1. Yanshui River Estuary Wetlands
This wetland is located at the mouth of Yanshui River, adjacent to the Sicao Wetland A2 Zone to the north, running from the north embankment of Yanshui River, south to the Anping dike, east to Provincial Highway 17 and Dagang Guanhai Bridge as the boundary, and west to the coastal waters to the isobath of 6 meters. The total area spans 635 hectares. In recent years, intermediate egrets have been breeding in the southwest coast of Taiwan and have established new colonies.In the mangrove area at the mouth of the Yanshui River in Tainan City, great egrets and intermediate egrets were also found to be nesting. In addition, in the Journal of the National Taiwan Museum, Volume 58, it was documented that a new species of Taiwan Fronsella taiwanica molluscs with bivalves was found at the mouth of this river. The rich ecological resources here include endangered species such as Oriental storks and black-faced spoonbills; rare and valuable species include Western marsh harriers, ospreys, kestrels, little terns, and Chinese hwamei; other conservation-deserving species include brown shrike and Eulophia graminea orchids. Related links: Taijiang National Park
2. Zengwen River Estuary Wetlands
It is a world-class wetland located at the mouth of the Zengwen River, spanning from Dintouer Sandbank Guosheng Lighthouse (Qigu Lighthouse), Nanti Embankment and the Qigu Haipu Embankment in the south, the Qingcaolun Embankment on the south of the Zengwen River, and the Provincial Highway 17 (Guosheng Bridge) in the east. and west to the coastal waters to the isobath of 6 meters. From the west, the coastal waters is 3,218 hectares and extends to the 6-meter isobath. Zengwen River originates from the Alishan Mountain Range at an elevation of 2,609 meters; the main tributaries are Houku River, Tsai-liao River, and Guantian River. The watershed covers an area of about 1,176 square kilometers, and the length of the main stream is about 138 kilometers. The mouth of the Zengwen River in southwestern Taiwan has become a habitat for various species due to the rich nutrient salts brought by the upper reaches. Every year from October, black-faced spoonbills migrate from Korea and other places to spend the winter. The area includes the Tainan Zengwen River Mouth North Bank Black-faced Spoonbill Refuge and the Tainan Zengwen River Mouth Major Wildlife Habitat, as announced by the Council of Agriculture. The ecological resources include endangered species: black-faced spoonbills, Oriental storks, Nordmann's greenshanks, peregrine falcons, and grass owls; rare and valuable species: little terns, greater crested terns, Swinhoe's egrets, black storks, Eurasian spoonbills, swans (deleted), Baikal teals, besra sparrowhawks, Chinese sparrowhawks, gray-faced buzzards, crested goshawks, western marsh harriers, ospreys, kestrels, short-eared owls, etc.; species that should be conserved: semipalmated snipes, swallowed titmice, and red-tailed bobwhites. Other conservation-deserving species include: Asian dowitchers, Oriental pratincole, and brown shrikes. The indicator bird species of the sandy shore is the Oriental Ring-necked Plover, and the indicator bird species of the swamp area is the Kentish plover and the pied avocet. Related Links:Taijiang National Park
3.Zengwen Estuary Fish Ponds
The fish ponds in the protected area, Zengwen Estuary East Fish Pond, are important habitats for the black-faced spoonbill. There is an area full of mangrove forests, which is rich in flora and fauna. Related Links: Taijiang National Park
4.Sicao Wetland (Wildlife Sanctuary)
Wetlands exist in the intersection of water and land, and are frequently or intermittently inundated by tides and floods.Generally, they can be divided into coastal wetlands and inland wetlands. Taijiang’s wetlands are categorized as the coastal type, which is a wetland ecosystem that was formed with the tidal movement of the oceans. Wetlands have the function of filtering pollutants. When river water carries pollutants through the wetlands, the aquatic plants on the wetlands slow down the flow of water, adsorb heavy metals, and allow pollutants to precipitate on the bottom of the wetland. The plants retain nitrogen and phosphorus to prevent eutrophication of the water body. These flora also convert solar energy into microbial biomass and produces oxygen, which provides the nutrients that fish, shrimp, forests, and wildlife depend on for survival. Mangroves on wetlands provide wind protection to reduce direct damage from strong winds on terrestrial objects. The roots of mangroves prevent coastal erosion, and their rich underground aquifers prevent seawater intrusion and salinization of groundwater. Apart from providing a habitat for wildlife, fish, shellfish, and crabs, regulating flooding, purifying water quality, and producing natural products, the unique landscape is also suitable for recreational tourism and nature education. In 2007, the Construction and Planning Agency of the Ministry of the Interior conducted the "Wetlands of National Importance Assessment", in which the members of the assessment committee examined 75 wetlands in Taiwan with reference to the "Ramsar Convention: Convention of Wetlands of International Importance".The evaluation criteria and weightings were: biodiversity (50%), naturalness, representativeness and specificity (30%), and planning rationality (20%). As a result, it was concluded that there were 2 wetlands of international importance, 41 wetlands of national importance and 32 local wetlands. The Sicao Wetlands (Sicao Wildlife Refuge) and the Zengwen River Estuary Wetland in Tainan met Criterion 6 of the Ramsar Convention Criteria for Determining Wetlands of International Importance: "the wetland regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird", and was thus designated as a wetland of international importance. Yanshui River Estuary Wetlands was also designed a wetland of national importance. It is evident that the cooperation and efforts of the city government and the relevant conservation organizations have helped the wetlands' conservation achievements to be recognized by all experts and scholars, which enhances the ecological conservation image of Tainan City.
5. Mangrove Protection Area
The mangrove area in the drainage channel behind the Sicao Dazhong Temple used to be the most concentrated white-flowered black mangrove (Lumnitzera racemosa) forest in Taiwan, and the Taiwan provincial government designated this waterway as a mangrove protection zone in 1988. It is the best mangrove natural observation area in Tainan City, where three species of mangrove plants are distributed along a waterway of less than 200 meters. The most prevalent is the white mangrove (Avicennia marina), followed by the the salinity-tolerant white-flowered black mangrove, and a few red mangroves. Between these three mangrove plant areas and the trail, there is a concrete fence surrounding them. To observe the Sicao mangrove forest, you can first view the whole area from the small slope behind the temple overlooking the canopy level of the mangrove forest, where you can clearly see waterbirds in the mangrove forest. There are six species of tide crabs that can be spotted in the mangrove tide ditches in the fish ponds of the Mangrove Protection Area, and under the shade of the mangrove forest, you can see triangular fiddler crab, thick-legged fiddler crab, as well as the compressed fiddler crab, etc. Although there are only four families and 22 species, they are quite concentrated. You can also spot mudskippers in the waterway to the east of the temple.
6. Tidal Flats and Sandbanks
Due to the gentle land surface along the coast of Tainan, and the large amount of sand transported by the rivers from the west coast as well as the topography and geology, the velocity of the river waters suddenly decreases when they enter the sea, and the large amount of sediment carried by them accumulates near the estuary. With the effect of wind, tide, and waves, the estuary gradually silts up and rises outward, forming a natural sea pond or sandbank. While forming a wide tidal beach near the shoreline, a series of offshore sandbanks are formed in the breakwater area, forming another special coastal landscape. Tidal flats refers to the land that has been created by natural sedimentation or construction of dikes in the coastal area. Broadly speaking, it refers to the new land exposed at the shallow beach of the coastal area. In addition to the naturally deposited land, the other type of land formed by the construction of dikes and embankments is the new land developed by the central government in response to national land policy, economic development needs, or geographical environment. During the 1970s and 1980s, more than 2,000 hectares of land were developed in the Qigu area. Some of these newly developed tidal flats have been developed into salt fields, while others are planned as fish ponds for aquaculture. The largest scale of milkfish aquaculture can be found in Qigu District, which has benefited countless coastal communities employed in this industry. In addition, the 300 hectares of tidal flats along the north bank of Zengwen River are designated as a Black-faced Spoonbill Reserve, attracting a large number of visitors every year to see the precious ecological wonders of black-faced spoonbills. There are six sandbank terrains in the area of Taijiang National Park from north to south, namely Qingshan Harbor Sandbank, Wanziliao Sandbank, Dingtouer Sandbank, Hsinfulun Sandbank, Zengwen River Estuary Offshore Sandbank and Tainan City West Coast Sandbank. In recent years, the sandbank is receding and eroding at a rate of 25-100 meters per year due to the impact of waves and development. Related Links: Taijiang National Park
7. Sicao Lake
8.Tainan Salt Pan Eco Village
The Tainan Salt Pan Eco Village is located in the "A2 Zone" of the Tainan Sicao Wildlife Refuge on the 16-hectare central island of the "Nanliao Salt Village". Most of the land used to belong to the Tainan Anshun Salt Fields of Taiwan Salt, and has been completed with a display hall of 16 disguised households of early salt workers, a wetland ecology display hall, a bird information interpretation hall, and a cetacean museum of the Taijiang River. The origins of the name “Sicao” is said to be named after the "four places" where "sea cabbage (scaevola taccada) grew abundantly in the past, and another version is that it was named after the four sandbanks where sea cabbages grew in the silted-up river. In earlier times, Sicao Wetlands was located in Beishanwei, in the south of Taijiang Inland Sea (In the south of Lu’ermen, the outer sea of Taijiang in the north of Anping) and Nanshan (the collective name of Anping and the seven Kunshen islands). In 1823 (the 3rd year of the reign of the Daoguang Emperor of the Qing Dynasty), heavy rains caused the overflowing and diversion of the Zengwen River, and the upstream of the river washed away a large amount of sediment, causing the siltation of the Taijiang Inland Sea to form the new tidal flats, and at the same time dividing the Taijiang Inland Sea into three saltwater lagoons, namely, Qikunshen Lake (now Anping Port), Sicao Lake (near the present Dazhong Temple), and Qigu Lagoon. Afterwards, Sicao Lake was developed into salt fields and fish ponds after forming a marsh. The local people planted mangroves in the ditches to protect the dikes, and a diverse mangrove ecology was formed over time. With the change of industry, the salt fields gradually fell into disuse, but the nutrient-rich substrate of Sicao Wetland still provides a favorable environment for plankton, fish, shrimp and shellfish to thrive. Because Sicao is located on the migration route of East Asian migratory birds, it attracts a large number of migratory birds every year, making it a bird-watching paradise for bird lovers.
9. Tidal creeks
The source of water from salt fields and fish farms is drawn in by the tidal creeks. On both sides of the tidal creeks, there is a large collection of coastal flora, such as red mangroves (spotted mangroves), white-flowered black mangroves, white mangroves, sea purslane, seaside clerodendrum, incense trees, stinking passionflower, beach morning glory, sea hibiscus, and white popinac, etc. Because of their functions in stabilizing sand and shore protection, it is also a paradise for rail birds, herons, sandpipers and other land birds. In the waters of streams and tidal creeks, you can see little egrets, chestnut bitterns, yellow bitterns, kingfishers, slaty-breasted rail, common moorhen, white-breasted waterhen, Eurasian teal, northern shoveler, and some birds of the Scolopacidae and Charadriidae families. The land birds in this kind of wetland environment include kingfishers, Siberian rubythroat, Daurian redstart, long-tailed shrikes, brown shrikes, arctic warblers, great reed warbler, the red collared dove, magpies and so on.
10. Natural Defense of the Capital stone tablet (Fucheng Tianxian)
Located in the Annan District of Tainan City, the Luermen River is the waterway where Koxinga sailed to Taiwan in 1661 AD. Later, the Taijiang Inland Sea silted up and became land. You can also see the famous "Luermen Sunset", where you can marvel at the evening dusk and orange sunsets across the horizon without the distraction of buildings. You can also visit the natural scenery of the "Sicao Wildlife Reserve- Wetland Reserve" located at the estuary.
11. Mountains to Sea National Greenway
Construction of a greenway has been completed for 15 kilometers along the Annan District. There are dense tree canopies along the way to provide good shade, so you can safely walk along the pedestrian path separated from vehicular traffic. You can start from the shady green road lined with tallow trees on both sides of the National Museum of Taiwan History, cross the distinctive white bicycle bridge, and pass by temples, shopping streets, Technology and Industrial Park, ecological reserves, and wetlands to the estuary connecting to the sea. Along the way, you can see fish ponds or oyster farms, presenting the unique humanistic scenery of the local fishery industry. When you pass the Western Coastal Highway (Provincial Highway 17), this indicates that you will soon reach the end point of the Mountains to Sea National Greenway.There is a viewing platform for visitors to enjoy the scenery of the open estuary and to marvel at the white building of the Taijiang National Park and Visitor Center on the other side of the river. In the wetlands, you can observe the rich flora of the mangrove area, search for various types of tidal crabs, and encounter the nesting of egrets and the large number of birds returning to their nests after feeding. At dusk, enjoy the sight of the shimmering light of the sunset basking over the water. This is a eco-friendly and great way to slow travel and experience the beauty of the mountains and the sea as well as the towns and villages of Tainan.
12. Taijiang National Park
The Taijiang National Park encompasses land and water, and covers a total area of 39,310 hectares, with a land area of 4,905 hectares, including the Qigu Lagoon in Tainan City (south of the Southern embankment of Qinshan Fishing Harbor and west of the Qigu Lagoon embankment), including the Black-faced Spoonbill Reserve west of the scheduled road of Provincial Highway 61, the Sicao Wildlife Refuge, the coastal windbreak forest, the area around Luermen River, the Chianan Canal and Yanshui River. The marine area covers an area of 34,405 hectares, including the 20-meter coastal isobath and the section from Dongji Islet to Luermen, the main channel where early Han Chinese settlers crossed to Taiwan. Taijiang National Park is divided into five areas: The ecological protection area includes the Black-faced Spoonbill Reserve and the Sicao Wildlife Refuge, with 4 sites and a total area of 636 hectares; the special sceneries area includes the Wanzailiao Sandbanks, the Dingtouer Sandbanks , the Qigu Important Wild Bird Habitat Area, and the Wetland Scenic Area, with 7 sites and a total area of 1,342 hectares; the historical sites preservation area includes the South and North Zhufa Harbor and the Sicao Artillery Battery, with a total of 3 sites and a total area of 20 hectares. The leisure area includes the Liukong Pier Service Area and the Nanwan Pier Service Area, with 2 sites and a total area of 38 hectares; the general protection area includes Qigu Lagoon, Chengxi Coastal Protection Forest , the Luermen River Coastal Area, the Salt Pan Eco Village and three fish ponds, with seven locations and a total area of 2,870 hectares. Related links: Taijiang National Park Address:No.2, Chengping Rd., Anping District, Tainan City, 70841|Tel:06-3910000|E-Mail:tjnpmail@cpami.gov.tw
13. Taijiang Ecological Culture Zone
The "Backyard of Tainan", the youngest land in Tainan. There are numerous fish ponds, salt fields, mangrove forests, birds and other rich ecological resources, not to mention the refreshing air of "Taijiang River", which is the most natural and beautiful vast land in Tainan. The crystal white salt fields shimmer under the sunlight as migratory birds soar in the sky. The bamboo rafts are filled with the surprise of the sunlight coming in through the dense mangrove forest. Children will delight in a traditional fishing community experience. This is Taijiang Ecological Culture Zone. Unlike the wetlands in other counties and cities in western Taiwan, the Taijiang Ecological Culture Zone is not only irch in natural ecology, but also has historical relics of ancient battlefields that can truly exemplify the cultural industry of salt fields. In terms of ecology, the Taijiang area has the richest wetlands in Taiwan's coastal ecology, with not only many precious mangrove forests, but also the renowned "Green Tunnel", a rare spectacle formed by mangrove forests. In recent years, the Sicao Dazhong Temple and the Mangrove Protection Association have been offering mangrove bamboo raft tours for the public to fully appreciate the beauty of the mangrove forest. The tours start from the north shore of the Dazhong Temple and Sicao Bridge respectively, providing visitors with a rare experience of exploring a mangrove forest. The abundance of fish, shrimp, shellfish and benthic creatures in the wetlands also attract a large number of migratory birds to feed here, among which birds of the scolopacidae, laridae, ardeidae, and anatidae families are more common, and even the precious Black-faced spoonbills are often found here. The Tainan Salt Pan Eco Village in Tainan City is the emerging highlight attraction of the area. It was the site of the former Nanliao Salt Village, which was transformed from Anshun Salt Fields. The small village had a field office, a medical clinic, a welfare center, a police station, a dormitory for the salt workers, and even its own school. An early film “The Girl from Salt Village” was filmed on location here. Although the salt farm has ceased production, the village has been transformed into a salt field eco-cultural village through the efforts of the government and cultural historians. Former salt workers have been recruited to demonstrate salt drying, and handicrafts with distinctive local characteristics are on offer. Visitors can visit and get a taste of the culture of a former salt village. Broadly speaking, it extends north to the mouth of the Zengwen River, and can include the two most important Mazu temples in Tainan City - the Orthodox Shengmu (Mazu)Temple in Tucheng and the Luermen Mazu Temple. The close-by A3 Zone of the Sicao Wildlife Refuge not only has a breathtaking windbreak forest, but also has a comprehensive water recreational facility set up by the Chengxi Incinerator to give back to the surrounding community. A trip to the Taijiang Ecological Culture Zone not only provides ecological education but also attractions of historical significance, making it a great choice for a family eco-tour.