Heavy rain shrinks Budai Salt Mountain, but fresh salt brings back its snowy-white landscape

Budai Salt Mountain has grown tall again after heavy rain made the landmark visibly slimmer. Taiwan Salt said newly delivered supplies have restored the familiar snow-white landscape, giving visitors another chance to “chase salt” along Chiayi County’s coast.

The mountain shrank as repeated downpours dissolved the piled sea salt. Its changing appearance even inspired online wordplay about “severe salt loss,” turning the weather damage into a lighthearted local talking point.

Taiwan Salt explained that the salt particles gradually become compacted and hardened under their own weight and through moisture absorption. Because salt dissolves easily in water, rainfall can alter the mountain’s size and outline. The flow of raw salt into and out of the site also changes the landscape.

Budai was once home to Taiwan’s largest salt-field area during the Japanese colonial period and served as a major salt-drying base. Sun-dried salt production ended in 2001, after which Taiwan’s household salt production shifted to Taiwan Salt’s Tongxiao refinery. Budai and Qigu later developed new salt-industry landscapes, becoming Taiwan’s only two salt-mountain attractions.

Visitors now stop to photograph and rest at Budai Salt Mountain, often combining the trip with salt-brine coffee, salt-brine tofu pudding, salted ice cream, Budai Fishing Harbor and the High-Heel Wedding Church.