Hualien Sugar Factory Introduction
In the second year of the Republic of China, the "Eastern Taiwan Sugar Corporation" established the "Hualien Port Sugar Factory," also known as the "Liuyuei Sugar Factory," in Shoufeng Township, Hualien County. In the tenth year, another factory, "Daiwa Factory," was set up in Guangfu Township to expand sugar production. Towards the end of World War II, both sugar factories were damaged by Allied forces. After the war, Taiwan Sugar Corporation took over, deciding to dismantle the severely damaged Shoufeng Factory and restore the Daiwa Factory, renaming it Hualien Sugar Factory, becoming the sugar production center in the eastern region. Since the factory is located in Guangfu Township, it is often referred to as "Guangfu Sugar Factory," although "Hualien Sugar Factory" is its official name. Hualien Sugar Factory has undergone decades of expansion and upgrades, significantly increasing sugar production and quality. To supply raw materials for the factory, extensive sugarcane fields can be seen from Xincheng Township in the north to Fuli Township in the south, creating a unique landscape in the East Rift Valley. In addition to producing granulated sugar, the ice cream department at Hualien Sugar Factory offers a variety of popular ice pops and ice creams, making "eating ice at the sugar factory" a joyful memory shared by both locals and visitors. In the 91st year of the Republic of China, due to prolonged low international sugar prices and the dual impact of joining the WTO, Taiwan Sugar decided to halt the sugar production business that had lasted over 80 years at Hualien Sugar Factory and shift towards tourism and leisure development. Building on the existing ice cream foundation, a cultural park centered on the sugar industry was planned, providing guided tours for visitors, along with Japanese-style dormitory clusters, creative workshops, and the development of organic rice and leisure industries, integrating bicycle routes, surrounding tourist attractions, and the Danuo Forest Park to create a linear tourist route and sights to attract visitors. The originally corridor-style dormitory at the sugar factory has been renovated into a creative workshop, now serving as a platform for community art exchange and teaching courses, offering DIY classes and arts and crafts for sale to visitors. Additionally, the factory now sells self-made lemongrass essential oils and gift sets, grown using organic farming methods and made without any artificial fragrances, perfect as souvenirs for tourists, available at the creative workshop. Next to Hualien Sugar Factory is a row of well-preserved Japanese-style buildings, one of the few surviving groups of Japanese wooden structures in Taiwan. These cypress wood houses were built during the Japanese occupation as employee dormitories and are still in good condition today, reflecting a strong nostalgic ambiance over the decades. In line with Hualien County's policy for a chimney-free tourism industry, the Japanese-style inn at Hualien Tourist Sugar Factory obtained a general hotel license on January 24, 2011, officially opening for business and providing diverse accommodation options for travelers to Hualien. The room types at Taiwan Sugar Hualien Hotel include Japanese-style wooden huts (for two) and family wooden huts (for three). Each room has its own parking space and garden, featuring wooden floors and tatami mats, sliding wooden doors, and cotton quilt cabinets, presenting an authentic Japanese atmosphere. The family room includes a handmade cypress wood bathing tub and water ladle, allowing guests to easily experience the pleasure of soaking in a cypress tub. Enjoy the tranquil beauty of Japanese culture and escape the stress of urban life. The Hualien Tourist Sugar Factory warmly welcomes you to experience the elegance and charm of Japanese wooden houses!
