Budai Salt Field Introduction
The southwestern coast of Taiwan, with its flat sandy shores and strong sunlight, has historically been an excellent salt production area. Budai boasts unique geographical conditions and has a long history of salt production, dating back to the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, which exceeds 200 years to this day. Salt fields in Budai began to be developed during the Qianlong period, and by the third year of the Daoguang period, salt merchant Wu Shangxin expanded the salt fields, establishing a foundation for the future salt industry in Budai. During the Japanese colonial period, the salt fields in Budai became more mature, and Budai Port emerged as an important port for salt transportation, selling Budai salt to China and Japan. The shimmering salt fields once held a "platinum" industry status. However, similar to other regions, salt production gradually became mechanized, leading to the decline of the salt industry in Budai. The once-bustling salt fields no longer showcase scenes of salt harvesting and production, and the small trains that used to traverse the salt fields have already retired. The Budai salt fields are not limited to Budai Township; in fact, the entire salt production area spans across the coastal regions of Chiayi County, including Dongshi Township, Budai Township, and Yizhu Township. A rough delineation extends from west of Provincial Highway 17 to the coastline, from the northernmost Zhangtan Field Office to the southernmost Xinwen Field Office, managing around 10 production areas. The idle salinas located between Provincial Highways 17 and 61 connect with the Haomeiliao Ecological Reserve, becoming a significant foraging site for herons and migratory birds in Taiwan, as well as an excellent spot for bird watching. All the salt fields in Budai Township are owned by Taiwanese Salt Corporation, which was once the largest salt production site in Taiwan. In the past, traveling south along Provincial Highway 17, one would be flanked by picturesque salt fields: neat rows of white salt ponds glistening with shimmering reflections and snow-white salt mountains rising like small snowy peaks from the ground, creating a unique industrial landscape.
