Dalin Sugar Factory Introduction
Dalin Sugar Factory is located next to Provincial Highway No. 1, and its iconic century-old giant smokestack of Taiwan Sugar Corporation’s Biotechnology Center can be seen from afar. During the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese 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 peak of the sugar industry in Taiwan, Dalin Sugar Factory drove local industries, making Dalin the most economically prosperous and culturally rich place in Chiayi County, becoming an important spiritual symbol for the local people. With the decline of Taiwan's sugar industry, in 1992, Dalin Sugar Factory was merged into Beigang Sugar Factory, becoming the Dalin Factory of Beigang Sugar Factory. In 1996, Dalin Sugar Factory officially ceased operations, with personnel and equipment incorporated into Beigang Sugar Factory’s jurisdiction, and a part of the factory area was converted into a production line for a biotech company, while the majority of the factory remained preserved. Today, Dalin Sugar Factory is very quiet on regular days, except for the crowds of tourists and shoppers at the sales center enjoying ice treats. In the 1950s, the sugar industry in Taiwan played an important role in economic construction, with the 3,000 kilometers transportation network built by Taiwan Sugar Railroad solving the issues of trade and resident communication on the island of Taiwan. This highlights the significant position of the sugar industry in Taiwan's history. To preserve the remaining artifacts of Taiwan's sugar industry, the Chiayi Forest District Office has provided an ancient steam locomotive and a Taiwan Sugar "Pioneer 6203" train car on display at the current Dalin Sugar Factory. Along with the lush green landscape and the historical Taiwan Sugar employee dormitories, the public can clearly see the traces of the sugar industry's historical journey in Taiwan.
