RONGXUAN TRAIL (容軒步道)

/ taiwantrailsandtales
A Short Walk with Coastal Views in Keelung

This short walk isn’t the kind of place that would be worth a visit by itself, but if you’re in the area to visit the Ocean Technology Museum or Shen’ao Rail Bike, then this would make a pleasant addition to the day’s wanderings.

Distance: 1.1km – But do spend time venturing over to Wangyou Valley and Badouzi Coastal Area.

Time: 20-30 minutes.

Difficulty: 0.5/10 – This is a very short and easy trail.

Total ascent: Almost none, just around 20m.

Water: A small bottle would suffice.

Shade: On and off tree cover.

Mobile network: Clear throughout.

Enjoyment: This walk has some nice coastal views, and makes for a pleasant short addition to a day spent walking in the area.

Route type: Loop

Permit: None needed

Jump to the bottom of this post for a trail map and GPX file.

This micro trail starts from Haikeguan Train Station. The last-but-one stop on the Pingxi Line, Haikeguan is noteworthy for being the northernmost operational TRA station in Taiwan. If you’re arriving by train, you’ll have to swipe out with your EasyCard on one of the posts by the station exit.

The trail turns right off the main path running the station to the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology. A board gives background information about the site now used to house the museum. Back in the period of Japanese occupation, it housed the North Thermal Power Plant, the first power plant in Taiwan to use seawater in its cooling processes. It was shut down during the Second World War, and didn’t renter service until 1953, it then saw almost another three decades of use before being decommissioned, abandoned and finally repurposed as a museum.

Heading left through a partial shelter, there’s more information about life in the area. Old photos show sports days, social clubs and family life during the previous eras.

Steps lead up past the information boards and cross over a small road. There are two flights of stairs leading up from here. I took this one on the right and looped back down on the left-hand one.

There are plenty of signs that the area has been used for other things over the years. Like these crumbling walls are half hidden amongst the greenery.

At the top of the steps, I had to head through a carpark and then past this semi-abandoned-looking building. A little further along, a trail leads across the middle of a half-empty fishpond to a viewing platform.

From here you can enjoy a view of Mount Keelung rising above the coast with the old mining village of Jiufen tucked into the lee of the hill.

A slightly overgrown path tracks uphill from here (although I think it was in the process of being trimmed by a chap with a strimmer).

Each time the trees on the right drop away, there are incrementally different views of Mount Keelung to enjoy.

The path arrives at a flat area with some overgrown benches and a crap ton of mosquitoes. The trail split head rightish and continues uphill, passing a banyan tree trailing its vines and up the steps running alongside a building.

The path loops around the top of the small hill with a small fenced off path leading to a weather station.

A viewing platform at the highest point overlooks Changtanli Fishing Port and has a few signs giving interesting tidbits about the origins of nearby place names.

Looking south, Jiufen sat under menacing grey clouds. In the opposite direction, you can see the interconnected structures of Badouzi and Bisha Fishing Ports with Sheliao Bridge’s white span connecting Keelung with Heping Island in the far distance.

I enjoyed this little squiggle of Beining Road as it passed the museum and headed into the built-up area of Badouzi.

Looping back down, the path takes you along a section of raised wooden steps before eventually heading back down to the benches and mosquito paradise.

Instead of going back down the same way I came, I took the steps on the right and followed the steps down to the tree-lined road. From here you can either head back to the station or down to the main road and on to your next adventure. (As I did.)

How to get to Rongxuan Trail

Google maps address: This trail starts and ends at Haikeguan Station. There’s parking a little way down from the station.

GPS location: N25 08.260 E121 48.000

Public transport:

Nearby trails:

Rongxuan Trail Map

GPX file available here on Outdoor Active. (Account needed, but the free one works just fine.)

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