Taipei Sugar Factory Cultural Park Introduction
Historical Overview: In 1764 (the 29th year of the Qianlong Emperor), records of sugar production began in northern Changhua, Taiwan. In the area near Dali Street in Wanhua, private sugar warehouses flourished, and the landscape was characterized by widespread sugarcane cultivation during the Qing Dynasty. After the establishment of the "Taipei Sugar Manufacturing Company" during the Japanese colonial period, the landscape underwent significant transformation, becoming an industrial area dominated by sugar factories and transport railways, with surrounding residents largely depending on the sugar industry or related sectors for their livelihoods. After the end of Japanese rule, urban planning continued to adopt the mixed-use concept from the colonial period, designating nearby areas as industrial zones. Shortly after being taken over by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation, sugar production ceased and the facilities were repurposed for storage; however, surrounding small and medium-sized factories related to the sugar industry, such as those in chemicals, food processing, and paper industries continued to thrive. In the 1940s, the precursor to the China Times, "Zhengxin News," took over the Taiwan Sugar warehouses to establish a publishing page, attracting nearby printing industries to cluster. Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, the convenience of railway transportation drew in garment wholesalers. Throughout the history of development in Taipei, the area near Dali Street has consistently played a productive role. In recent years, however, environmental changes in industry and urban development moving eastward have led to the gradual decline of the once-thriving "Hui She Wei" neighborhood and industrial landscape, with the quality of the living environment diminishing over time due to population concentration and dense construction. Public facilities have struggled to meet residents' everyday needs, leading to a marginalization of urban development. The residents of the Dali Street community have protested against the establishment of a nursing home and campaigned for the preservation of Taipei's oldest sugar heritage site, the Taipei Sugar Factory buildings. Characterized by red brick construction with arches, trapezoidal pillars, and large-span frameworks, the heritage warehouse was designated as a municipal monument on September 23, 2003. The vision for the future includes three municipal monuments, Sugar Warehouses A, B, and C, located on Dali Street in Wanhua District, encompassing an area of approximately 1.092 hectares. Besides the heritage buildings, the C1 area currently includes a park and an underground parking lot. After years of efforts, the preservation of the sugar warehouse heritage and the acquisition of park land at no cost were achieved, and the Cultural Affairs Bureau continues to seek central government funding for repairs. Since the opening of the Taipei Sugar Cultural Park, the three municipal heritage sugar warehouses have been planned as a sugar culture exhibition hall (Warehouse A), the Wanzhou Theatre (Warehouse B), and a space for private organizations provided by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation (Warehouse C). Among them, the sugar culture exhibition hall operated by the Bureau features a permanent exhibition titled "Opening the Sugar Warehouse," themed around the development of the sugar industry in northern Taipei. It employs participatory workshops for collective creative outputs, including historical data collection, oral history interviews, and collaborative workshops, allowing artists to complete their works for display. Utilizing community resources, volunteer teams have been recruited to assist with exhibition services and guided tours. Since its opening, the site has become an important field for local education. The adaptive reuse plan for Warehouse A features a special exhibition highlighting the significance of preserving sugar warehouses, introducing the history of the Taipei Sugar Factory and the trajectory of industrial development in West Taipei, as well as serving as a cultural and multifunctional community activity space. Managed by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, it is open for free visits. Warehouse B, occupied by the theatre, hosts self-organized programs and professional curation while simultaneously allowing performing arts teams to rent the space, nurturing a local audience in Wanhua and collaborating with schools and social groups to promote performing arts. Through initiatives like the Mengjia International Dance Festival and the Wanzhou Theatre Art Residency Program, it links domestic and international platforms, showcasing a rich and diverse performing arts ecosystem at the Taipei Sugar Cultural Park. (Source: Taipei City Cultural Affairs Bureau)
