Budai Salt Field Introduction
The southwestern coast of Taiwan, with its flat sandy shores and strong sunlight, has been an excellent salt producing area since ancient times. Budai boasts unique geographical conditions for salt production, with a history dating back to the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, extending over two hundred years. Salt fields were first established in Budai during the Qianlong period, and by the third year of the Daoguang era, the wealthy salt merchant Wu Shang-hsin developed the salt fields at Bai-jia, laying the foundation for Budai's salt industry. During the Japanese colonial period, the salt fields in Budai became even more mature, making Budai Harbor an important port for salt transportation, exporting salt to China and Japan. The white salt fields once held a "platinum" level of industry status, but like salt fields in other regions, traditional salt workers have nearly been replaced by mechanized salt production, leading to a decline in Budai's salt industry. The vast salt fields no longer showcase scenes of salt harvesting, and the small trains that once traversed the salt fields have long since retired. The Budai salt fields are not limited to Budai Township; in fact, the entire salt field area spans the coastal regions of Chiayi County, including Dongshi Township, Budai Township, and Yizhu Township. Roughly delineated, it stretches from the west of Taiwan Provincial Highway 17 to the coastline, from the northernmost Zhangtan Field Office to the southernmost Xinhuan Field Office, managing about ten production areas. The idle salt flatlands between Provincial Highways 17 and 61 connect with the Haomeiliao Ecological Protection Area, becoming an important feeding ground for herons and migratory birds during winter, making it an excellent birdwatching spot. All salt fields in Budai Township are owned by Taiwan Salt Company, which was once the largest salt field in Taiwan. In the past, traveling south along Provincial Highway 17, both sides were lined with picturesque salt fields, with neatly arranged white salt ponds glimmering in the light and snow-white salt mountains rising like small snowy peaks, creating a unique industrial landscape.