Nanjing Sugar Factory and Shueishang Airport are among the Japanese-era industrial heritage sites in Shueishang Township, Chiayi County — the sugar factory founded in 1908 and the airport established in 1936 as a Japanese army airbase — together tracing the region's modern sugar and aviation history.
Nanjing Sugar Factory began as the 'Nanjing Sugar Manufacturing Plant,' founded in 1908 by Japan's Toyo Sugar Manufacturing Company; production started in 1909, and the plant merged into Meiji Sugar Manufacturing Company in 1927. After the war it was taken over by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation and renamed Nanjing Sugar Factory; production stopped in 2008 and the plant closed in 2009. In 2020, the 'Nanjing Sugar Factory Warehouse Cluster' was registered as a Chiayi County historic building, and the site now operates as the open-air Nanjing Leisure Plaza. Shueishang Airport (predecessor of today's Chiayi Airport) was built during the Japanese colonial period; the 14th Air Flight Regiment was established there in December 1936. After the war it served as a military airbase before opening to civil aviation in 1976, with its terminal building inaugurated in January 1978.
Highlights of Nanjing Sugar Factory and Shueishang Airport
Nanjing Sugar Factory was a product of the sugar industry's expansion across the Chianan Plain during the Japanese colonial era. Some buildings in the factory complex retain the Japanese-era brick industrial architectural style, making them tangible examples for studying Taiwan's modern industrial architecture. The factory ruins document the full arc of the sugarcane industry on the Chianan Plain — from its peak to its decline — and are similar in nature to Suantou Sugar Factory in Liujiao Township, though the preservation condition and exhibition scale differ. Confirm the site's open status before visiting.
Shueishang Airport's history is closely tied to the early development of civil aviation in Taiwan; from the late Japanese colonial period through the early postwar years it served as an important aviation hub for the Chiayi area, and the present-day Chiayi Airport continues on that same foundation. The factory and the airport each represent different aspects of the modernization process. Their co-existence in a corner of Shueishang Township forms a rare industrial and transportation heritage cluster on the Chianan Plain, appealing to visitors with an interest in Taiwan's modern history.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There & Timing
- By car: Shueishang Township borders the southern edge of Chiayi City; head south from Chiayi City along Provincial Highway 1 to reach it conveniently.
- Confirm the open status of the Nanjing Sugar Factory ruins in advance as some sections of the factory may have safety restrictions. The area around Shueishang Airport is a restricted zone; observe from publicly accessible areas only.
- A half-day is recommended; pair the visit with the surrounding Chianan Plain rural scenery.
Nearby Connections
- Shueishang Township is adjacent to Chiayi City, making it easy to connect to city-center dining or cultural routes on the return trip.
- Heading south extends to Suantou Sugar Factory in Liujiao Township for a comparative heritage itinerary covering Chiayi County's sugar industry historic sites.
Source: Shueishang Township Office information and Wikipedia entry on "Shueishang Township." Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Nanjing Sugar Factory founded?
Its predecessor, the Nanjing Sugar Manufacturing Plant, was founded in 1908, began production in 1909, and stopped operating in 2008, closing formally in 2009.
Can visitors still tour Nanjing Sugar Factory today?
Yes, the site is now open to the public as Nanjing Leisure Plaza, featuring a sugar industry heritage museum and a display of retired military aircraft and tanks.
When did Shueishang Airport open for civil aviation?
Shueishang Airport (now Chiayi Airport) opened for civil aviation in 1976, with its terminal building formally inaugurated in January 1978.
Sources
- 南靖糖廠 - 維基百科 — 糖廠創立(1908)、併廠(1927)、停產關廠(2008/2009)、歷史建築登錄(2020)年代
- 嘉義機場 - 維基百科 — 水上機場軍用起源(1936)與民航開放(1976/1978)歷史