Sweet Memories and Sugar Trains - Revisiting Suantou Sugar Factory

Travel Date: 2025/04/05

This time, we revisited a place we first saw about four or five years ago - the Suantou Sugar Factory in Chiayi. And wow, let me tell you… it has changed a lot! Before we dive into the new, I’ve included a few old photos from our first visit - see if you can spot the differences as we go.

Established in 1906, Suantou Sugar Factory was once a powerhouse - literally the third-largest sugar factory in Taiwan during the Japanese occupation era. But like many things in life, it didn’t stay sweet forever. In 2001, Typhoon Nari hit hard. Severe flooding damaged the equipment beyond repair, and that was the end of sugar production here. Sugar crash, literally.

But fast forward to today, and the whole site has transformed into a cultural park! The old factory buildings now house museum-style exhibits - while the machines no longer run, the explanations are thorough and engaging. They even have slabs of molasses on display to show how sugarcane turns into the sweet stuff we love.

Outside, you can ride a charming mini sugar train, admire Baroque-style architecture, and stroll past Japanese-style dormitories still standing from decades ago.

One of the highlights? The renovated train station - now a cheerful sky-blue, with an outdoor sugarcane patch beside it. Info boards show how sugarcane grows across Taiwan, like a living science fair.

While wandering the park, we stumbled upon the Japanese-style dorms. Some are clearly aging, but their nostalgic charm is still very much alive. And then... enter the orange cat! He meowed at us, stared like he had a secret, then trotted down a path... only to summon another cat and vanish. No petting, no farewell. Honestly, I felt played. 😂

Some dorms were marked “available for adoption” (yes, really—for buildings!). We were too late, though. The signs were still up, but it’s not a small commitment - there are rules, high renovation costs, and short usage periods. But hey, maybe someone out there with a love for history (and deep pockets) will give them a second life.

We wrapped up our visit at Jieshou Hall, once used for cadre training and even served briefly as a presidential office. It’s tucked into the far end of the park - a nice historical surprise to end the visit.

But the day wasn’t over yet…

👉 Next stop? A hidden gem not far away - one of Taiwan’s rarest Japanese buildings still standing tall. Stay tuned for part two! (LINK)