Hualien Sugar Factory Introduction
In the second year of the Republic of China, the "Eastern Taiwan Sugar Manufacturing Co., Ltd." established the "Hualien Port Sugar Refinery" in Shoufeng Township, Hualien County, also known as the "Li-Yu-Wei Sugar Factory." In the tenth year, another factory called the "Daiwa Factory" was set up in Guangfu Township to expand sugar production. At 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 restoring the Daiwa Factory, renaming it Hualien Sugar Factory, which became the center of sugar manufacturing in eastern Taiwan. Since the sugar factory is located in Guangfu Township, it is often referred to as "Guangfu Sugar Factory," though its official name is "Hualien Sugar Factory." After decades of expansion and modernization, Hualien Sugar Factory significantly improved its sugar production and quality. To supply raw materials for the factory, vast sugarcane fields can be seen from New City 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 ice cream department at Hualien Sugar Factory offers a variety of ice pops and ice creams that are very popular among both local residents and visitors, making "eating ice at the sugar factory" a joyful collective memory for many. In the 91st year of the Republic of China, due to a prolonged slump in international sugar prices and the impact of joining the WTO, Taiwan Sugar Corporation decided to cease its sugar production business, which had a history of over 80 years, and shift towards tourism and leisure development. Building upon the existing ice cream offerings, the factory planned to develop a sugar industry cultural park providing guided tours, along with Japanese-style dormitory clusters, creative workshops, and organic agricultural development. This combined with bicycle routes, surrounding attractions, and the Danao-Dafu Flatland Forest Park, formed a linear tourism route and attractions to attract visitors. The original corridor-style single dormitory in the sugar factory has been transformed into creative workshops, now serving as a platform for community art exchange and teaching courses, offering DIY courses and art exhibitions for visitors. Additionally, the factory sells handmade lemongrass essential oil and lemongrass soap gift boxes, produced through organic farming methods without any artificial fragrances, making them ideal souvenirs for tourists. Next to Hualien Sugar Factory, there are neat rows of Japanese-style wooden buildings, which are some of the last remaining examples of Japanese wooden architecture in Taiwan. These cypress wood houses were built during the Japanese occupation as employee dormitories and are well preserved, showcasing a nostalgic charm that has stood the test of time. In line with Hualien County's smoke-free tourism industry development policy, after renovations and reconstruction, the Japanese inn at Hualien Tourist Sugar Factory officially started operations on January 24, 2011, obtaining a general hotel license to offer a variety of accommodation options for visitors to Hualien. Taiwan Sugar Hualien Hotel offers two types of room styles: Japanese-style wooden houses (double rooms) and family wooden houses (triple rooms). Each guestroom comes with an independent parking space and a yard, featuring wooden floors, tatami mats, shoji screens, and quilt cabinets, presenting the essence of Japanese style. The family room includes a handcrafted cypress wood bath barrel and dipper in the bathroom, allowing guests to enjoy the pleasure of soaking in a cypress tub. Experience the tranquil beauty of Japanese culture, letting you relax and shed the stresses of urban life. Hualien Tourist Sugar Factory Hotel warmly welcomes you to stay and experience the elegance and charm of Japanese wooden houses!
