The Keelong River is a tributary of the Dansui River and the northern-most of Taiwan’s major rivers. Spanning a total length of 89.4 kilometers, the river originates in the mountains of New Taipei City’s Pingxi District, flowing past Keelong and traversing thirteen townships before eventually winding its way into Taipei City.
A series of movements to protect the Keelong River began in 2004 with the ‘Cross-District Community Colleges Protecting The Dansui River Project’, which ultimately gave rise to the Dansui River Watch Union and the active promotion and establishment of river clubs in Taipei’s various community colleges. After years of hard work, river clubs alongside the Keelong River gradually matured and congregated to form the Keelong River Watch Union. Members of the Union have adopted the ABCs of Keelong River Guardianship—‘Active, Beautiful, and Clean’—as shared core principles in watching over their ‘mother river’.
While some Union members focus upon protection in their individual, respective locations, others may be active in exploring the wider river ecosystem, have an interest in the conservation of a particular indigenous animal or plant species, or are involved in the protection of wild streams. Some promote river education and delve into the relationship between nature and human life, whereas others conduct environmental patrols or monitor Environmental Impact Assessments of development plans; there are also those that are more concerned with the greenification of shorelines, and boosting water cleanliness for citizens. In addition to the aforementioned, the Union also holds an annual Keelong River Forum to provide a platform for civilians and government representatives of all levels to engage in dialogues concerning river remediation, in the hope that relevant policies can be created to better suit society’s needs.
Founded on the Keelong River in 2004
Beitou Community College, Taipei City
Bottom Left Corner Workshop
Chiyen Community Development Association
Nangang Community College, Taipei City
Nei-Hu Community College, Taipei City
She-Zi Foundation for Culture & Education
Syakkaw Patrol Team of Keelung River, SongSang Community College, Taipei
Taipei Shilin Community College
Taiwan Native Plant Society
Taiwan Nature Trail Society
Taiwan Sustainable Union
The Green Ray Treasure Box on the Pingxi Line: Sandiaoling
Tsao-Shan ECHA
Zhongshan Community College, Taipei City
(in alphabetical order)
The Enchanting Keelong River: A Cultural and Ecological U-Bike Outing
Organized by Taiwan Sustainable Union
Route 1: Visit Yuanshan’s Shell Mound, Jiantan’s Sanjiaodu (Cultural ferry port/dragon boating experience), the Zhoumei Plain and Shilin’s Beitou Technology Park, and Taipei’s largest paddy field, the Guandu Plain
Guide: Chen Jian-Zhi (Co-convener of the Keelong River Watch Union, Chairman of the Taiwan Sustainable Union)
Date: 2018/11/24, 12/15
Time: 13:00–18:00
Meeting point: Taipei Fine Arts Museum main entrance
Note: Up to 18 people per session. Due to the dragon boating experience, we will only accept participants who are enrolled in junior high- or higher-grade school levels and are over 150 cm in height.
Route 2: A Cultural and Ecological Outing on the Tamsui and Keelong Rivers
Taipei Story House (Yuanshan Mansion), Taiguchao, Yuanshan Park, Baoan Temple, Teacher’s Mansion, Huan-a-kau, Shezi Island, Beitou Refuse Incineration Plant, and Cisheng Temple
Guide: Chen Jian-Zhi (Co-convener of the Keelong River Watch Union, Chairman of the Taiwan Sustainable Union)
Date: 2018/12/ 22, 2019/1/5
Time: 13:00–18:00
Meeting point: Taipei Fine Arts Museum main entrance
Note: Up to 20 people per session, minimum age 10.
Online registration: https://reurl.cc/GdGdA
