Heping Island, formerly known as Sheliao Island, is located northeast of Keelung. It serves as the gateway to Keelung Harbor and is one of the earliest places in northern Taiwan to have seen Westerners' footprints, as well as one of the earliest sites in Keelung to be settled by Han Chinese. Originally a settlement of the Ketagalan tribe, it was later designated a military control zone. Currently, parts of the coastal area have been opened to the public as Heping Island Park.
The main attraction of Heping Island Park is its significant coastal erosion landforms. The unique rock formations along the coastline have been sculpted by wind and sea erosion over a long period, resulting in distinctive landscapes such as sea cliffs, sea platforms, sea trenches, weathered windows, Lion Head Rock, and Bear Head Rock. The most famous are the "Tofu Rock" and "Ten Thousand People Mound" (mushroom-shaped rocks). These diverse coastal erosion formations make it a favorite spot for children's outdoor learning, allowing them to see the pictures in their textbooks and experience the power of nature firsthand.
Besides its magnificent terrain, the exposed fossils and trace fossils are geological treasures of Heping Island. Stepping on fossils that are hundreds of thousands of years old is quite exciting and novel. In addition, the coastal plants that grow in the harsh conditions of the seaside are worth stopping to admire.
On the coast of Heping Island Park, there is a famous historical site called "Fanzi Cave," one of the few remaining relics from the Western Dutch period in Keelung City. The cave is 20 meters long and is said to contain inscriptions carved by the Dutch before they left Sheliao Island in 1668. The rock is sandstone, and the cave is located right next to the sea. Over the centuries, strong northeast monsoons have eroded and worn away the inscriptions, requiring careful observation to discern any clues.
The receding tide platform allows people to play barefoot in the water and observe various intertidal creatures, while the strange rocks and boulders invite you to use your imagination and have a lot of fun. If you get tired from playing or walking, you can stop and sit on the rocks on the beach, listen to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, and carefully listen to the sounds of nature, allowing your mind and body to relax. Such an experience will definitely leave you with unforgettable memories.
The Peace Island Park Visitor Center (modeled after the Spanish city of El Salvador) has been completed and officially opened. Peace Island Park has also outsourced its management. Visitors are reminded to pay attention to safety when playing in the park and to avoid lingering or playing under the sea cliffs, as this is unstable terrain and there is a risk of collapse at any time.