七股鹽場台區生產區

Qigu Saltworks Taiqu Production Area

July 17th, 2026

Nearly 20 years after salt was last clawed from these fields this desolate landscape is slowly being reshaped again by man.

Qigu Saltworks (七股鹽場) was the largest salt field in Taiwan, and the 3rd Production Area (第三生產區) of the saltworks is one of its oldest extensions. Taiwan Salt Company (臺灣製鹽株式會社) reclaimed the area by building dikes in 1935, establishing what later came to be known as the Taiqu Salt Fields (台區鹽田), taking the first character of the company’s name. These solar evaporation ponds were worked for over 60 years, only to be decommissioned in 2002, around the time of Taiwan’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

An old pump house at the northern margins of the salt field.

Empty Housing at Qigu Saltworks Taiqu Production Area Pump House (七股鹽場台區生產區抽水機房)

Through The Floor at Qigu Saltworks Taiqu Production Area Pump House (七股鹽場台區生產區抽水機房)

Open Door at Qigu Saltworks Taiqu Production Area Pump House (七股鹽場台區生產區抽水機房)

The salt company recruited workers from along the coast of Tainan, initially building a cluster of eight dormitories in an area that came to be known as Badongliao (八棟寮), literally “eight building village”. This settlement was joined by Xinshanzailiao (新山子寮), a village of migrants who came to work in the salt fields. Unlike Badongliao it was independently managed and remains inhabited.

Former salt worker dormitories at Badongliao (八棟寮).

Inside one of the oldest units at Badongliao.

Most of these units are long-abandoned but at least a few were still occupied when I visited in 2017.

Red-brick and cement in the endless expanse of the Taiqu Salt Field.

An unidentified structure lost in the undergrowth. It might have been a guard post or checkpoint for the salt railway.

Taiqu was also home to one of the last remaining watchtowers of the salt police, similar to Dingshan Watchtower (頂山鹽警槍樓). Unfortunately it collapsed in the Jiaxian Earthquake of 2010 and had its heritage status rescinded. It was formerly located next to the highway at the north end of the salt field and there’s a chance you might be able to find the rubble beneath vegetation at this point.