Counting the times, this is already my third visit to Tainan. This time, I explored places quite different from the previous two visits—venturing beyond the urban areas and discovering a different side of Tainan. Tainan is Taiwan’s ancient capital, where streets and alleys are filled with historical sites, traditional architecture, and every sight, shop, and person has a story rooted in history, offering simple yet beautiful scenery. Locals often joke, “Walk around Tainan, and you might accidentally kick an ancient relic.” In fact, Tainan has over 50 cultural heritage sites, and the local government actively promotes cultural tourism and local preservation efforts, helping to maintain the city’s history spanning more than a century.
But this time, I’m not here to show you the historical sites—I’m taking you on a cycling trip. This cycling journey starts in Tainan’s Beimen District. From Monday to Friday, you can rent a bike at a grocery store called “Qian Lai Ye” for NT$100 per day; on weekends, there are more bike rental shops nearby. In recent years, the local government has planned a dedicated cycling path. By following this well-designed route, you can reach Jingzijiao Salt Fields. Along the way, you’ll pass through fishing villages and wetlands, offering a truly scenic experience.
It takes about 20 minutes of cycling to reach Jingzijiao Salt Fields. These are the oldest remaining tile-pan salt fields in the area, where salt has been harvested since the Qing Dynasty. Although the salt fields were out of production for over a decade, they have now been revitalized as a tourist attraction where visitors can experience traditional salt-making activities such as drying, carrying, and collecting salt. Speaking of which, Taiwan’s salt-harvesting history spans a full 338 years, beginning during the Qing Dynasty when an economic blockade cut off Taiwan’s salt supply. As a result, methods to extract salt from seawater were developed, giving birth to Taiwan’s salt industry. Salt is not only a necessity of life but also a crucial commodity for sustaining a local economy, highlighting its importance. Although Taiwan’s salt industry officially ended in 2002 with the closure of the Qigu Salt Fields, Jingzijiao Salt Fields now operate on a small scale and serve as a tourist spot—a meaningful way to preserve something of historical value.
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Text & Photos: Daneil / A Story of a Part-Time Travel Journalist