Dalin Sugar Factory Introduction
Dalin Sugar Factory is located next to Provincial Highway No. 1, where the prominent century-old giant smokestack of Taiwan Sugar Biotechnology Center can be seen from afar. During the Japanese colonial period, the government planned to develop a large-scale sugar industry in Taiwan, establishing Dalin Sugar Factory in the third year of the Taisho era, which attracted a large population and led to Dalin being referred to as an "immigrant area." During the flourishing period of the sugar industry in Taiwan, Dalin Sugar Factory drove local industries, making Dalin the most economically prosperous and culturally advanced area in Chiayi County, becoming an important spiritual symbol for the locals. With the decline of Taiwan's sugar industry, in 1992 Dalin Sugar Factory was merged into Beigang Sugar Factory, becoming the Dalin Plant of Beigang Sugar Factory. In 1996, Dalin Sugar Factory officially ceased production, with personnel and equipment transferred to Beigang Sugar Factory's jurisdiction, while part of the factory area was transformed into a production line for biotechnology companies, and most of the factory area continued to be preserved. Today, Dalin Sugar Factory is very quiet on ordinary days, except for the crowds of tourists and shoppers visiting the ice cream and retail center. In the 1940s and 50s, Taiwan's sugar industry played an important role in economic development, with the 3,000-kilometer transportation network constructed by Taiwan Sugar Railways resolving trade and communication issues on the island. The significance of the sugar industry in Taiwan's history is remarkable. To preserve the few remaining artifacts of Taiwan's sugar industry, the Chiayi Forest District Office has provided an old steam locomotive and a Taiwan Sugar "Pingke 6203" carriage for display at the current Dalin Sugar Factory. With its lush landscapes and historic Taiwan Sugar employee dormitories, visitors can clearly see the traces of the sugar industry in Taiwan's history.
