Yongan Wetland, the former site of the Wushulin Salt Field established in 1908, was once an important salt production center in southern Taiwan, witnessing the rise and fall of Taiwan's salt industry. During the Japanese colonial period, this salt field flourished, and after the Kuomintang government assumed control in 1952, it was reorganized as the "Taiwan Salt General Factory," continuing the development of the salt industry. However, with industrial transformation in the 1970s, the salt industry gradually declined. In 1985, Taipower (Taiwan Power Company) acquired the land for expansion of the Xingda Power Plant, formally marking the end of the salt field's heyday. Within the Yongan Wetland, the Wushulin Salt Co., Ltd. (Office of Operations), is the most historically significant structure on this land. The office building adopts the classic European Baroque-style architecture with some influences of traditional Japanese aesthetics, standing prominently at the center of the abandoned salt flats. After the salt field ceased operations, the office remained unmaintained for years, exacerbated by the high-salinity environment, leading to increasingly severe structural damage that once rendered it a hazardous building. With increasing awareness of local cultural heritage, the Xingda Power Plant initiated preservation efforts in 2006, allocating funds for restoration and allowing this century-old building to regain its former grandeur, now serving as a crucial historical landmark symbolizing Taiwan's salt industry evolution. The Wushulin Salt Co., Ltd., spanning from the Japanese colonial era to the present, possesses an elegant facade and finely crafted pebble concrete work. Despite being long vacated, its solitary presence amidst the vast Wapen Salt Flats still evokes a strong historical ambiance, recounting the former prosperity of this salt trade, a highly valued industrial architecture with significant historical and cultural value.
**Yongan Mangrove Natural Park: A Model of Ecological Harmony and Human Rights**
Previously a salt field, the Yongan Wetland was transformed after Taipower established the Xingda Thermal Power Plant nearby, which caused severe coal ash pollution rendering salt production impossible. In 1986, Taipower proposed turning this area into a coal storage site. However, through persistent efforts by local residents and environmental activists, and with government support, the site was designated as the "Yongan Mangrove Natural Park" in 1996. Now, it not only showcases Taiwan's industrial transformation but also stands as the most biodiverse mangrove ecosystem along the Kaohsiung coast. The area is home to diverse birdlife, aquatic, and plant species, serving as a vital locale for nature conservation, environmental education, and demonstrating the sustainable coexistence between people and nature.
**A Vital Mangrove Haven for Biodiversity and Avian Life**
The Yongan Wetland boasts a rich mangrove ecosystem, essential for wind protection, soil stabilization, bank preservation, and water purification, while serving as critical habitat for numerous species. In Taiwan, mangrove species such as the Acanthus ilicifolius (waterwillow), Bruguiera gymnorhiza (mangrove apple), Aegiceras corniculatum (olivewood mangrove), and Rhizophora apiculata (red mangrove) dominate; southern regions particularly feature Bruguiera gymnorhiza and Aegiceras corniculatum, forming a diverse green ecological shield. From October to April annually, the rare Black-faced Spoonbill and other migratory birds fly south to this area, reaching their highest numbers through January to March, making it a key overwintering and foraging habitat for these species. Additionally, the Yongan Salt Field, the largest salt flat wetland in southern Taiwan, attracts over 110 bird species. Among them are protected class I species like the Black-faced Spoonbill, Oriental Stork, and Peregrine Falcon, as well as class II species such as the Black Stork, Osprey, and White-rumped Needletail. During spring and autumn migration, large numbers of sandpiper and snipe species gather here in spectacular flocks, drawing birdwatching enthusiasts. With its rich ecological resources, Yongan Wetland was designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by the International Bird Alliance in 1999 and recognized as a locally significant wetland by Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior in 2018. Its lush mangrove forest and vibrant avian population exemplify the dynamic vitality of wetland ecosystems.