Zacheng Cultural Park (Suan Tou Sugar Factory) Introduction
The Garlic Sugar Factory was established in 1906 and was the third largest sugar factory in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. Due to flooding caused by Typhoon Nari in 2001, the sugar manufacturing equipment was severely damaged, leading to the cessation of sugar production. The factory has gradually transformed into a leisure industry—an attraction known as the Sugar Cultural Park, which integrates Taiwan Sugar Corporation's unique five-minute train. The park's main feature is the century-old sugar factory. Although the machinery has stopped operating, a tour route has been planned, showcasing items such as sugar boards and molasses, allowing visitors to gain a clear understanding of the sugar manufacturing process with explanations from tour guides. The Garlic Sugar Factory features an ancient wooden structure, where visitors can take a ride on the small five-minute train. The train departs from the station heading towards Taibao and Nanjing, with tour guides explaining the rural scenery along the way, including the diminishing fields of white sugarcane. The park also has quaint buildings to appreciate, offering a deep sense of life’s progress. At the end of 2004, a new attraction, the Ecological Park, was completed within the park, which also serves an outdoor educational function. The factory offers many unique and authentic ice treats worth trying, such as garlic sugar red bean popsicles, sugar cultural red bean shaved ice, barley and sour plum popsicles, and other special flavors that will leave a lasting impression!
