Salt Festival in Tainan Will Hit City on October 26-27

The salt industry in Taiwan has a long history. For over three hunred years, it has been one of the staple industries for the island, the lifeblood of Taiwan’s economic development and an indispensible part of everyday life. First established during the Zheng Chenggong period of the Ming dynasty, salt production in Taiwan was a complex and highly technological process that included evaporating, drying, and crystalizing salt water.

Salt production in Taiwan ceased in 2002, but the unique salt field landscape of the Yun-Chia-Nan region remains an important centre of salt industry culture and salt village life that has left a rich and lingering cultural heritage.

There is a variety of unique sights associated with the salt industry in the Yun-Chia-Nan coastal area. Besides, this picturesque region is dotted with broad sandbars, lagoons and wetlands.

While the festival focuses on the salt culture, it also showcases religious beliefs of the local residents. The festival kicks off at the Nankunshen Daitian Temple, the main temple for the followers of the Wang Ye belief and the salt workers original home of Beimen.

The program of the festival features a bobei competition (traditional game of chance), do-it-yourself salt making, a lion dance competition and trophy, and folk song singing. Visitors will be also offered a chance to sample special Yun-Chia-Nan foods and buy creative 'salt of peace lucky bag' souvenirs.

Photo @taiwan.net.tw

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