Take a fishing raft to tour the Cigu Lagoon

Cigu Lagoon is located at Cigu Township, a coastal place in Tainan County. The Zengwun (曾文) River’s estuary is just at the south of Cigu Lagoon. Geologists said the Lagoon was formed by mud brought by the water of the Zengwun River many years ago.

The soil around the Cigu Lagoon contains a high concentration of salt which makes it unsuitable for agriculture. Therefore, the inhabitants there successfully developed fish and oyster raising industries.

These special fish and oyster farms not only solve the inhabitants’ issue of making a living, but have also become a must-see attraction of an itinerary around Tainan’s coastline.

Cigu Lagoon is the largest ecological lagoon area in Taiwan. Due to over-development, the lagoon has shrunk from about 10,000 hectares 20 years ago to the current 1,600 hectares. Most geologists predicted that the lagoon might disappear in the next 20 years if the over-development is not halted.

Cigu Lagoon is encircled from north to south by sandbars off the shore of Cingshan, Wangzihliao, and Dingtou Harbors. The best option for appreciating the beauty of Cigu Lagoon is to take a ride on a plastic-tube raft around the lagoon from Nanwan, Hailiao, and Longshan.

Along the ride, a unique scene of a fishing village with rustic fishermen cultivating oysters in the lagoon, setting up their fishing nets and raising clams, as well as lovers of rod fishing waiting for their catch can be captured.

Total lagoon fishing-raft tour takes about 90 minutes, costing NT$230 for one person. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the mangrove conservation area, fixed fishnet area, oyster farm area. Besides, visitors may also have a chance to see the ecology of fiddler crabs and cormorants during the 90-minute ride. Interested persons may call Mr. Lin at (06)7827120, 7873679 or Fax: (06)7873697

Nearby attractions

In addition to Cigu Lagoon, visitors may also take a look at the Taiwan Salt Museum (台灣鹽博物館) and Cigu Salt Mountains (七股鹽山) nearby.

The Taiwan Salt Museum is a snow-white building shaped like pyramids. Inside, the museum offers lively presentations of the three-centuries-plus history of the salt industry in Taiwan through static displays combined with sound-and-light shows and performance.

The Cigu Salt Mountains are located at the Cigu Salt Fields. The pyramidal shaped salt mountains are about four stories high. Visitors may see at a distance of four or five kilometers outside.

The Black-faced Spoonbill Reserve is also a must-see place. Situated on the north shore of the Zengmun River estuary, near Cigu Lagoon, the reserve is where the winter migratory Black-faced Spoonbill heads every year from October to May of the following year.

The Black-faced Spoonbills in Cigu account for two thirds of the global population, as Cigu is the world’s largest winter habitat for the species. The reserve set up by the Tainan County Government is designed to provide interpretation on the bird’s ecology as well as carry out important works of research and rescue for the bird.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email