Qigu Salt Flat was once Taiwan's largest salt-producing area. After production ceased, hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt that could not be processed were left behind, piled into a white salt mountain roughly twenty meters high. On a clear day, the salt crystals reflect sunlight; from a distance, it looks like a block of ice that has suddenly appeared on the plains of southern Taiwan. This salt mountain is a direct remnant of the end of Taiwan's salt industry — and one of the most visually striking industrial landscapes in the country.
What to See at Qigu Salt Mountain
Qigu Salt Flat was historically Taiwan's largest solar salt production site. After Taiwan's salt industry formally ceased production in 2002, the vast accumulated stock of table salt could not all be processed, leaving a salt mountain about 20 meters high in Yancheng Village. Composed of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt crystals, the mountain is white in color; after rain, the surface shows a slight pattern of dissolved-and-recrystallized textures entirely different from ordinary natural terrain.
Next to the site stands the Taiwan Salt Museum, which provides a systematic presentation of Taiwan's solar salt history, the geographic distribution of salt fields, and the evolution of salt-making technology. The museum holds a comprehensive record of Qigu's salt fields, including salt industry development data from the Japanese colonial period through the post-retrocession era. You can walk to the top of the salt mountain, with wide views; on a clear day you can look out over the former salt field sites and the distant coastline.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There & Timing
- Located in Yancheng Village, Qigu District, about 35 km from central Tainan; driving is recommended, as public transport options are limited.
- Both the salt mountain grounds and the Taiwan Salt Museum charge admission; check the official website to confirm ticket prices and opening hours.
- Summer afternoon temperatures are high and the salt mountain has no shade — avoid midday visits and bring sun protection.
Nearby Connections
- Qigu Black-Faced Spoonbill Reserve is about 5 km from the salt mountain — a natural pairing for the same day, forming a Qigu nature-and-industry day route.
- Qigu Fishing Harbor is about a 10-minute drive from the salt mountain — a good spot to try Qigu local seafood.
Source: compiled from contextual facts; for ticket prices and opening hours, please consult the Taiwan Salt Museum's official website. Photos pending replacement with Dio's actual shots.