Right next to Guosheng Lighthouse(國聖燈塔) is a seafront sandbank which forms the southern border of Qigu Lagoon. Sand from the alluvial deposits of Taiwan's western rivers, carried by the waves of the Taiwan Strait, constantly accumulates and has gradually formed a long and narrow sandbank at sea level. Barren landscapes are rare in Taiwan, and some feel it is equal to the Tottori sand dunes in Japan, while some call it the Taiwanese version of the Sahara Desert(撒哈拉沙漠).
At Qigu Longshan Fishing Harbor, fishing boats can be seen carrying tourists across the lagoon. As well as admiring the lagoon scenery, tourists can also experience what it’s like to be on an uninhabited island by stepping onto Wangziliaoshan sandbar in the lagoon. Returning to the harbor, the fishermen provide fresh oysters for visitors to roast. If not sated by this delicious treat, milkfish, clams and shrimps are reared in the many ponds around the harbor and can be bought by tourists.
The view of the sunset at the Taijiang Liukong Service Station (台江六孔管理站) every evening is dazzling. As well as riding fishing rafts around Qigu Lagoon (七股潟湖), next door is the Taijiang National Park Management Station (台江國家公園的管理站), which includes a tourist center. This is the primary site for Qigu Seafood Festival(七股海鮮節) held every year, and its most popular clamming event always attracts families from all over to enjoy the delights of simultaneously catching clams and washing their pants.
The new land formed by alluvial deposits in the Tsengwen River estuary has a rich estuary ecosystem, which attracts the black-faced spoonbills(黑面琵鷺), an internationally endangered species of bird. Every year at the end of September, black-faced spoonbills migrate from the north, and leave again the following March after spending winter at Xikou. The black-faced spoonbills wandering the shallows of fish pools and lagoons looking for food is a rare sight limited to the fall and winter seasons.
Qigu Salt Mountain (七股鹽山) is a popular scenic spot that has been widely reported in magazines and newspapers, its snow white peaks towering above the coast are a famous landmark of Qigu. For the last few years events have placed huge mascots on the salt mountain top, from the original fortune cat to an angel, and in recent years the adorable owl and penguin, etc. These mascots gave tourists the strength to climb the salt mountain, just seek to be able to get close to these adorable and huge mascots.
Qigu Lagoon(七股潟湖), known locally as Naihaizai(內海仔), is the remains of the Taijiang Inner Sea (台江內海) from over 300 years ago, and covers approximately 1,600 hectares. Riding the recreational fishing rafts across the lagoon is the best way to experience Qigu. Oyster sheds line the edges, with fishing nets set up and fishermen slowly rowing small canoes.
