased maritime cargo trade, with values exceeding billions of New Taiwan dollars annually, reflecting deeper embedding in global supply chains. In , the port set a record with 266,000 foreign cruise passenger arrivals across 331 calls, surpassing the 2018 peak of 257,000 and highlighting diversification into amid sustained container and bulk handling operations.

Immediate Post-War Transition and Martial Law (1945–1987)

Upon Japan's surrender in World War II on September 2, 1945, administrative control of Taiwan transferred to the Republic of China (ROC) government, with formal handover ceremonies occurring in October 1945; Keelung was promptly redesignated a provincial-level city under Taiwan Province. Local authorities, including the newly established Keelung City Government and harbor administration, initiated repairs to infrastructure damaged during the war's final stages, focusing on the port's docks, warehouses, and rail connections, which had been expanded in five Japanese-led phases but left incomplete due to Allied bombings and resource shortages. These efforts aimed to restore operational capacity for trade and military logistics, though initial progress was hampered by shortages of materials and skilled labor transitioning from Japanese colonial systems. Socio-political frictions intensified between mainland Chinese administrators and native Taiwanese residents, culminating in the of 1947, which originated in but rapidly spread to Keelung amid protests over corruption, economic monopolies, and resource mismanagement by ROC officials. On March 8, 1947, the 21st Division of ROC troops under General Liu Yu-ching landed at Keelung Harbor, where soldiers fired on dock workers and civilians, sparking localized uprisings; was declared in Keelung and on March 10, with the Keelung fort commander, General Shih Hung, coordinating suppression efforts under the Taiwan Garrison Command's precursors. The ensuing crackdown resulted in hundreds of deaths in northern , including Keelung, exacerbating ethnic divides and setting the stage for broader authoritarian measures. Following the ROC government's retreat to in late 1949 amid the , island-wide was enacted on May 20, 1949, and enforced rigorously by the , a intelligence apparatus that operated as de facto until 1992. In Keelung, as a strategic facilitating reinforcements and of maritime , the Command maintained a heavy presence, monitoring laborers, intellectuals, and suspected communist sympathizers through arrests, interrogations, and executions under statutes like the Punishment of Sedition and Suppression of Banditry During the Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion. Declassified records indicate the White Terror era (1949–1987) involved over 140,000 political imprisonments and 3,000–4,000 executions across , with Keelung's coastal vantage enabling enforcement against smuggling networks and underground publications; local repression targeted elite families and union leaders, stifling organized opposition while prioritizing regime stability. Economically, the period saw stagnation in Keelung's port-dependent activities, as ROC policies of strict controls and rationing—intended to conserve reserves amid and fallout—led to chronic shortages of fuel, machinery parts, and consumer goods, reducing throughput from pre-war Japanese peaks. Real in declined sharply post-1945 due to these inward-oriented measures, with early substitution efforts failing to spur growth until U.S. aid influenced a pivot in the mid-; Keelung's exports and shipping volumes languished, reflecting broader mismanagement where state monopolies prioritized military needs over commercial viability, resulting in annual GDP growth averaging under 2% through the early .

Democratization and Economic Reforms (1987–2000)

The termination of martial law on July 15, 1987, initiated Taiwan's democratization process, fostering political liberalization that extended to local governance in cities like Keelung. This shift legalized opposition parties, including the (DPP), established in 1986, and enabled more competitive local elections previously controlled by the (KMT) through patronage networks and factions. In Keelung, DPP candidates began challenging KMT incumbents in council and mayoral races during the , reflecting broader national trends toward multipartisan contestation, though the KMT retained dominance in the city through the period. National economic reforms, including financial deregulation and liberalization in the late , stimulated export growth and directly benefited Keelung's -oriented by increasing northern cargo flows tied to Taipei's surge. To enhance competitiveness, handling operations were partially privatized in 1999 via a loader hire system, aligning with the government's Regional Operations Center initiative to modernize and reduce inefficiencies. These measures improved operational efficiency, supporting absolute increases in container throughput amid Taiwan's overall expansion from approximately 72 billion USD in 1987 to over 240 billion USD by 2000, though Keelung's relative share faced pressure from southern s like . Concurrent , driven by Taiwan's pivot to high-tech and capital-intensive sectors under policies, exacerbated urban challenges in Keelung, where traditional heavy industries and declined due to global relocation and domestic shifts southward. This contributed to stagnation and urban , including aging and reduced industrial employment, setting preconditions for later efforts while highlighting causal disconnects between national growth policies and localized port-city vulnerabilities.

Contemporary Developments (2000–2025)

In the early 21st century, Keelung pursued urban regeneration strategies to revitalize its aging infrastructure and enhance connectivity with the Taipei metropolitan area. By 2023, city planners adopted a "core with two wings" development framework, designating the central harbor district as the core while extending two wings along key corridors, supplemented by the "Keelung Valley Corridor" to integrate with greater Taipei. This approach aimed to shift from large-scale mega-projects to meta-scale sustainable regeneration, addressing spatial constraints in the hilly terrain and promoting mixed-use developments. Port infrastructure upgrades focused on resilience and multifunctionality amid environmental challenges. The Suao Port No. 13 Renovation Project, initiated in the early 2020s, involved replacing the wharf platform, fenders, and utilities to withstand seismic and typhoon risks, while incorporating principles through material recycling and . Completed aspects by 2025 enabled dual operations for passengers and general , enhancing operational efficiency and supporting regional . Earlier efforts, such as the Cabinet-approved overhaul, relocated military piers to free space for commercial and urban uses, marking a transition toward integrated waterfront development. Tourism rebounded strongly post-2020, driven by cruise sector growth. In 2024, Keelung Port handled a record 787,000 cruise passengers across 166 ship visits, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and reflecting robust recovery. Foreign visitor arrivals reached 266,000, a new high compared to 257,000 in 2018, with transit passengers up 4.5% from that year, underscoring the port's appeal as a gateway to . These figures supported local economic revitalization without relying on broader industrial shifts.

Geography and Environment

Topography and Location

Keelung occupies northeastern at coordinates 25°08′N 121°44′E, forming a major port city with its natural harbor oriented toward the . The harbor lies between Fugui Cape to the northwest and Cape Bitou to the east, sheltered by surrounding terrain that provides deep-water access while exposing it to northeastern winds. The 's consists of steep hills and mountains enclosing a compact basin, where the urban core and port facilities concentrate, with average around 17 meters above rising sharply to hilly ridges. This configuration constrains horizontal urban expansion, channeling development vertically along slopes and limiting sprawl to the basin floor. The highest within Keelung City reaches 738 meters at Wufenshan's Xifeng peak. Offshore islets, including Heping Island approximately 3.5 kilometers from the coast, function as natural barriers, mitigating wave action and enhancing harbor protection as noted in regional nautical descriptions. Heping Island itself rises to 182 meters, contributing to the fragmented coastal profile that defines Keelung's maritime geography. Nearby prominences like the 588-meter Keelung Mountain further delineate the enclosing terrain, visible from the harbor and influencing local landforms.

Climate Patterns

Keelung exhibits a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) strongly influenced by the East Asian monsoon system, featuring persistently high humidity and abundant rainfall throughout the year. Annual precipitation averages around 2,500 millimeters, positioning the city among Taiwan's wettest locales due to the northeast monsoon's interaction with coastal orography, which funnels moist air masses and promotes uplift during October to April. This seasonal dynamic accounts for roughly 40-50% of total yearly rainfall, with winter months often recording over 200 millimeters each. The prevalence of rain has earned Keelung the moniker "rain capital" of , substantiated by empirical records showing approximately 229 rainy days annually, exceeding 60% of the year. Summer and early autumn amplify this pattern through convective activity and incursions, with typically the wettest month at over 200 millimeters. Mean temperatures fluctuate between 15°C in , the coolest month, and 30°C in or , yielding an annual average of about 23°C moderated by maritime influences. Relative humidity consistently surpasses 75%, contributing to muggy conditions year-round. Taiwan encounters an average of 3.5 to 4 annually, with Keelung's northeastern exposure rendering it particularly susceptible to direct impacts, delivering episodic downpours that can exceed 500 millimeters in a single event. These systems, peaking from to , account for up to 20-30% of annual rainfall totals based on long-term meteorological datasets.

Environmental Challenges and Pollution

Air pollution in Keelung Harbor arises predominantly from maritime activities, with (SO₂) emissions largely attributable to ships burning high-sulfur . A 2005 assessment of the port region found that approximately 80% of total SO₂ emissions stemmed from main ship engines. Annual SO₂ emissions from merchant vessels in the port were estimated at 3,229 to 3,899 tonnes between 2006 and 2010, based on vessel activity data. To mitigate these, enforced stricter low-sulfur fuel standards for vessels starting in 2019, projecting a 9% reduction in ambient SO₂ concentrations around Keelung by 2020 compared to 2019 levels. Water quality in Keelung's rivers, particularly the Keelung River, reflects contamination from urban and industrial runoff, with ecological risk assessments identifying and other pollutants harmful to fish and aquatic organisms. are prevalent in the Tamsui River basin, including its Keelung River , where sampling revealed varying concentrations influenced by and inputs, contributing to broader estuarine . Soil contamination persists at legacy industrial facilities, notably the Hsieh-ho Power Plant, where 45 hectares were designated for remediation under pollution control measures in August 2025 following detection of pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls. The adjacent proposed Hsieh-ho LNG terminal's environmental impact assessment, approved in February 2025, drew appeals in July 2025 for insufficient analysis of site soil pollution risks and inaccuracies in coral survey data near the development area.

Demographics

Population Statistics and Growth

As of the end of 2024, Keelung City's registered stood at 361,441 residents. This figure reflects a consistent downward trajectory, with the city experiencing net population shrinkage since , driven primarily by out-migration and low birth rates. Over the preceding decades, the population peaked near 400,000 in the before stabilizing and then declining, with an average decadal reduction of approximately 1-2% in recent periods. The city's is approximately 2,723 persons per square kilometer, calculated across its total land area of 132.76 km², which underscores its compact, harbor-constrained . Demographic aging exacerbates the shrinkage, with 20.8% of the aged 65 or older as of June 2024, classifying Keelung as a super-aged society per international benchmarks. Outflows to the adjacent Taipei metropolitan area for employment opportunities have contributed to a sustained net migration loss, particularly among working-age individuals, amplifying the natural decline from excess deaths over births. This pattern aligns with broader trends in Taiwan's peripheral urban centers, where economic centralization in draws younger residents away, leaving behind an increasingly elderly local base.

Ethnic Composition and Migration Patterns

The ethnic composition of Keelung is dominated by , who constitute the overwhelming majority of residents, primarily descendants of 17th-19th century migrants from and provinces speaking () dialects, alongside smaller Hakka communities. Post-1949 arrivals from , known as , added a distinct originating from various provinces, with household registration data indicating they form roughly 10-13% of Taiwan's overall, though and naval bases in Keelung likely concentrated higher proportions due to Republic of China military relocations following the . Indigenous peoples represent approximately 2.4% of Keelung's residents, a figure notably elevated relative to other urban areas lacking designated tribal lands. While the region was historically home to the Ketagalan, a plains indigenous group assimilated through centuries of Han settlement and colonial pressures, current indigenous demographics reflect from Taiwan's recognized tribes, with Amis comprising nearly 80% (around 7,522 individuals as of late 2022), followed by Atayal (689), Paiwan (302), and Bunun (262). Migration patterns underscore Keelung's role as a maritime hub: the post-1949 waishengren influx, totaling 900,000-1.1 million across between 1945 and 1955, included significant settlement in northern ports for administrative and defense purposes. In contemporary times, the fishing sector has drawn temporary migrant laborers from , predominantly , , and the , prompting the establishment of the Keelung Migrant Fishermen's Union in 2021 to address labor conditions in distant-water operations. These workers, often comprising up to half of vessel crews, fill shortages in an industry reliant on low-wage foreign input amid local demographic decline.

Government and Politics

Administrative Structure

Keelung holds the status of a special in , granting it direct administration under the with a streamlined bureaucratic focused on urban governance. The city is subdivided into seven : Zhongzheng, Xinyi, Ren'ai, , Anle, Nuannuan, and Qixing. These serve as primary administrative units, each managing local neighborhoods known as li (villages), totaling 157 across the municipality. The Keelung City Government, headquartered in , provides overarching coordination for municipal services, policy implementation, and inter-district affairs. This central body oversees an area of 132.76 km², which includes the mainland urban zones and seven offshore islands such as Heping Island, Zhongtianchi Islet, and Huaping Islet. District-level offices handle decentralized operations, including community welfare, local infrastructure upkeep, and resident services, often drawing from allocated budgets to address specific regional needs. Administrative codes align with Taiwan's national , designating Keelung under 031 for statistical and jurisdictional purposes, facilitating precise delineation in official records and mapping. This structure ensures efficient resource distribution while maintaining unity in city-wide initiatives like public safety and environmental management.

Political History and Governance

Following the Republic of China's retreat to Taiwan in 1949, Keelung's local governance operated under (KMT) dominance, with officials initially appointed amid the party's control over 's administration. Local elections began in 1950 under an autonomous system, though conducted within a one-party framework until martial law's end in 1987. introduced competitive multi-party mayoral elections in the 1990s, enabling shifts between KMT and (DPP) control. Keelung's mayoral tenures reflect this alternation: the KMT secured the 2007 by-election with candidate Chang Tong-rong's victory. The DPP gained power in 2014 under Lin Yu-chang, who retained the office in 2018. The KMT reclaimed it in the 2022 elections, with Hsieh Kuo-liang defeating the DPP incumbent amid a broader KMT surge in local races. The mayor exercises executive authority over municipal affairs, including urban planning and zoning decisions that influence port-adjacent development, such as land use controls under Taiwan's Spatial Planning Act, which grants local governments autonomy in zoning implementation. While national entities manage core port operations, mayoral policies shape surrounding infrastructure and economic zoning. A 2024 recall effort against Mayor Hsieh failed, with voters rejecting removal by a majority—approximately 70,000 in favor falling short of the required threshold—signaling electoral stability despite partisan tensions. Cross-jurisdictional infrastructure initiatives, like the Xidong-Keelung MRT line integrating with Taipei's metropolitan network, demonstrate pragmatic cooperation among mayors from varying parties, advancing regional connectivity beyond electoral divides.

Recent Controversies and Scandals

In 2024, civic groups launched a recall campaign against Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang of the (KMT), alleging he abused his authority to favor the Breeze Group—operated by the family of his former spouse—in a disputed shopping mall development project originally involving NET Mall. The effort cited Hsieh's decisions to terminate and renegotiate contracts as benefiting connected parties amid a prior scandal at NET's parent company. The recall vote on October 13, 2024, failed to pass, as agreeing votes fell short of the required threshold—approximately 70,000 in favor against a higher opposition tally—allowing Hsieh to retain office. Prosecutors indicted eleven individuals in August 2024 on corruption charges tied to irregularities in two municipal parking lot construction projects, involving alleged bid-rigging and favoritism during prior administrations. Separately, in the NET Mall case, authorities declined to prosecute Hsieh in February 2025 for lack of sufficient evidence of wrongdoing, though investigations into potential Anti-Corruption Act violations in unrelated matters persisted. These probes highlighted ongoing scrutiny of local procurement but yielded no convictions against the mayor as of mid-2025. During the 2022 mayoral election, (DPP) candidate Tsai Shih-ying accused Hsieh of through opaque campaign financing and asset transfers, urging judicial investigation into financial discrepancies. Courts found insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims, resulting in no indictments and Hsieh's electoral victory. Such partisan allegations, common in Taiwan's polarized politics, often dissolve without prosecutorial action, underscoring challenges in distinguishing electoral rhetoric from verifiable malfeasance.

Economy

Maritime and Port Sector

The Port of Keelung is managed by the Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC), a state-owned entity overseeing operations at major Taiwanese ports including Keelung, which functions as northern 's key logistics hub for and cross-strait passenger and . Historically, during the Japanese colonial , the port served as a primary naval and supply base, making it a frequent target for Allied bombings toward World War II's end, after which it shifted emphasis to commercial activities. Today, cross-strait trade with constitutes a vital segment, supporting direct maritime links despite geopolitical tensions. Cargo operations form the port's economic backbone, with total throughput recorded at 14.2 million metric tons alongside 1.53 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in handling in recent annual figures. These volumes underscore Keelung's role in facilitating regional bulk, general, and freight, though specific breakdowns for China-bound trade remain integrated within broader statistics without isolated public disclosure in official reports. The cruise industry has surged post-pandemic, achieving 331 vessel calls and serving 266,000 foreign passengers in 2024, eclipsing the prior peak of 257,000 arrivals in 2018 and marking Taiwan's highest for any port that year. Projections indicate sustained expansion, with expectations for passenger numbers to surpass 2024 records in 2025 amid increased international itineraries.

Fisheries and Industrial Activities

Keelung's fisheries primarily operate from harbors such as Zhengbin Fishing Harbor and Badouzi, supporting coastal and nearshore operations with facilities capable of berthing around 1,000 fishing vessels. The sector faces significant pressures from , exemplified by the sharp decline in coastal catches at Badouzi Fishing Village, where annual production dropped from 2,210 metric tons in 2011 to just 7.3 metric tons in 2021 due to and environmental factors. Broader Taiwanese marine surveys indicate declining stocks of common , with contributing to smaller average fish sizes in catches and reduced overall yields. In response to wild stock exhaustion, Taiwanese fisheries, including those in Keelung, have increasingly adopted techniques, such as offshore cage systems, to maintain output amid variability and historical overcapacity in capture . These efforts align with national trends toward sustainable practices, though coastal operations remain vulnerable to by foreign vessels encroaching on Taiwanese waters. Industrial activities in Keelung extend to shipbuilding and repair at the CSBC Corporation's facility on Heping Island, which handles vessel maintenance and occasional new constructions as part of Taiwan's maritime capabilities. Seafood processing complements fisheries by transforming catches into value-added products, though the sector has contracted alongside declining availability, reflecting a broader pivot in the local economy away from traditional heavy industry. Keelung's economy has encountered structural challenges from and mid-term urban shrinkage, with commencing around 2000, contributing to reduced industrial activity and labor market pressures. Local rates have averaged approximately 3.7%, exceeding the national figure of 3.45% as of August 2025, indicative of slower adaptation to service-oriented shifts despite overall stability. Regeneration initiatives, such as the Keelung Valley Corridor strategy, emphasize enhanced connectivity to the metropolitan area to stimulate growth through integrated and infrastructure links, addressing isolation from broader economic hubs. Post-COVID recovery has driven positive trends, particularly in maritime-related sectors, with the recording 787,000 foreign cruise passengers in 2024—a historic high that supported ancillary economic activity via increased visitor spending and logistics demand. To mitigate deindustrialization effects, targeted infrastructure investments include wharf renovations, such as the Suao Port Wharf No. 13 project completed in 2025, which bolsters operational resilience, promotes practices, and sustains throughput. These form part of a broader national NT$43.7 billion ($1.37 billion) upgrade plan across seven commercial ports, including Keelung, executed from 2023 onward to modernize berths, deepen drafts, and accommodate larger vessels, thereby enhancing competitiveness and countering obsolescence in aging facilities. Such causal policy interventions link directly to improved efficiency, fostering job retention in transport and storage amid national GDP growth of 4.3% in 2024.

Infrastructure

Transportation Systems

Ports and Water Transport

Keelung serves as a primary maritime gateway for northern , managed by the International , with facilities for handling, , and passenger services. The features multiple terminals, including those for international cruises and domestic , connected directly to for efficient cargo distribution. In 2024, it hosted 166 visits, accommodating 787,000 international passengers, reflecting robust recovery and growth in tourism-related traffic. operations from Keelung primarily link to the , with daily services such as those operated by All Ports Transportation Co., Ltd., departing to Nangan and Dongyin; the route to Dongyin takes approximately 10 hours. A proposed route to Japan's was announced in 2025, with ticket sales anticipated soon thereafter, potentially expanding regional connectivity.

Rail, Road, and Air Links

Keelung Station functions as the northern terminus of Taiwan Railways' Yilan Line and connects to the main trunk line, facilitating frequent commuter and regional services to , with travel times of 40 to 50 minutes on local trains. The station, originally constructed in 1891 and subsequently rebuilt, integrates with local bus services and is located adjacent to the area for seamless multimodal transfers. Road access relies on Provincial Highway 5, a 27.9 km route linking Keelung directly to , alongside connections to Freeway No. 1, whose northern terminus facilitates high-speed travel southward, and Provincial Highway 2 for coastal routes. Keelung lacks a dedicated , with residents and port users relying on 's Songshan Domestic Airport or for air travel, approximately 40-60 km away via highway. A Keelung Mass Rapid Transit system remains in planning stages to enhance urban and regional rail capacity.

Ports and Water Transport

Keelung serves as the principal gateway for maritime trade and passenger transport in northern , facilitating connections to regional industrial zones and hubs. Spanning 607 hectares with a port width of 355 meters and 56 piers, the facility supports bulk vessels up to 80,000 tons and annual bulk loading of 19.2 million metric tons, alongside total cargo handling capacity of approximately 64.5 million freight tons per year. The port manages diverse cargo types, including bulk commodities, containers, and general freight. In 2023, cargo throughput reached 14.2 million metric tons, comprising 6.5 million tons of imports, 3.0 million tons of exports, and 4.7 million tons of domestic shipments; this increased to 15.0 million metric tons in 2024. Container throughput stood at 1.62 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in 2023, reflecting its role in regional container traffic despite competition from larger southern ports. Passenger operations emphasize cruise and ferry services, positioning Keelung as an international cruise . The port accommodated bookings for 237 calls in 2025, projecting 861,000 passengers. routes connect to outlying islands, including regular cross-strait services to Matsu via vessels like the Taima Star, and seasonal ferries to Hualien using ships such as the New Taima, which carried 569 passengers on a July 2025 trial voyage. Vessel traffic is monitored through a dedicated service extending 20 nautical miles offshore to ensure safety and efficiency.

Rail, Road, and Air Links

Keelung Station serves as the primary rail hub, functioning as the northern terminus of the Taiwan Railways Administration's (TRA) Yilan Line while connecting westward to via the western trunk line. TRA operates local and express trains to every 30 minutes, with journey times typically ranging from 40 to 50 minutes depending on the service type. Passengers seeking access must transfer at to the network for connections southward. Road connectivity relies on Provincial Highway 2, a coastal route linking Keelung to over approximately 23 kilometers and supporting freight movement to industrial zones and the port. This highway parallels National Freeway 1, which carries 74 percent of inter-city traffic, leading to congestion on secondary roads during peak hours as reported by transportation analyses. Bus networks, operated by companies like Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport, provide frequent services to via routes such as , with fares around NT$2 and integrated into regional systems like the TPASS for unlimited travel across , New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Keelung. For , Keelung has no dedicated airport and depends on Taipei Songshan Airport, located 20.4 kilometers southwest, primarily for domestic flights, or Taoyuan International Airport, 51.5 kilometers away, for international routes. Ground transfers from these airports to Keelung typically involve buses or , adding 30 to 60 minutes to travel times amid regional traffic volumes.

Energy Production and Supply

The Hsieh-ho Power Plant, located in Zhongshan District, serves as Keelung's primary local power generation facility, with an operating capacity of 1,000 MW from two oil-fired units constructed between 1972 and 1985. This installation, the only fully oil-fired plant in , has been designated for phase-out and redevelopment into combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) units to align with national goals reducing dependency. In August 2025, Keelung authorities classified the site as a pollution control area, halting land transactions pending remediation assessments. To support the conversion, (Taipower) proposed the adjacent Hsieh-ho LNG Terminal, with Phase I designed for 0.9 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) capacity to fuel the repowered plant. The project's (EIA) was conditionally approved by the Ministry of Environment in February 2025 after seven years of review, but faced immediate appeals from environmental groups citing unresolved , seismic risks, and urban proximity concerns. These disputes highlight ongoing tensions in siting LNG near Keelung's densely populated harbor area, with the terminal's full development projected to enhance grid stability amid Taiwan's broader shift toward natural gas comprising over 40% of national generation by 2025. Keelung's electricity supply integrates into Taipower's national grid, where thermal sources dominate and renewables constitute approximately 12% of total output as of mid-2025, though local from sources like the small-scale Keelung (MSW) incineration plant contributes minimally to the city's needs. Historical fuel infrastructure, including Japanese-era depots repurposed for petroleum storage by state entities like , supports port-related logistics but plays no significant role in current power production capacities. Overall, the city depends on imported fuels via Taipower, with efforts aimed at bolstering resilience against supply disruptions.

Culture and Society

Festivals and Local Traditions

The Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival, observed during the seventh lunar month (typically August to September), commemorates the spirits of the deceased through rituals originating from a 1851 clan battle between Zhang and Quan families during the Qing Dynasty, when survivors performed appeasement ceremonies to placate unrestful souls. This event, now in its 171st year as of 2025, involves eleven Hokkien-descended clans organizing sequential parades with elaborate floats, music, and incense offerings, culminating in harbor-based water lantern processions on boats that release glowing lanterns into the sea to guide wandering spirits. Rooted in Fujianese Hokkien customs imported by early Han settlers—who form the demographic majority in Keelung—the festival emphasizes communal reciprocity between the living and the dead, drawing crowds from across Taiwan for its blend of solemn rituals and vibrant displays, though exact annual attendance varies with weather and promotion. Dragon boat races occur annually on the Keelung River during the fifth lunar month's (Duanwu, around June), featuring teams paddling 200-meter courses in traditional longboats to honor the poet , a practice adapted to the city's maritime heritage among its fishing and port-working communities. These competitions, involving dozens of local and regional crews, reflect Hokkien competitive traditions and attract spectators numbering in the tens of thousands, underscoring Keelung's identity as a harbor hub where such events tie into broader aquatic customs. Lunar New Year observances in Keelung, spanning the first lunar month (January-February), include temple prayers and street markets selling symbolic goods like longevity noodles and red envelopes, customs primarily from Han families who predominate locally, with occasional indigenous influences from minority Atayal groups in temple-adjacent rituals. City Hall and harbors feature decorative lanterns and lion dances starting from , fostering family gatherings and market bustle that blend Confucian familial piety with practical preparations for the agricultural year.

Cultural Heritage and Preservation

Keelung's preservation efforts emphasize the safeguarding of Japanese colonial-era , indigenous historical sites, and intangible traditions amid rapid urbanization. The city's Cultural Affairs Bureau, under the , coordinates initiatives aligned with Taiwan's Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, focusing on sites that demonstrate historical layering from indigenous, , and Japanese periods. A key project, the Keelung Historical Scene Reconstruction and Integration Project launched in the early 2020s, reconstructs and integrates sites across Heping Island, Shawan, and urban areas using archival records and archaeological data to narrate Keelung's maritime and defensive history. Japanese-era buildings form a of these efforts, with restorations highlighting architectural and socio-political significance. The Khóo Tsú-song Mansion, constructed in 1931 as the residence of local leader Ko Zu-song during Japanese rule, underwent revitalization in 2015, transforming the long-abandoned into a center for cultural and creative activities. Local youth groups, including the Keelung Youth Front established around 2014, have contributed to its maintenance through cleaning campaigns and public access initiatives, preventing demolition and fostering . Similarly, the Keelung Fort Commander's , a Japanese-period , was designated a municipal on December 7, 2006, with preservation focusing on its intact and shelters to illustrate colonial defense strategies. Indigenous heritage preservation addresses the Basay people's legacy on Heping Island, where post-2021 archaeological excavations and re-creation projects have uncovered and documented artifacts tied to pre-colonial settlements. Local archives maintain collections of indigenous tools and daily life items, integrated into broader cultural asset inventories to counter erosion from port expansion and urban development. These efforts draw on UNESCO-inspired criteria for authenticity and community involvement, prioritizing empirical site surveys over narrative reinterpretations. Since 2018, youth-led compilations have supplemented physical preservation by documenting elderly residents' accounts of industrial decline and harbor life, mitigating losses from modernization. Groups affiliated with the Zhengbin Harbour Museum of Art have systematically gathered narratives, compiling them into archives that inform site reconstructions and challenge homogenized urban narratives. These initiatives, funded partly by the Ministry of Culture's youth programs, emphasize verifiable testimonies to preserve causal links between Keelung's communities and historical events like the fortifications.

Tourism and Attractions

Key Tourist Sites

Heping Island, also known as Keelung Islet, is a volcanic landform characterized by steep cliffs and minimal flat terrain, offering recreational walks and pavilions for visitors. The island includes the Huanshan Trail, a circular path around a central hill, and historical fortifications such as the Sheliao East Fort, originally constructed in 1626 during Spanish occupation and later modified under Dutch, Qing, and Japanese control. Archaeologists have identified remnants potentially corresponding to Fort San Salvador, a Spanish stronghold from the 17th century. Zhongzheng Park spans three levels with panoramic vistas of Keelung City and its harbor. The first level contains a historic fort from the Japanese colonial period, while the second features a Buddhist , Martyrs' , and Zhuputan Temple; the third level culminates in a 22.5-meter-high white statue flanked by golden lions, accessible via internal stairs for elevated views. Additional facilities include sports courts, a , and an ice skating rink. Dawulun Fort, situated at 231 meters above on Dawulun Mountain, overlooks Lovers Lake, Dawulun Bay, and the East Sea, serving as a defensive structure enhanced during Japanese rule with concrete bunkers and artillery positions. The Memorial Park, originally established in 1885 as a for French casualties from the 1884-1885 Keelung Campaign, inters over 700 soldiers whose remains were relocated in 1909 and the site reopened to the public in 1999 after closure in 1964. Nearby Nuanshou Mountain preserves trenches from the conflict between French and Qing forces.

Night Markets and Culinary Offerings

The Miaokou Night Market, Keelung's primary night market located in the Ren'ai District, hosts over 100 stalls specializing in street foods that highlight the city's coastal location, with a strong emphasis on preparations such as soup, crab soup, and fresh sourced from nearby ports. These dishes leverage Keelung's fisheries, which supply the market daily, contributing to Taiwan's consumption of 27 to 35 kilograms annually—exceeding the global average of 20 kilograms—and reflecting the integral role of local catches in sustaining night market demand. Culinary fusion in Keelung's offerings stems from migration patterns during the and Japanese colonial era, introducing staples like the oyster omelet (oyster o-ah-chian), a dish blending Fujianese techniques of stir-frying s with eggs, starch, and vegetables into a crispy-savory patty. This reflects broader Taiwanese culinary adaptation of southern Chinese immigrant recipes to local ingredients, prioritizing fresh harbor-sourced s over imported alternatives. Hygiene standards at Miaokou and similar markets have seen targeted enhancements since the early , following national initiatives prompted by incidents like the 2013 recycled oil scandal, including mandatory vendor certifications, improved sanitation protocols, and regular inspections by local health authorities to address persistent gaps in handling compared to formal restaurants. These measures have helped maintain the market's appeal amid high foot traffic, with stalls operating nightly and peaking during festivals tied to Keelung's fishing cycles.

Education

Higher Education Institutions

The primary higher education institution in Keelung is National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU), located in the with its main campus overlooking Keelung Harbor. Established as a specializing in maritime sciences, , and ocean engineering, NTOU enrolls approximately 8,418 students across undergraduate and graduate programs. Its academic structure includes seven colleges, such as the College of Engineering and the College of Ocean Science and Engineering, emphasizing fields like , , and tailored to Taiwan's coastal economy. NTOU contributes significantly to research in port logistics and maritime technology, leveraging its proximity to Keelung Port for practical studies in and vessel traffic systems, with outputs reflected in high publication volumes in and disciplines. Smaller institutions include , a with around 1,000 students focused on creative media, , and digital design programs. Additionally, Deh Yu College of Nursing and Health, enrolling fewer than 2,000 students, specializes in vocational training for healthcare professions, including and , serving regional workforce needs. These institutions collectively support Keelung's emphasis on specialized, industry-aligned education rather than broad liberal arts.

Secondary and Primary Education

Primary and secondary education in Keelung operates under Taiwan's national 12-year compulsory basic education system, implemented since the 2014 school year, which includes six years of elementary education, three years of junior high school, and three years of senior high school or equivalent vocational training. This framework ensures free education through the junior high level, with high enrollment rates supported by the Ministry of Education. Elementary schools in Keelung provide foundational focusing on core subjects such as , , , and , aligned with national curricula emphasizing holistic development. While exact current figures vary, historical data from statistical yearbooks indicate around primary schools serving the city's , reflecting Keelung's compact urban structure and proximity to larger Taipei-area resources. Facilities typically include standard classrooms, libraries, and playgrounds, with many schools participating in national programs for environmental and safety enhancements. Secondary education encompasses junior high schools, which continue compulsory core academics, and senior high schools, including vocational options tailored to Keelung's maritime economy. Notable among these is the Affiliated Keelung Maritime Senior High School of National Taiwan Ocean University, which specializes in , , and shipping trades to address labor demands at Keelung Port, one of 's busiest harbors. Students in vocational tracks receive hands-on training, such as vessel operation simulations, fostering skills for the local shipping industry. Taiwan's overall rate for individuals aged 15 and above stands at 98.5%, with Keelung benefiting from this uniform high standard through national assessments and curricula. However, enrollment in primary and secondary schools has declined in line with demographic trends, as Keelung recorded one of Taiwan's lowest birth rates at 3.17 per 1,000 population in 2024, contributing to national projections of enrollment dropping below 1 million by 2029. This has prompted adaptations like merged classes in smaller schools to maintain viability.

Notable Individuals

Jiang Yi-huah, born on November 18, 1960, in Keelung's Nuannuan District, served as of the Republic of China from February 2013 to March 2014, overseeing administrative reforms amid economic challenges. A graduate of with a doctorate from , he previously held positions as Minister of the Interior and Secretary-General, contributing to policy on cross-strait relations and domestic governance. Ko Zu-song (許梓桑), a prominent local leader during Japanese colonial rule (1895–1945), influenced Keelung's administration and public opinion as an intellectual and political figure, with his 1931 mansion reflecting era-specific architecture tied to port development. In sports, Chen Ti, born October 3, 1983, in Keelung, competed professionally in tennis, achieving a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 172 in 2013 and representing Chinese Taipei in Davis Cup ties, including wins against regional opponents. Zero Chou, born July 24, 1969, in Keelung, is a whose works, such as Spider Lilies (2007), explore themes of identity and memory, earning international awards including Teddy Awards at for LGBTQ+ cinema. Show Lo (羅志祥), born July 30, 1979, in Keelung, rose as a multifaceted entertainer, releasing over 10 albums since 2003 and starring in series like Hi My Sweetheart (2009), with performances blending and dance that topped Taiwanese charts.

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