West Coast Leisure

Jiangjun District thrives on salt farming and commercial fishing. Viewed from above, the Qingkunshen Fan-Shaped Salt Fields spread out like a colossal folding fan; once left dormant after salt production ceased, the site has been revitalized into an open landscape park. Strolling down the central walkway brings you to a graceful white archway sculpture titled the "Tree of Life," now a popular photography landmark. Every afternoon, Jiangjun Fish Harbor auctions fresh daily catches. You can select your seafood and have nearby restaurants prepare it immediately, enjoying the sea-to-table freshness unique to the harbor.

Beimen District lies on Tainan's northwesternmost coast, formed as ancient lagoons silted up into sandbars, wetlands, and salt fields. Jingzaijiao Tile-Paved Salt Fields are lined with broken tiles that look like a vast mosaic from afar; at sunset the salt pans turn orange-red, well worth lingering for. Nankunshen Daitian Temple is a renowned center of Wangye worship in Taiwan and holds a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide. The coastal wetlands and fishponds provide habitat for migratory birds, and in autumn and winter flocks of waterbirds can be seen foraging in the shallows.

Qigu District has Taiwan's largest lagoon, its shores lined with oyster racks. On a bamboo raft tour, you can see rows of oyster racks standing above the water; after docking at a sandbar, the boat operator grills plump fresh oysters for visitors. The wetlands at the Zengwen River estuary are an important wintering ground for the internationally protected black-faced spoonbill. Flocks arrive in autumn and winter, and the birdwatching pavilions are equipped with telescopes for close-up viewing.

Xuejia District is known for its temple craftsmanship and milkfish farming. The roofs and walls of Xuejia Ciji Temple are covered with Koji pottery and Cut-and-Paste (Jiannian) works, finely rendering three-dimensional details such as the folds of clothing and the feathers of birds and flowers. The adjacent cultural hall houses more than 200 works, six of which are designated National Treasures, and admission is free. Clustered around the temple are restaurants specializing in milkfish, one of which has been recommended in the Michelin Bib Gourmand for several consecutive years. From milkfish belly and fish skin to fish balls, a single fish can be prepared in many ways.

Much of Annan District's estuarine wetland lies within Taijiang National Park. Here you will find the Sicao Green Tunnel, known as "Taiwan's Amazon." Wearing a traditional bamboo hat aboard a bamboo raft, you glide into the waterway as the mangroves on both sides meet overhead to form a green corridor. Fiddler crabs and mudskippers scurry across the mudflats, while egrets and other waterbirds skim past at low altitude.