Salt Mountain 七股鹽山

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Salt Mountain (aka Qigu Salt Mountain) is a mountain made of salt in Qigu District of Tainan City. It is a remnant of the now defunct salt drying industry that thrived for over 300 years in Tainan. Nearby you can also enjoy the Qigu Salt Museum. If you are a fan of salt, this is the place for you.

Background:
Drying seawater in Tainan for salt production began as early as 1665 during the Kingdom of Tungning. The salt drying pools in Qigu were officially created in 1938 by the Japanese. These drying pools were constantly expanded on into the ROC era. 
However, as the price of imported salt became lower, Taiwan's domestic salt drying industry began to suffer, and the Qigu Salt Fields closed in 2002. Over 300 years of salt drying in Tainan came to an end.
In 2005, the Taiwan Salt Museum was opened which is right next to salt mountain. The museum features historical exhibitions and DIY activities.
Recently a number of works of art, amusement park rides, and statues have been set up near the salt mountain to attract visitors.

Price:
Salt Mountain: 50 NT 
Taiwan Salt Museum: 150 NT

Hours:
9 AM to 5:30 PM every day (the museum is closed on Wednesdays)

How to get there:
​By Car/Scooter: From central Tainan, take provincial highway 17 north to Qigu. At the intersection of highway 176, turn left on the 176 until you reach Salt Mountain. It will be on your right.
By Bus: From Tainan Station you can take the Blue Main Line to Jiali Station, then switch to BL20, then get off at Qigu Salt Mountain Station. The whole ride takes about two hours and is 115 NT one way.

Map:
​Please see below:

Our Journey:

​Salt Mountain will forever be etched in my memory because it was the first real vacation I had in Taiwan after my first few weeks on the island which was spent in Tainan. So, this blog has been sitting on the shelf for a long time.
​It seemed like a quirky place to visit, and it was. I feel no desire to go back. The memories I have there are enough for me.

From the top of Salt Mountain, you can see the Taiwan Salt Museum which looks like two white pyramids.

View of the steps up to Salt Mountain, with lots of fish ponds in the distance.

While we were there, there was a giant steel boar on display.

"Taiwan Mountain Boar"
"Taiwan's variety of wild boar was the motif for this huge theme lantern that lighted up the 2007 National Lantern Festival. The impressive structure, made mainly of perforated metal plates and weighing more than 20 tons, was afterwards moved to the Cigu Salt Mountain. Standing 18 meters tall, it continues to draw visitors."

Closeup on the perforated metal plates.

People posing with pigs and Santa and his reindeer.  All of these decorations have since been replaced.

Nearby you can also ride ATVs, go-karts, go golfing, and ride a paddle boat.

Salt Mountain has changed a bit since I last visited. Check out this blog to see the new artwork and attractions there.

​Thanks for reading and be sure to check out more of our blogs on Tainan to come!

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