Hualien Sugar Factory Introduction
In the 2nd year of the Republic, the "Eastern Taiwan Sugar Manufacturing Company" established the "Hualien Port Sugar Factory," also known as the "Liyutou Sugar Factory," in Shoufeng Township, Hualien County. In the 10th year of the Republic, another factory called "Daiwa Factory" was set up in Guangfu Township to expand sugar production. Near the end of World War II, both sugar factories were damaged by Allied forces. After the war, the Taiwan Sugar Corporation took over and decided to dismantle the severely damaged Shoufeng Factory, while repairing the Daiwa Factory and renaming it the "Hualien Sugar Factory," which became the sugar production center of the eastern region. Because the factory is located in Guangfu Township, it is often referred to as the "Guangfu Sugar Factory," although "Hualien Sugar Factory" is its official name. Over decades, the Hualien Sugar Factory has undergone extensive expansion and upgrades, significantly improving both production and quality. To supply raw materials for the factory, vast sugarcane fields can be seen stretching from Xincheng Township in the north to Fuli Township in the south, creating a unique landscape in the Hualien-Taitung Valley. In addition to producing granulated sugar, the Hualien Sugar Factory's ice product division offers a variety of popular popsicles and ice cream flavors. For both local residents and visitors, "having ice at the sugar factory" has become a shared joyful memory. In 2002, due to prolonged low international sugar prices and the effects of joining the WTO, Taiwan Sugar Corporation decided to cease its sugar production operations at the Hualien Sugar Factory, which had a history of over 80 years, and shift its focus to tourism and leisure development. Building on the existing foundation of ice products, plans were made to create a cultural park centered around the sugar industry, providing guided tours for visitors, complemented by a Japanese dormitory settlement, creative workshops, and the development of organic rice and leisure industries, along with cycling routes and surrounding tourist attractions, forming a belt of sightseeing routes to attract visitors. The original corridor-style dormitory for single employees has been transformed into a creative workshop, which has now become a platform for community art exchange and teaching courses, offering DIY craftsmanship courses and art exhibitions to visitors. Additionally, the factory currently sells self-produced lemongrass essential oils and lemongrass soap gift boxes made by field employees, cultivated using organic farming methods without any artificial fragrances during production, making it an excellent souvenir for tourists, available for purchase in the creative workshop. Next to the Hualien Sugar Factory, there is a row of neatly arranged Japanese-style buildings, which are some of the last remaining wooden Japanese structures in Taiwan. These cypress wood houses were built during the Japanese colonial period as employee dormitories and are still well-preserved today, showcasing a strong sense of nostalgia over the decades. In line with Hualien County's no-smoke-stack tourism industry development policy, through renovation and reconstruction, the Japanese inn of Hualien Tourist Sugar Factory obtained a general hotel license on January 24, 2011, and officially began operations, providing diverse accommodation options for visitors. Taiwan Sugar's Hualien Hotel offers room types including traditional Japanese wooden houses (two-person rooms) and family wooden houses (three-person rooms). Each room has its own parking space and courtyard, with wooden flooring, tatami mats, paper sliding doors, and cotton bedding, presenting the authentic Japanese style. The family three-person room features a handcrafted cypress wood bath barrel and water dipper in the bathroom, allowing guests to easily enjoy the pleasure of soaking in a cypress tub. Experience the serene beauty of Japanese culture and let go of the urban tension. Hualien Tourist Sugar Factory Hotel warmly welcomes you to stay and experience the elegance and grace of the traditional Japanese wooden house!
