Sweet Heritage: Exploring the Sugar Factory of Huwei, Yunlin

Huwei has become my home, and I have explored nearly every corner of this town. However, I must admit that this small town doesn't captivate me as much anymore. Perhaps it's because I have been walking the same streets and seeing the same buildings for the past few months, and nothing surprises me anymore.

However, for travelers, there are still several places worth visiting in Huwei, such as the Painted Village, Chifa Mazu Temple, Cake Towel Cafe, Sugar Factory, and Nongbo Park.

During the sugar cane season, which typically occurs around December, I had the chance to witness an old train transporting sugar canes to the nearby factory. This train only operates for about 2-3 months when the factory begins sugar production. Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to visit the factory itself.

See also: Huwei Puppet Museum

History of Huwei Sugar Factory 

Huwei Sugar Factory (虎尾糖廠) was built in 1907. The first workshop was officially started in 1909, with a daily crushing of 3,300 metric tons of sugar cane. The second workshop of the Huwei Sugar Factory was built in 1912, with a daily crushing capacity of 1,600 metric tons of sugar cane. In 1924, the first workshop was expanded to increase the total crushing capacity to 4,900 metric tons, making it the most productive sugar plant in Taiwan. In 1925, the largest alcohol workshop in the region was added. In 1937, equipment for anhydrous alcohol manufacturing was also installed. However, the factory was closed in 1962.

During World War II, the sugar plant was heavily bombarded, resulting in significant damage to both the first and second factories. Due to the severity of the damage, repairs were prioritized on the second workshop, which had suffered less. By the end of 1945, sugar production resumed. In 1947, repairs were completed on the first workshop, and sugar production resumed that same year. However, due to a decline in sugarcane planting area, the second workshop was shut down in 1961, while the crushing capacity of the first workshop was reduced to 3,500 metric tons. In 1967, the Huwei, Beigang, and Douliu Sugar Factories were reorganized into a large factory system. In 1972, the Dalin Sugar Factory came under the management of the Huwei General Factory once again. The alcohol workshop was closed in September 1976, and the equipment was transferred to the new by-product processing plant. In 1990, the Douliou Sugar Factory was also incorporated into the Huwei General Plant. Since 2004, the official name of the factory is Huwei Sugar Factory.

Huwei Sugar Factory is one of the three traditional sugar factories in Taiwan, alongside Xinying Sugar Factory and Pingtung Sugar Factory. Currently, Huwei Sugar Factory is still engaged in the sugar business and is one of the two sugar factories still in operation, with the other being the Shanhua Sugar Factory in Tainan.

Near the factory, you can also visit the Huwei Bridge. This historical steel railroad bridge was once used to transport sugar cane. It served as the most important traffic line during the early years of Huwei and was the bustling city center during the Japanese occupation. Although the bridge is no longer in use, it remains a popular attraction in Huwei.

Another place to explore is Tongxin Park, where you can find remnants of Japanese-style wooden houses, although most of them are now in a collapsed state. These buildings were originally constructed as housing for sugar factory workers in the past.

Address:

632雲林縣虎尾鎮中山路2號虎尾糖廠