Xihu Sugar Factory is a former sugar mill in Xihu Township, Changhua County, founded in 1919 during the Japanese colonial period; renamed Xihu Sugar Factory after the Taiwan Sugar Corporation was established in 1946, it was once one of Taiwan's highest sugar-producing factories. After sugar production ceased in 2002, it was converted into a tourist and cultural park, retaining Japanese-style wooden factory buildings, sugar-production equipment on display, and a wooden narrow-gauge railway station; on weekends a tourist train runs around the factory grounds.
Xihu Sugar Factory was founded in 1919 during the Japanese colonial period and was renamed 'Xihu Sugar Factory' after the Taiwan Sugar Corporation was established in 1946; it was once one of Taiwan's highest-output sugar factories. Production ceased in 2002, after which it was converted into a tourist park; its narrow-gauge railway runs on a 762mm gauge, about half the width of standard gauge (1,435mm).
Highlights of Xihu Sugar Factory
The factory buildings combine Japanese-style red brick with timber framing. The roofs retain serrated sawtooth skylights — the typical form of Japanese colonial-era factory architecture. On display in the factory grounds are sugar-production equipment including cane crushers, evaporators, and centrifuges; some pieces are exhibited in place, allowing visitors to grasp the industrial scale of the sugar-making process. The wooden narrow-gauge railway station platform and tracks are fully preserved, offering a condensed view of the narrow-gauge (wufenche) sugar-railway culture.
The tourist train runs on the narrow-gauge (762 mm) track and departs at set times on weekends, completing a circuit of the factory grounds in about 20 minutes. Along the way, sugarcane fields and agricultural scenery are visible around the perimeter of the complex. The factory grounds have an ice cream stall featuring Taiwan Sugar ice cream — a product tied to many Taiwanese people's shared memories of sugar factories. A permanent exhibition on sugar industry history using text, images, and objects is also on site.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There & Visiting Hours
- From Changhua Train Station, take a bus or drive to Xihu — about 30 minutes. The factory grounds have a car park. Check official announcements for detailed opening hours.
- The tourist train runs only on weekends; on weekdays only the factory grounds are open for walking. Confirm whether the train is running on the day of your visit before you go.
Nearby Connections
- Driving south from Xihu for about 20 minutes reaches Tianwei Flower Garden; the two sites can be combined into a central Changhua half-day itinerary.
- Xihu Township has local food options such as mutton hot pot; a convenient place for a meal after your visit.
Sources: Taiwan Sugar Corporation; Changhua County Tourism Bureau. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Xihu Sugar Factory founded?
It was founded in 1919 during the Japanese colonial period and renamed Xihu Sugar Factory after the Taiwan Sugar Corporation was established in 1946.
When did Xihu Sugar Factory stop producing sugar?
Sugar production ceased in 2002, after which the site was converted into a tourist and cultural park, retaining the Japanese-style factory buildings and narrow-gauge railway.
Sources
- 溪湖糖廠 - 維基百科 — 1919年創設、1946年更名、2002年停止製糖沿革
- 溪湖糖廠鐵道文化園區－台灣糖業股份有限公司官網 — 官方園區介紹