Ocean Encounter: Sea Ox Oyster Harvesting Diary

Fangyuan Sea Ox (Photo provided by Sea Ox Station)

Fangyuan's Unique Surviving Sea Ox Culture
Along the coast of Fangyuan Township in Changhua County, between high and low tides, there is an intertidal zone extending several kilometers into the sea. This intertidal zone, mixed with sediment from seawater and river water, presents a black mixed sand beach, hence it is also known as the "Black Earth."

But don't dismiss it just because it's not as bright as typical recreational beaches - it's rich in organic matter, making it ideal for the reproduction of shrimp, crabs, shellfish, and snails. The coastal ecological resources are abundant, and the waters are particularly suitable environments for oysters and clams to grow.

Fangyuan in Changhua has developed its oyster harvesting industry for over eighty years. Oyster farmers used to train yellow cattle to serve as "sea oxen," using them as transportation vehicles to travel between the intertidal zone and inland areas. Whether oyster farmers were heading out to the oyster fields or returning to shore loaded with their harvest, they needed the sea oxen's help.

Today, most of these tasks have been replaced by mechanized "iron oxen" (motorized vehicles), leaving fewer than ten sea oxen remaining. This has become the last place in Taiwan where "sea ox oyster harvesting" is practiced. In 2016, Changhua County officially designated "Fangyuan Intertidal Zone Ox Cart Oyster Harvesting" as an intangible cultural asset.


Oyster farmers train yellow cattle to serve as "sea oxen," helping with transportation in the intertidal zone (Photo provided by Sea Ox Station)


Changhua County has designated "Fangyuan Intertidal Zone Ox Cart Oyster Harvesting" as an intangible cultural asset (Photo provided by Sea Ox Station)

Ride a Sea Ox for Oyster Harvesting Experience!
To preserve the cultural memory of sea oxen, dedicated oyster farmers have planned sea ox agritourism itineraries, allowing visitors to put on rubber boots and gloves, ride on a sea ox cart into the sea, and participate in this traditional oyster harvesting experience.

Sea oxen carrying visitors to play in the intertidal zone is not just a modern phenomenon! During the Japanese colonial period, oxen had very diverse tasks - pulling ox carts to markets, plowing fields, and transporting oysters were all within their capabilities. Records from that time even show sea oxen carrying visitors to beaches for recreation.

The importance of oxen in traditional farming villages cannot be underestimated. According to elders' memories, during the peak period, there were at least 300 to 400 oxen in Fangyuan alone. However, since oxen are not animals that originally lived in intertidal environments, not every ox is suitable to become a sea ox - there are differences in personality and acceptance levels. On average, about 10 oxen need to be trained before 1 will successfully enter the oyster farming industry. This is also one of the reasons why reviving sea ox culture is not easy and must be carefully cherished and maintained.

Please note that since the sea ox oyster harvesting experience needs to align with the tidal changes of the intertidal zone, departure times vary each day. Visitors who wish to participate in the experience activities are advised to inquire or make reservations with the Sea Ox School in advance. Those who visit the intertidal zone on their own should pay extra attention to changes in the seawater.

Sea-Sky Boardwalk and Oil Seed School
Some visitors may feel that since they've come all the way to the seaside, they want to go barefoot and get close to the earth. However, since there may be empty oyster shells or clam shells on the sandy ground, some edges can be quite sharp, so please be careful or put on a pair of shoes suitable for wading to avoid injury.

Not far from the Sea Ox School is the "Fangyuan Wetland Mangrove Sea-Sky Boardwalk" (Fangyuan Sea-Sky Boardwalk), an elevated walkway that only opened in 2021. It is about 1 kilometer long and is suitable for visitors who want to get close to the intertidal coast without getting their shoes or feet wet.

By the way, there is an "Oil Seed School" experience center nearby, which is a small tourism factory that visitors may want to visit. They offer food and agriculture education courses and DIY experiences, allowing visitors to learn about traditional oil pressing methods and make their own black sesame paste.


Peanut oil and black sesame oil gift box from Oil Seed School

Wanggong and Hanbao
Within Fangyuan Township in Changhua, there is also the famous "Wanggong Fishing Harbor." Although this fishing harbor is not large, it was once listed as one of the Eight Scenic Views of Changhua for its beautiful scenery. The "Wanggong Fishing Fire Festival," which has been held for twenty years, is also a major annual event in the county.

Wanggong has abundant oyster production, and visitors can taste fresh oysters at the fishing harbor food area or nearby restaurants. The Fangyuan Lighthouse next to the fishing harbor stands 37.4 meters tall, making it the tallest lighthouse on Taiwan's west coast. It is open for public visits during daytime hours. The children's playground near the lighthouse also allows kids to burn off some energy.

Continuing north along Provincial Highway 17, the coastal Hanbao Wetland has rich tidal ecology. While digging for clams and chasing soldier crabs, you can enjoy scenery including sunsets, wind turbines, and mirror-like beaches, and even capture beautiful reflections like the "Mirror of the Sky."

"Haha Fish Farm," located near Hanbao Wetland, is a fish pond close to the sea. In addition to their main business of using seawater to farm white shrimp, milkfish, and yellowfin seabream, they also open to the public for "clam catching" experiences, as well as activities like "fisherman fish herding" and "cage trap shrimp catching." "Taiwan Hanbao Garden Leisure Farm" features giant blue-and-white flip-flops and cow sculptures perfect for photos. Visitors can also catch clams, feed lambs, visit the shell museum, and enjoy a full clam feast or stay overnight at the farm.


Haha Fish Farm has designed various water activities for visitors

This content was translated by AI. Please refer to the original text if you have any concerns.