In 2026, the port city of Keelung in northern Taiwan celebrates an incredible milestone: 400 years of history shaped by the sea and by connections with the world. This milestone highlights Keelung’s long-standing role as a port city with deep historical and global ties. To mark the anniversary, the YM Oceanic Culture & Art Museum (in Keelung), together with the Egret Cultural & Educational Foundation, is organizing a special mail art exhibition — and they’re inviting postcrossers everywhere to be part of it! 💙
So here’s the invitation: send a postcard to Keelung with your blessings for its 400th anniversary! Your message (and your creativity) will join hundreds of others, bringing voices from around the world together in one place.
The project is called “Keelung Trade Wind—KEELUNG 400 Mail Art”. The main exhibition about this special anniversary runs from February 3 to May 3, 2026, and postcards sent by Postcrossing members between January and April 30 will later be displayed at the museum from July to December 31, 2026 (after approval by the museum).
What should you send? Anything that feels meaningful and celebratory: a handwritten message, a postcard photo from your hometown, a small illustration, a bit of creative mail art… it’s all welcome.
The museum kindly asks that you begin your postcard like a little letter addressed to them. For example:
Dear YM Oceanic Culture & Art Museum,
Congratulations on Keelung’s 400th anniversary…
After that, it’s up to you. You can send a wish for Keelung, share a greeting from your corner of the world, or write a message about what postcards (and connections!) mean to you. And since this celebration is so closely tied to the sea and to Keelung’s history as a port city, you can also take inspiration from that: write about the ocean, ships, coastlines, lighthouses, sea winds, or the idea of trade routes and journeys. If your own town has a connection to the sea — a harbor, a river, fishing traditions, maritime industries, or stories of people coming and going — feel free to mention it too. It’s a lovely way to connect Keelung’s story with your own.
To help the museum identify your card as part of this collaboration, please add “Postcrossing”, your Postcrossing username, and your country somewhere on the card. And because these postcards will be publicly displayed (and later digitized so we can share the outcome of the project with the community), we recommend keeping your message postcard-style and avoiding personal contact details like email, phone number, address, etc.
Ready to join in? Here is the mailing address:
YM Oceanic Culture & Art Museum
(KEELUNG 400 Mail Art Exhibition)
No. 4, Gangxi St.,
Ren’ai Dist., Keelung City 200002
Taiwan (R.O.C.)
And if you happen to be in Taiwan (or planning a trip there!), you can also visit the museum throughout 2026 and see this celebration in person. From February 3 to December 31, 2026, Postcrossers can enjoy a special ticket price of NT$100 by showing either your Postcrossing profile page on your phone (logged in, with your username visible), or a postcard with a Postcrossing ID written on it at the 1F service counter. Keelung residents (with valid ID) receive free admission.
A small note for planning: the museum is scheduled to close temporarily for exhibition changeover during May–June 2026 (exact dates will be announced by the museum).
We love this kind of collaboration — postcards as tiny ambassadors, travelling across borders to become part of a shared celebration. If you decide to send one, we hope you’ll have fun with it… and we’d love to hear about it too. Happy 400th anniversary, Keelung! 🌊
PS: More information about the museum (including opening times and transportation options) can be checked here or on the Museum’s Facebook page.
88 comments so far
I will definitely be participating! Thank you for this opportunity! :)
So interesting! Thank you
I'm going to go and see for myself!
How fun! I'll definitely participate!
This is amazing! Will send one!
Wonderful — delighted to participate.
Sergiye katılmayı çok isterim. Fakat bulunduğum ülkenin şartları vize, pasaport vs gibi durumlardan sebeple katılamayacağım.. Ancak ülkemin kalbi konumunda olan ve güzelliğini simgeleyen bir kartpostal göndereceğim. Keelung'un 400. yıldönümü kutlu olsun! 🌊⚓
Wonderful idea! I will participate!
Hello!
I love exhibitions like this that tell beautiful stories about different cultures and civilisations throughout history. I would love to attend, but it will be difficult for me to do so in person. I hope to hear about its events.
Sending one now!!
I will participate as well.
Would be fun!!
Greetings from Ontario Canada!!
Wrote one out and it will be mailed post haste!
I wrote one, yaaay!! :D
sehr schöne Idee. Ich werde teilnehmen :-)
I'm in! Thank you!
Love this! Thank you for sharing this opportunity. Now to find a perfect postcard to send congratulations and friendship from Texas :)
Amazing!! Thank you Ana for sharing this article. I'm from Keelung Taiwan and now live in France. It's really touching to see it.
Just sent off a card today! I visited Keelung a few years ago. I didn't get to visit the museum, but the landscape and scenery were absolutely gorgeous. Happy to be a part of such a historical project!
Wowaaahhh! Can’t wait 🤩
Ah, want to go there too.
Congratulations! Will be sending them a card.
So happy to participate in this exchange of friendship and celebration. Card written to go in the mail tomorrow! Greetings from California!
Sent one this morning! 🎉
Looking forward to it!
This is amazing! I will definitely visit <3
That's a great idea. I'll write a card right away.
Hello! I'm going to take part in this wonderful initiative. Thank you to Anna for letting us know about it!
Wonderful idea, I gladly will participate 🌴 and send a card from Gozo. ❤️
Definately will send a card. Thank you Postcrossing team for providing us an opportunity to be an unique way of participation.
" ... postcards as tiny ambassadors, traveling across borders to become part of a shared celebration." - ABSOLUTELY! How *wonderful* that YM Oceanic Culture & Art Museum has invited 'the world' into their community for a celebration! I hope that Postcrossing has a follow-up article about the outcomes of this project, including photos. :-)
I know just the postcard I'll send on this overcast, breezy day: cruise ships docked in our harbour! (70oF/21oC)
Sounds like a fun way to connect to a distant shore!
Yay! I love this!!!
We are with you!We live!
Oleg and Gleb
That sounds interesting. My postcard will leave tomorrow. I will send the fishing boats in a german harbour from the North sea.
I have a wonderful Postcrossing friend of many years from Keelung, so I will be sending a special postcard to be a part of this exhibition.
I will send a nice card from beautiful Victoria BC Canada! ...Yeah...
I have posted my postcard today...Wish everybody at YM Oceanic Culture & Art Museum for their 400th year anniversary celebration.
On my way to visit Kunstmuseum in The Hague I'll post my card for Keelung. 🚲🎨
Nice idea! I'm sending a card now with an image of the Netherlands' only natural bay-harbor (on the island of Terschelling).
So fun! I will definetly join this project :)
Participating for sure as Singapore has been a port city (and still is) since the 14th century and like Keelung, my country's evolution over the centuries was shaped by the sea and river too.
A wonderfull idea. My postcard with typical boats from the North sea is on its way.
Such a fun idea! I will be joining this project!
Thank you for posting, I will send a card - fun!
I'm going to send a postcard.
What a lovely idea! I will send a card from the river "Elbe" in Germany :).
"Dear YM Oceanic Culture & Art Museum,
Congratulations on Keelung’s 400th anniversary!!!!" How fun! I'll definitely participate!
#Happy400th
Looking forward to send a card from Austria. Found a wonderful postcard.
Congratulations on Keelung's 400th anniversary!
What a great idea. Will be sending a card from costal Norway.
My card is just posted!
Keelung, Congratulations on your 400th anniversary.
My card is ready 🥳
I will mail it later today 😊👋
Wow! It's amazing to be part of the museum's celebration, my card will be mailed from Oulu in the north of Finland tomorrow!
Best regards, Eeva
Love the idea to be invited to join an exhibition. At the very it is that: a call to be present in the other side of the world, in my case.
Will be sending one out on the coldest day from MN
What a surprise to see an invitation from my hometown here on postcrossing <3
will be writing and will go to YM Oceanic Culture & Art Museum for the exhibition!!
From Almere in the Netherlands, city retrieved from the sea, the Flying Dutchman ghost ship will be on its way.
What joy to be able to participate, congratulations.
Thank you for the post, I'll send a card – how lovely!
Thank you for the post, I'll send a card.
I will send a postcard.
I did just send a postcard to their exhibition. :D
What an amazing event! I'm definitely joining.
What a great project! I've already chosen a card!
I was very pleased with this post.
I will definitely send a postcard.😀
Congratulations! 🙌 I sent them a postcard 📬
What a great event. My postcard is on the way.
Incredible! Sending my card from Amsterdam, which has more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) of grachten (canals) and 1500 bridges. Amsterdam wouldn't be the same without them! So much water history to share on my card. It will be on its way soon!
OMG! When I see the name, Keelung, I am wondering if this is the Keelung I know as a Taiwanese. And it is! Wow! Thx for the participants from all around the world. I’ll definitely join this celebration~
I'll be glad to participate, and will be joining a Tampa meetup this Saturday, so I'll take along the information abuot the anniversary celebration and see if others want to send their greetings.
Tampa Bay appeared on maps as "Bahia de Tampa" as early as 1601, so our city also shares a long maritime history.
Thanks!
What a wonderful exhibit! I sent a postcard to join in the international excitement of the oceanic culture featured in Taiwan!
Just sent one out today! Congrats :)
I visited Taiwan just last year... Now I feel the urge to go again more than ever! I'll definitely send a postcard. And then look at my travelplans for this year 😂
Have visited Keelung several times. Always enjoy it! PC sent!
WOW, I send a card on way, will visit here late. 💕
2/3 have a nice postmark about this, maybe someone will get them on PC ?
I know many letters send to Keelung Post, use the cool postmark.
Wish to be a part of this historic event. Keelung's 400 years and counting. What an incredible journey. Happy 🎂 Anniversary.
Love from India 🇮🇳
Congratulations on the exhibition! I love the idea of celebrating Keelung’s 400th Anniversary by sending a mail art.
I'll be happy to participate :)
This is wonderful, thank you for sharing! I will definitely be participating.
C'est un beau projet et je serais ravie d'y participer. Je pense avoir la carte parfaite pour l'évènement :)
I'm so happy to participate in an event hosted by my own country. I'll definitely go and visit. I can't wait!
Sending a postcard out today!
What a wonderful idea ❤️ I'm taking part this afternoon. Now I am looking for a possible card.
Sabine
Such a nice idea, i will defenitly take part in this need project!
Such a great idea! I've already sent a card :)
What a wonderful idea!!!
Of course I'll participate in this campaign, especially since I visite Taiwan almost every year due to family and friendship ties.
I love Taiwan, its people, its culture - simply everything.
Postcard sent! Had to participate. I lived in Taipei 30 years ago, and we used to go to the Keelung Night Market on the weekends. If I recall correctly, it was considered the biggest night market in Asia. Back then anyway, not sure if it is now.
Happy birthday Keelung!
It's exciting to be part of the celebration. I will participate on a wing and prayer, that my card arrives, as I am in South Africa! Congratulations on this amazing Milestone celebration.
What a wonderful initiative! My postcard is on its way to Taiwan :-)
One is on the way!
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