Dingshan Saltworks Watchtower (頂山鹽警槍樓) - Spectral Codex
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Dingshan Saltworks Watchtower
頂山鹽警槍樓

Locations

Dingshan Saltworks Watchtower (頂山鹽警槍樓) is a heritage building located in the remote coastal wetlands of Qigu, Tainan. Constructed in 1949, it was one of approximately 25 watchtowers overlooking a vast expanse of state-owned salt evaporation ponds along the southwestern coast of Taiwan. With the end of the salt monopoly in 1977 these watchtowers were abandoned and left to the elements and many have since been destroyed.

Approaching the watchtower at dusk. This view is looking east.
Approaching the watchtower at dusk. This view is looking east.

All three remaining watchtowers were designated cultural assets in 2009, but progress on restoration has been mixed. This particular watchtower was reinforced with steel supports after it was damaged in the 2010 Kaohsiung Earthquake (2010年高雄地震), but wasn’t otherwise restored when I visited in 2017.

Approaching the Dingshan Saltworks Watchtower.
Approaching the Dingshan Saltworks Watchtower.
A portrait of the watchtower at dusk.
A portrait of the watchtower at dusk.
Reflections of the watchtower.
Reflections of the watchtower.
Steel supports are required in these earthquake-prone lands.
Steel supports are required in these earthquake-prone lands.
The former watchtower against the pale blue sky.
The former watchtower against the pale blue sky.
A porthole at ground level.
A porthole at ground level.
Gazing straight through the watchtower.
Gazing straight through the watchtower.
A hazy glimpse inside the old watchtower.
A hazy glimpse inside the old watchtower.
The watchtower and the surrounding wetlands.
The watchtower and the surrounding wetlands.
Artificial channels for managing water levels in the former saltworks.
Artificial channels for managing water levels in the former saltworks.
The red brick remains of a former outhouse.
The red brick remains of a former outhouse.
The watchtower from the southwest.
The watchtower from the southwest.
The leaning watchtower of Dingshan.
The leaning watchtower of Dingshan.
A parting glance at the former saltworks watchtower.
A parting glance at the former saltworks watchtower.

Warning: this location is abandoned, hazardous, or otherwise neglected and may be unsafe and even dangerous! Exercise appropriate precautions when visiting.

警告：此處已廢棄或長期無人管理，可能存在潛在危險。造訪時請務必提高警覺，並做好相關安全防護措施。

Map

Heritage Status

  • Historic Building (歷史建築)

Recorded On

Links

Themes

Series: Taiwan Summer Road Trip 2017

In the summer of 2017 I borrowed a scooter to ride to a music festival in Nantou and only returned it several months later. It wasn’t a continuous road trip—I’d leave the scooter parked at various HSR stations as I slowly made my way around central and southern Taiwan—but each leg of the trip usually involved 3 or 4 days of riding. In the end I gathered enough material for 60 or 70 posts, only some of which have been published.

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Author

Profile photo of Alexander Synaptic, founder of Spectral Codex
Alexander Synaptic
Curator, Spectral Codex

I am a web application developer, photojournalist, urban explorer, and history enthusiast passionate about the open web and documenting my experiences on this planet. This project was founded in the early 2010s and has evolved into a sort of personal Wikipedia of places that interest me (and often the photographs I’ve taken there). I’m originally from Toronto, Canada, but spend most of my time residing in Taiwan.