Sio House: The Salt Museum in Anping, Tainan

Sio House, a small museum in Angping District, Tainan City in Taiwan is worth remembering as a Salt Museum. This has a history of Japan Second Year (1929) and the regulation of salt in this district. Most amazing part is to see the 366 types of Coloured salt. You can try your birth salt too, there a small description on the character and blessings for the person who was born on that day.

The Historical Perspective

In 1899 (MeiJi period second year) the Japanese government introduced the professional sales of salt and in 1901 (MeiJi period fourth year) specialty stores for the selling of salt were established. After the First World War, due to the expansion in chemical and fishing industry, the consumption of salt had multiplied, and by 1919, the Taiwan salt Union of Japan had taken control of the salt industry in Taiwan and started to build employee housings, meeting halls, laboratory, and the Angping salt factory in Taiwan.

In 1922, the building design by became the standard of all salt distribution store. It consisted of office area, high ranking official reception and meeting areas and salt research departments. These blueprints are still  used till now as industry standard, showing the glory it once had and still posses. During the Second World War, due to the large 3 Chimney  erecting from the salt plant in Angping, it became easy target and the factory was destroyed.

In the year of  97 of the Republic of China, the Angping salt plant was rebuilt within two  years. It is now officially managed by the Huang Shan cultural and creative company limited. The word 'Sio" in Japanese have two meanings, one is Salt and other being "Output". So the name of the plant was officially changed to Sio House.

In Chinese the name is also a wordplay on the Chinese word Xi which is means Sunset, representing the beautiful view of a salt field at Sunset, which is indeed is also the special attraction at the local salt plant.

The Advise

If ever you are in Taiwan, then the salt museum is worth visiting and it will always remain in your mind.