Houli Horse Ranch was built in 1936 during the Japanese colonial period and originally served as a Japanese Army horse ranch. After the war it was taken over and operated by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation. The park retains a complete complex of stables, staff dormitories, and other Japanese-style structures, making it the largest and most intact surviving Japanese colonial horse ranch facility in Taiwan — a witness to the intertwined histories of modern agriculture and military affairs.
Highlights of Houli Horse Ranch
The ranch was built in 1936 on the Houli Plateau, whose flat terrain was well suited for raising military horses. The building complex uses Japanese timber-frame construction, with red-tiled pitched-roof stables and staff dormitories arranged along a main axis in a clearly ordered spatial sequence. After the war, the Taiwan Sugar Corporation took over and continued using the site primarily for equestrian training. Only in recent years, when it was redeveloped as an equestrian park and opened to the public, did it begin hosting cultural events and visitor activities.
The park holds regular equestrian competitions and demonstration performances, and riding experience courses are open for general public registration. Parts of the Japanese dormitory cluster have been partially restored and are used intermittently for exhibitions and arts events. The main buildings retain well-preserved timber joinery and roof truss details — visitors with an interest in architectural history or Japanese colonial culture are encouraged to take a close look at the construction techniques.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There & Timing
- Drive or ride to Taian Road in Houli District. The park has a parking lot.
- Take the Taiwan Railways to Houli Station, then transfer by bus or taxi — about a 10 to 15 minute ride.
- Opening hours and admission fees are subject to park announcements; check official information before you go.
Nearby Connections
- The Yueyuan Sugar Factory ruins and Lihpao Resort are nearby in Houli District, allowing for a half-day to full-day itinerary combining multiple stops.
- The Taian Railway Cultural Park is not far away and shares a Japanese railway history background, making it a natural add-on for visitors interested in modern history.
Source: Facts compiled from the Wikipedia entry on Houli Horse Ranch. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.