Cultural Affairs Bureau, Tainan City Government

Oyster Shell Cement Kiln(蚵灰窯)was once the most important building material factory in Anping and is the only surviving oyster shell kiln in Taiwan. From the 1600s, oyster shell ash was an essential material in boatmaking for the many people in Anping who made their living from the sea. Later, syrup and glutinous rice juice were added to the ash to make the bricks and tiles for building houses. Entering the kiln, red brick walls covered in Awkeotsang Creeping Fig vines(愛玉子藤蔓) can be seen. Inside, is a large pit with a diameter of about 4 meters and depth of 2 meters. The kiln wall is 1 meter thick at its thinnest. A kiln of such large size is rare in Taiwan. In the museum, the oyster growing process and ecology, and oyster shell ash production process and uses, are explained in detail, allowing tourists to fully understand this centuries-old skill.