Taipei Sugar Factory Cultural Park Introduction
In 1764 (the 29th year of the Qianlong reign), records of sugar production began in northern Changhua, Taiwan. The area near Dali Street in Wanhua District during the Qing Dynasty was characterized by privately organized sugar warehouses and widespread sugarcane cultivation. During the Japanese occupation, after the establishment of the "Taipei Sugar Company," the landscape underwent significant changes, transforming into an industrial area dominated by sugar factories and transportation tracks, with nearby residents relying heavily on the sugar industry or related sectors for their livelihoods. After the restoration of Taiwan, urban planning continued to follow the mixed-use concept established during the Japanese era, designating the area nearby as an industrial zone. Shortly after being taken over by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation, sugar production ceased, and the facilities were repurposed for storage. However, small-to-medium-sized factories in related industries, such as chemicals, food processing, and paper, remained prevalent, centered around the residual production capacity of the sugar industry. In the 1940s, the predecessor of the China Times, "Zhengxin News," took over the Taiwan Sugar warehouse to launch a publication, attracting the gathering of nearby printing industries. From the 1960s to 1970s, the convenience of railway transport attracted aggregations of garment wholesalers. Throughout Taipei's developmental history, the area near Dali Street has consistently played a role in production. Yet in recent years, changes in the industrial environment and urban development moving eastward have led to the gradual decline of the once-thriving "Kaisaitou" community life and industrial landscape. The quality of the living environment has also deteriorated as population density increased and buildings were constructed densely, making public facilities unable to meet the residents' living needs, turning the area into an urban fringe. The residents of the Dali Street community protested against the establishment of a nursing home, advocating instead for a neighborhood park and to preserve the Taipei Sugar Factory, the northernmost sugar production relic in Taiwan. The historical warehouse, built with red bricks, features arches, trapezoidal columns, and large-span structures, and it was designated as a municipal heritage site (No. 106) on September 23, 2003. The vision for the future includes three municipal heritage warehouses: Sugar Warehouse A, B, and C, located on Dali Street in Wanhua District, covering the C1 block (Gong Er Park) and the C2 block, encompassing an area of approximately 1.092 hectares. In the C1 area, in addition to the heritage building itself, the surrounding area is currently a park and an underground parking lot. After years of effort, the preservation of the sugar warehouse heritage and the free acquisition of park land were accomplished, and the Cultural Affairs Bureau continues to seek expanded funding for repairs from the central government. Since the opening of the Taipei Sugar Cultural Park after the restoration of the three sugar warehouse heritage buildings, the three municipal heritage warehouses have been planned for use as a sugar culture exhibition hall (Warehouse A), Wanzai Theater (Warehouse B), and space provided by Taiwan Sugar Corporation for community use (Warehouse C). Among these, the sugar culture exhibition hall, operated by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, features a permanent exhibit titled "Open the Sugar Warehouse," focusing on the development of the sugar industry in northern Taiwan. It utilizes collective creations from participatory workshops, including historical data collection, oral history interviews, and workshops, providing artists with the materials to complete their works for display. Community resources are effectively utilized, with a volunteer team recruited to assist with on-site services and guided tours, making it an important site for local education. The reuse planning of the sugar warehouse includes a special exhibition titled "Open the Sugar Warehouse" in Warehouse A, highlighting the significance of the warehouse's preservation, introducing the historical stories of Taipei Sugar Factory and the industrial development trajectory in the western part of the city. Additionally, it features a sugar art classroom, open for cultural and diverse community activities. The Cultural Affairs Bureau manages it and provides free access to visitors. Warehouse B, home to the Wanzai Theater, conducts its programs and professional curations while also allowing performing arts teams to rent the space, cultivating a local audience based in Wanhua and promoting performing arts in collaboration with schools and community organizations. Furthermore, by holding events like the Mengxia International Dance Festival and the Wanzai Theater Arts Residency Project, it connects resources with domestic and international network platforms, showcasing a rich and diverse performing arts ecosystem at the Taipei Sugar Cultural Park. (Source: Taipei City Cultural Affairs Bureau)
