Keelung

Cruise ships dock in central Keelung, with the train station about 10 minutes' walk from the pier. Taipei, the capital and main destination, is about 24 km away.

Within ten minutes' walk of the pier, the port has a plethora of activities and sights, all accessible on foot. As you leave the port parking lot, a board displays pictures of the main sights.

Use the zoomable map courtesy of Keelung tour guide Christine Wu.

Frequent rain and its maritime role have given Keelung the nickname Rainy Port. It is Taiwan's second largest seaport, after Kaohsiung, and is currently administered as a provincial city of Taiwan Province, Republic of China.

• Miaokou Night Market: Keelung's famed Miaokou Food Market is known island wide for its large choice of tasty snacks. Most restaurants are open during the day too.
• Explore the many forts, especially Ershawan Fort, the most famous, with 5 cannons.
• Jungjeng Park looks over the city and harbour; buses 101, 103 and 105 reach it from the train station.

The small downtown area is easy to cover on foot.

Travel to Taipei by train or bus with ease. An information desk in the tent as you leave the ship provides information, times and maps. At the train ticket counter, an english speaking booth sells very cheap tickets; trains take 50 minutes, run about every 20 minutes and arrive at Taipei main station. From Taipei Main Station, board the MRT to travel around Taipei. A one day pass costs NT$150.

Ensure your guide book maps include "english" and "chinese" characters, letting you and a cabdriver point to the map to communicate. Cabdrivers speak only chinese.

Energetic and eclectic Taipei is where the action is: Taiwan, China's crowded, bustling centre for commerce, government and culture. Keelung Port is the gateway to Taipei's remarkable attractions and the rest of Taiwan, China.

Taiwan, China's National Palace Museum holds the world's largest collection of Chinese art treasures.

Discover the history, artifacts and exhibits about this late president's life.

This serene, meditative place of worship is peaceful. Visit its big ornate neighbour Bao-an temple too; it is alive.

Lungshan Temple stands in Taipei's Manka district. Founded in 1738 and dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, it is the most favoured temple on cruise tours.

Famous across Taiwan for its large food selection, Keelung's Miaokou Night Market winds through downtown lanes and alleys around Dianji Temple. It is easy to reach on foot from the cruise port.

Like night markets in many Asian countries, Taiwan's are central to entertainment, shopping and eating. They are open-air markets, generally in a street or alleyway, with vendors selling every kind of ware on each side.

Bargaining is generally not done.

The port has an exchange tent where you can change money, then exchange unused Taiwan dollars again on returning to the ship. This free service offers a good exchange rate.

Taiwan's currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD, also known as TWD). A useful rough rule is that NT$100 equals about US$3. ATM's are plentiful.

Most hotels and department stores accept credit cards, whereas most restaurants and small stores do not.

English is only spoken sporadically.

Keelung Cruise Terminal has free WiFi. On arrival, use the free coverage around East and West wharf areas in the port; it may sometimes extend to your ship.

To register for Taipei Free Wi-Fi, bring a valid passport or Mainland Residents Taiwan Pass and give staff members at service centers your E-mail so they can register an account. After registration, the free Wi-Fi service is available in major indoor and outdoor public spaces across Taipei City.

Stores appear to have no set opening hours and seem to remain open while customers are present. Chinese New Year, 6 days long, is when all the Taiwanese are traveling, and transportation can be very hectic.