Keelung Mountain Trail Introduction
The trailhead of Keelung Mountain is located about 350 meters from the entrance of Jiufen Old Street, next to a parking lot. There is also a prominent stone monument indicating the trail entrance. Keelung Mountain is named for its shape, which resembles a giant chicken cage; in the past, it was referred to as "Chicken Cage Mountain" but has been romantically named Keelung Mountain. In reality, its connection to the important northern Taiwan port of Keelung is minimal, only sharing a relatively close geographical location. From the side, it looks like a reclining pregnant woman, earning it another name: "Big Belly Beauty Mountain." Keelung Mountain is a conical dormant volcano with hard rock layers. The year-round sea breezes and northeast monsoons bring much salt rain, resulting in sparse tree coverage on the mountain, with abundant miscanthus grass. Although the peak is not high, it faces the coast, offering a broad and open view, providing a complete 360-degree panorama that makes one feel a sense of lifelong regret if they do not reach the summit. The Keelung Mountain Trail is entirely made up of steps leading to the top, with pavilions along the way where young and elderly hikers can take breaks and catch their breath.
