Keelung Mountain Trail Introduction
The trailhead to Keelung Mountain is located alongside the road about 350 meters from the entrance of Jiufen Old Street, with a nearby parking lot. There is also a prominent stone monument indicating the trail entrance. Keelung Mountain is named so because its shape resembles a gigantic chicken coop; in the past, it was referred to as "Chicken Coop Mountain," while its more poetic name, Keelung Mountain, has little connection to the important port city of Keelung in northern Taiwan, apart from being geographically close. From the side, it resembles a pregnant woman lying down, earning it the alternative name "Big Belly Beauty Mountain." Keelung Mountain is a conical extinct volcano with hard rock layers. Due to the constant sea winds and northeast monsoons that bring salty rain, the vegetation on the mountain is sparse, with clusters of miscanthus grass. Although the summit is not very high, it faces the coast, providing a wide and open view with a complete 360-degree panorama. This invites visitors to feel a sense of regret for not reaching the summit. The hiking trail to Keelung Mountain consists of steps all the way to the top, and there are pavilions along the way for young and old alike to catch their breath and rest.
