The Cigu Lagoon is located in this township, and an ecological conservation area for black-faced spoonbills is situated on the estuary of the Zengwen River.

Around 360 years ago, seven settlers arrived in the area from Fujian and built a fish farm.

As the population gradually increased, they began to cultivate the lands near the coast to grow grains and make salt.

After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945, Cigu was organized as a rural township of Tainan County.

The district consists of Hougang, Datan, Dujia, Dingshan, Xiliao, Yancheng, Longshan, Xinan, Qigu, Yucheng, Dacheng, Shulin, Zhongliao, Zhuqiao, Yige, Yongji, Sangu and Shifen Village.