North Coast

Yehliu Park

Yeliou is a cape of about 1.7km long formed by the Datun Mountain reaching into the sea. When overlooked from above, the place is like a giant turtle submerging into the sea. Thus, it is also called ‘Yeliou Turtle’. Because the rock layer of seashore contains sandstone of limestone texture and it is subject to sea erosion, weathering and earth movements, there are many stone formations.

 

The park is divided into three sections. The first section has rocks with shapes identified as Queen's Head, Fairy's Shoe and the Candle. The second section has rocks known as Bean Curd and Dragon Head. The third section has sea-eroded caves, seal shaped rock, etc. In addition, there is a statue of Lin Tien Jane in commemoration of the person's bravery of sacrificing his own life for saving others. There is also a marine world which has about 200 rare fish species and marine animals

Jiufen village (Jioufen / Chuifin)  

Jiufen is famous for its old mining town charming characteristics. It is said that long time ago there were only nine families in Jiufen. Before the roads were built, all materials were transported via ships. Thus a tradition was formed that nine pieces of the same object were purchased at one time. Hence, the name of Jioufen.

 

Jiufen is located within the hills in northeast of Taiwan. The village is next to the mountain and facing the sea. In 1890, someone struck gold near Jiufen. The poor village with only nine families soon attracted prospectors of 4,000 families. The village was once known as the gold city of Asia and called little Shanghai or little Hong Kong. However, with the decline of gold mining activities, Jiufen faded. Later, several movies were shot there..

 

The prosperous old streets, buildings, mines and the glamorous gold digging days are long gone and now it promotes its many unique teahouses. The most prosperous shopping district is Jinshan Street that goes through most of the village, with its many shops vending the most famous country snack of Geo Fan, yam dish and various local dishes as well as many preserved historical items.

Gold Ecological Park, Jinguashi

The site of the mine was used as an allied prisoner-of-war camp from 1942. The original buildings in the park are well preserved with Japanese style buildings, light vehicle way, gold museum, gold temple, gold furnace, old post office, police office, residences of "Mige Kiku Zirou" and Crown Prince Chalet, etc. The Crown Prince's Chalet is in Japanese Style with a Fuji Mountain window. The attention in the detail of this building shows the privileged status of the owner at the time. Weaving among the architectures in the park is the BenShan Wu Keng Ancient Trail. The Gold museum houses the world largest pure 99.9% gold brick, weighing 220kg.

Gold Waterfall

Due to the mining history, the underground water sprouted out and became a striking waterfall. The waterfall's direction and sound changes according to the rain fall. When the rain water mixes with Iron and Carrollite, it oxidized and catalyzed by bacteria within iron and becomes yellowish-orange acidic water

Yin Yang Hai, (Bay of Two colours)

The sea has two colours -a brownish/yellowish colour due to the copper and iron deposits amidst a majestic blue. Some believe that the yellowish sea colour was due to the pollution resulting from smelting activities of the mining company. Strangely, even though the mining company has stopped operating, the Yin-yang sea still exists. Scholars claim that it is a natural phenomenon rather than a man-made pollution as the area has a large amount of pyrite that has formed Fe3+ which does not dissolve easily in water. This results in the formation of iron ion floating particles when it flows into the sea. The colour of the sea varies depending on the weather and season.

Nanya Rock

The northernmost area, Nanya is noted for its fantastic rock formations and sea-eroded coral shore. The entire coastline here is a veritable sculpture garden that illustrates, in stone, the incomparable artistry of weathering and wave action. The patterned stone topography of Nanya, unique in Taiwan, was formed through the weathering of the sandstone that lines the shore. The oxidation of iron ore within the striations of the stone has given it a beautiful striped pattern

 

Bitou Cape

From afar, Bitou Cape looks like the nose of a kitten leaning by the sea. The total area of the cape is about 4 to 5 km2, whose tall abrasion caves and platforms and other eroded landforms are clearly in sight on the cape's hanging cliff. With an elevation of about 120m, the Bitou Cape Lighthouse is at the end of the trail along which there are endless scenes from the ocean and eroded landforms. Standing in the lighthouse, waves from the East China Sea and the Pacific meet right in front of you.

Keelung City, Harbour & night market

Keelung City is Taiwan’s seventh largest city and it is also the largest natural port in northern Taiwan. The east, west, and south side of the city are all surrounded by mountains with a small plain area in the north side reaching out to the Pacific Ocean. Serving as a natural harbour, Keelung bay reaches deeply into downtown deeply. Within the city are many more slopes than planes and with the Keelung Islet and Hoping Islet protecting Keeling on both sides of the water it is strategically difficult to invade the town.  

 

Chung Cheng Park (previously Kang Park), situated on the side of Ta Sha Wan Shan is home to the 25m white statue of Goddess of Mercy which is the biggest Goddess statue in Southeast Asia. Inside is a stairway leading to the top with views over Keeling harbour.

 

The famous snacks and desserts in the Keelung Miaokou Night Market are: Tempura, Oyster Omelet, Shrimp Thick Soup, Bean-Sprout Thick Soup, Healthy Sandwich, Bubble Ice, Dingbiancuo, etc. Also, the famous cuisines such as steamed butter crabs with butter, eel thick soup, and pork knuckles are on the Aisi Road. Keelung’s Bisa Harbor is a famous tourist fish market. There are over twenty seafood restaurants near the harbour offering fresh seafood cuisine. Visitors may also purchase fresh seafood in the fish market and bring it to a nearby seafood restaurant and ask them to serve it. The most famous snack in Keelung is the pineapple cake.