Keelung City

Taiwan's oldest modern port (opened 1886) became its most challenged—Keelung's harbor, once the island's gateway, lost container traffic to purpose-built Kaohsiung and Taichung facilities. The city's steep terrain limited expansion; its historical core became liability rather than asset as shipping containerized.

Modern Keelung pivots toward cruise tourism and cultural heritage. The night market tradition, Zhongzheng Park, and historic port atmosphere attract domestic tourists. The city hosts Taiwan's largest Hungry Ghost Festival celebrations (Zhongyuan Festival), drawing visitors each August.

Population declined from 400,000+ peak to under 370,000 as economic opportunities shifted south. The city functions increasingly as commuter suburb for Taipei (40 minutes by train), though affordable housing attracts residents priced out of metropolitan Taipei.

2026 trajectory: Port redevelopment focuses on passenger rather than cargo operations. Cultural tourism investment attempts to leverage historical character. The city tests whether post-industrial port reinvention can attract economic activity or merely slow decline.