Keelung, Port city in northeastern Taiwan.
Keelung is a port city in northern Taiwan spread across seven districts and surrounded by mountains. The urban area sits between forested slopes and the ocean, with the natural harbor between steep cliffs forming the central bay.
Spanish sailors built a fortress on the bay in 1626, the first European settlement in this part of Taiwan. Later, Dutch, Chinese and Japanese powers each controlled the harbor in succession until it passed to Taiwan after 1945.
The Ghost Month celebrations in July and August transform the city into a space filled with processions, floating lanterns and night-time rituals. These ceremonies arose from reconciliation between formerly rival families and now honor wandering souls.
Travelers reach the city from central Taipei by train in under an hour, with trains departing every few minutes during the day. Because of frequent rain, it helps to bring an umbrella or waterproof jacket.
The place receives more rainfall than almost any other inhabited city in the world, with rain falling on over two-thirds of the days each year. This constant moisture shapes the streetscape with covered walkways and umbrellas present in every shop.
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