Buddha Salt Field Introduction
The southwestern coast of Taiwan has been an excellent salt field since ancient times due to its flat sandy shores and strong sunlight. Budai boasts unique geographical conditions and a long history of salt production that dates back to the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, with over two hundred years of history. Salt fields were established in Budai during the Qianlong period, and in the third year of the Daoguang period, a wealthy salt merchant, Wu Shangxin, developed the Yancheng area, laying the foundation for Budai's salt industry. During the Japanese occupation, the salt fields in Budai matured further, making Budai Harbor an important port for salt distribution, exporting salt to China and Japan. The white salt fields once held a "platinum" level of industrial status, but like other regions, the salt workers have almost been entirely replaced by mechanized salt production, leading to a decline in Budai's salt industry. The vast salt grounds are now devoid of salt production, and the small train traversing the salt fields has long been retired. The Budai salt fields are not limited to Budai Township; in fact, the entire salt field area spans three townships along the coast of Chiayi County: Dongshi Township, Budai Township, and Yizhu Township. A rough division is from the west of Provincial Highway 17 to the coastline, from the northernmost Zhangtan Field Office to the southernmost Xinwen Field Office, managing around ten production areas. The idle salt flats existing between Provincial Highways 17 and 61 connect with the Haomeiliao Ecological Preservation Area, becoming a vital feeding ground for herons and migratory birds that winter in Taiwan, as well as an excellent birdwatching spot. All the salt fields in Budai Township are owned by Taiwan Salt Corporation and were once the largest salt fields in Taiwan. In the past, traveling south along Provincial Highway 17, both sides were lined with picturesque salt fields, with neat rows of white salt pools shimmering in the light and snow-white salt mountains resembling small snow peaks rising from the ground, creating a unique industrial landscape.
