Sun, Apr 13, 2003 page2

• Cultural village worth its salt

  With the advent of modern technolgy, the traditional salt-making industry lost its prominent place in Taiwan's industry and society; but supporters of the Salt Field Ecology and Cultural Village believe they have found a way to make sure that tradition is not lost.

  • By Chang Yun-ping / STAFF REPORTER IN TAINAN
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  The vast fields and adjoining buildings were once the center of one of Taiwan's most important industries -- making salt. With the decline of the industry they were left derelict, subject to the ravages of time and weather.

  But now, with support from the Tainan City Government and the national Council for Cultural Affairs the plantation will be restored as the Salt Field Ecology and Cultural Village as part of a plan to revitalizing both the industry and the city.

  

  A salt worker uses traditional tools and methods to make salt in the restored Anshun salt field in Tainan.

  PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

  The salt fields in Tainan span the old port areas between An-nan (安南) and An-ping (安平) districts, lying on the salt marshes that give birth to the natural habitats for salt-related work. Due to its natural resources, the marsh terrain also makes a fertile home for more than 200 species of fowl in the area, including the most well-known migratory birds, the black-faced spoonbills.

  

  The former British trading company Tait & Co, located in Tainan's An-ping district, is now a museum on Taiwan's development history and a major tourist and historical site in Tainan.

  PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

  The salt-field operations started in 1919 during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. At the time, the salt production was monopolized. But as the modern electrolysis salt-making technology replaced the traditional salt works, the operation was halted in 1994 and the vast fields with their production facilities were abandoned.

  The Salt Field Ecology and Cultural Village plans to use these assets to turn itself into a tourism spot by exhibiting the cultural, historical, industrial and natural resources of the area.

  Chairwoman of the Council for Cultural Affairs Tchen Yu-chiou (陳郁秀), who attended the ground-breaking ceremony on April 8, said undertaking the constructing of this cultural village embodies many of the objectives and policies the Executive Yuan has been promoting -- including the new hometown construction project, the preservation of cultural assets, protecting the environment, and increasing tourism.

  "Every concept of these policies is realized in Tainan's Salt-Field Ecology and Cultural Village," Tchen said.

  The village, defined as a local culture center, gets its funding from the council's budget for repairs of buildings at county and municipal culture centers.

  Tchen also lauded the abundant natural resources surrounding the salt-fields, the 500-hectare Szu-tsao Wildlife Protection Zone (四草野生保護區), which she said will complement the salt fields to attract more tourists.

  Tainan City Mayor Hsu Tien-tsai (許添財) said the salt-fields, which lie within the Szu-tsao Wildlife Protection Area, are not only the foundation of Taiwan's industry, but also abound with natural resources. He proposed the establishment of lodging facilities within the village to attract tourists and make the management and operation of the village sustainable and effective.

  Among the various resources to be restored, the salt-making equipment and installations are considered the priorities.

  These facilities include the waterway transportation facilities such as the canal, port, dock and raft, as well as the machinery at the water-pumping station.

  Living museum

  The old warehouse at the dock is to be renovated into a museum to display the salt-making tools and other machinery which depicts the heyday of the salt-field operation.

  The square-shaped salt pans, which are hung on racks to employ wind evaporation, will also be put back into operation.

  Those running the center believe that keeping the facilities in use is the best way to maintain the wood and clay-brick buildings which would fall apart without proper care.

  However, not every inch of the salt fields will be put back into operation, since it would not be economical to employ the labor-intensive practices that would be necessary for the the mass production of salt in this way

  But the resumption of work on a limited scale is aimed at sustaining and maintaining the culture, history and traditions of the industry and educating people about them.

  In addition to the 50-hectare salt plantation, the village includes a 16-hectare bird habitat area.

  Tainan City Deputy Mayor Hsu Yang-ming (許陽明) said the salt produced here will be the high grade "flower of Guerande" salt (鹽花), regarded as the best quality of unrefined salt, due to its subtle flavor and its ability to dissolve very quickly.

  Hsu said the salt itself will be a key attractions for tourists who come to learn the process of making salt.

  "We will make it a three to four-day package tour for tourists who can come to stay in the village during the weekends to learn about salt-making, and at the same time watch the numerous birds that inhabit the the salt marshes," Hsu said.

  On the site visitors will use the traditional tools such as water wheels, windmills, rakes, bamboo baskets and cross-shoulder carrying poles.

  In addition to experiencing the salters' life, other features of the village also include the making of handicrafts such as bamboo nests, silk scarves, and woodblock printing mastered by the salt-field villagers who utilize the existing materials to make the handicrafts.

  An important part of the history of the salt-fields operation are the generations of salt workers who lived and worked there.

  But nine years ago when the salt-operation was called off, the villagers started to switch to other vocations and other locations.

  Roots

  The salt-field terrain is 30cm below sea level -- which led to constant flooding of their traditional dwellings in the middle of the salt fields. At the end of last year, all of the villagers who used to live in the central island of the salt-fields were evacuated to the neighboring community.

  Nevertheless, the villagers finally went back to their roots in the salt fields when they were informed that the government was to revitalize the operations.

  "These villagers are very spontaneous and zealous about being able to come back to their family land to carry out their ancestors' business," Hsu said.

  "The speed with which they demolished their old buildings surprised us. They are very efficient in doing what we told them to do, as they have a special connection with this land that makes them so devoted," Hsu said.

  The repair work for the construction of the Salt Field Ecology and Cultural Village will require a NT$12 million budget.

  "The villagers started the preparation work long before the budget arrived. They just can't wait to see their homeland begin to prosper again," Hsu said.

  In addition, several bird watching pavilions have been built with the driftwood found on the beach.

  "They use the materials on the beach for building. In that way, they also help keep the beach clean," Hsu said.

  Currently, the salt-fields are in the care of both the city government and private organizations which involve historical scholars and environmentalists to preserve the cultural and natural assets.

  The construction of the village is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year. During the salt-making season, which spans from October to April, the village is to be open fully. During the off-season, visitors must make an appointment if they wish to tour the facilities.
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