Heping Island Geopark Introduction
Peace Island Geopark is located on the eastern side of Keelung Port, serving as the gateway to Keelung Harbor and one of the first places in northern Taiwan to have Western footprints. It is also one of the earliest areas settled by Han Chinese in Keelung. Initially, this area was a settlement of the Ketagalan people, and later designated as a military control zone. Currently, some coastal areas have been opened to form Peace Island Geopark. The recreational focus of Peace Island Geopark is its significant coastal erosion landform scenery within the park. The geology of Peace Island consists of sandstone, featuring striking rock formations along the coastline shaped by persistent erosive forces due to wind and waves. This has created unique geological formations, such as wave-cut platforms, tofu rock, sea erosion channels, coastal cliffs, weathering windows, sea caves, mushroom rocks, Lion Head Rock, and Bear Head Rock, with the most famous landforms being "Qian Die Fu" and "Wan Ren Dui" (mushroom stone). In addition to its stunning geological features, the area also contains valuable biological fossils and ichnofossils exposed in the rock formations. To protect these precious geological resources, the rock control zone operates with scheduled and reservation-based guided tours. Furthermore, Peace Island Geopark provides outdoor pools and beach areas for children and adults to swim, engage in water activities, and play in the sand. The tidal pool allows visitors to observe various intertidal creatures while minimizing human impact on nature, aiming to maintain the ecological integrity of this beautiful natural treasure. After being included in the North Coast National Scenic Area, special attention has been paid to creating an accessible environment during restoration. This includes considerations for parking lots, observation decks, beach areas, wading pools, accessible pathways, and restrooms, with every small detail aimed at creating more convenience for visitors with mobility challenges. In 2018, Peace Island Geopark was honored with the Svayam Accessibility Awards for Best Accessible Tourist Attraction, committed to providing the most comfortable recreational environment for all visitors.
