African desert wonders in Taiwan — a new hidden gem at the sea salt flats

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

A desert meeting the Red Sea is a spectacle usually only seen along Africa’s Skeleton Coast. Located on the abandoned salt pans of Dingshan in Qigu District, Tainan, the shallow seawater accumulated here evaporates, creating a landscape with strikingly colorful formations. Due to its secluded location, this breathtaking hidden gem has unexpectedly become an adventure destination.

The Qigu coastal area was once an important hub for the salt industry, with numerous salt fields of various sizes spread across the region. This hidden site turned strikingly colorful due to prolonged drought. After seawater was channeled into the abandoned salt pans, it was left to slowly evaporate under the sun over time, resulting in highly concentrated brine that took on an iron-red hue.

Some of the brine on the salt pans crystallizes into salt and is gathered into crystallization pools. The variation in terrain elevation and the irregular shapes of the salt crystals give the brine different colors. Under sunlight, a spectrum of hues and lines can be seen, with light and shadow interweaving to form a surreal landscape. Moreover, the site is remote and rarely disturbed by human activity.