自然景觀

Shuiliudong is a small settlement located in Wangye Borough in Liujia District. Most rivers in Tainan flow from east to west. However, as rivers in Shuiliudong flow from west to east, people this name the place this way. This small mountain village is like an invisible private sight. It is cool and comfortable in the forest and between rivers. In 1968, people found there are shell fossils everywhere in the area, and almost all are pecten fossils, which distribute in a wide area. This environment is considered as a natural textbook of the uplift of Taiwan from the ocean in tectonics.

Geologically, Niuchounei and its surroundings in Zuojhen are located on the Qiding formation, with major rock types including the interbedded sandstone, shale, and mudstone. The distribution of rock types in the Qiding formation is: mudstone (dominant) at the bottom, mudstone (few layers) and sandstone (thick layer) in the middle, and sandstone and shale are interbedding on the top. Pecten and ostracean fossils are mostly found in the rock layer of this area.

Looking afar toward Guanzi Valley from Baihe or the nearby alluvium, the Zhentou Mountain looking like a pillow is in sight. Due to mining and rainwater washing, there are three large washing marks on the cliff. As they are very clear, some called them three dragons. The entire mountain is formed by limestone. It was originally the lens-shaped limestone in a argillaceous sandstone layer.

From the north, the wetland starts at the south of the Jianjun Fishing Harbor. In the east, it runs towards south along the west side of worksite No. 1 of the salt pan in the east of the Qigu Salt Plant. In the south, it borders the south levee of the Qigu Lagoon. In the west, it extends to the 6m depth contour in the waters. Totally, it occupies a total area of 2,997 hectares.

The wetland is located at the estuary of the Yanshui River, bordering zone A2 of Sicao Wetland. From the north, the wetland starts from the north levee of the Yanshui River main drainage. To the south, it meets Anping levee. In the east, it borders the Provincial Highway No. 17 and Guanhai Bridge in Dagang. In the west, it extends to the 6m depth contour in the waters.  Totally, it occupies a total area of 635 hectares.  In recent years, the intermediate egret (Ardea intermedia) reproduces along the coastal area in southwestern Taiwan and establishes a new stock.

The Tainan City Government plans the 515.1 hectares of land in the peripheries of the Tainan Technology Industrial Park into the “Sicao Wildlife Refuge” for the ecological and environmental protection and species preservation of Tainan. The culture area north of the East District is 50 hectares; the area of the north bank at the estuary of the Yanshui River south of East District is 335.1 hectares; the area of the west bank at the estuary of the Luermen River in West District is 130 hectares.

This is an international-grade wetland situated at the estuary of the Zhengwen River. From the north, it starts at the Guosheng Lighthouse (Qigu Lighthouse) on the Dingtoue sandbank, the south bank of the south dike, and Qigu dike in the reclamation. To the south, it touches the Qingcaolun dike on the south bank of the Zhengwen River. In the east, it borders Guosheng Bridge along the Provincial Highway No. 17. In the west, it extends to the 6m depth contour in the waters. Totally, it occupies a total area of 3,218 hectares.

It is a coastal sandbank and a barrier in the middle section of Qigu inland sea. This long and narrow sandbank gradually lifting above sea level is formed with the sand flushed down by the rivers in western Taiwan and carried to the site by the wave of the Taiwan Strait.

The mud deposits formed by river flow have created a great environment for mangrove growth, and the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) is the dominant species in the area. Given the rich ecosystems of fish, shrimps, crabs, and shellfish, the area has become a transitory habitat of the little egret (Egretta garzetta), the black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), and even the black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) in winter.
 

The renowned view that has come to be known as the “Dendrobium cascade” is situated at the Xizhou tribe of Hungs in Baihe District of Tainan. It came into existence when a retired resident by the name of Wu Ju-Cheng (former employee of Taiwan Salt Company) became interested in the cultivation of orchids. He came up with the idea to grow dendrobium on an old longan tree in his home. As the flowers were cultivated together, when they reach full bloom in April during the floral season, the sight of the flowers resemble the view of a running cascade, and hence the name.