Dalin Sugar Refinery

The Dalin Sugar Refinery is located next to Provincial Highway 1. From a distance, one can spot the eye-catching, century-old giant chimney of the Taiwan Sugar Biotechnology Center. During the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese government systematically developed a large-scale sugar industry in Taiwan. The Dalin Sugar Refinery was established in Taisho 3 (1914), attracting a large population and leading Dalin to be known as an "immigrant zone." During the peak of Taiwan's sugar industry, the Dalin Sugar Refinery spurred the development of local industries, large and small, making Dalin the most economically prosperous place with the highest cultural quality in Chiayi County. At its height, it also became a significant spiritual beacon for the local community. With the decline of Taiwan's sugar manufacturing industry, in 1992 (ROC Year 81), the Dalin Sugar Refinery was merged into the Beigang Sugar Refinery, becoming the Dalin Factory of the Beigang Sugar Refinery. In 1996 (ROC Year 85), the Dalin Sugar Refinery officially ceased production; personnel and equipment were integrated into Beigang Sugar Refinery's jurisdiction, while a portion of the factory area was converted into a production line for a biotechnology company. Most of the remaining factory area was preserved. Today, Dalin Sugar Refinery is extremely quiet on ordinary days, apart from the crowds of tourists buying ice cream and shopping at the visitor center. In the 1950s and 1960s (ROC years 40s and 50s), Taiwan's sugar industry played a crucial role in economic development. The 3,000-mile transportation network established by the Taiwan Sugar Railway also resolved issues of trade and resident interaction on the 'Treasure Island' of Taiwan at that time, underscoring the pivotal position of the sugar industry in Taiwan's history. To preserve the dwindling artifacts of Taiwan's sugar industry, the Chiayi Forest District Office provided an old steam locomotive and a Taiwan Sugar "Ping Ke 6203" passenger car, which are displayed within the current Dalin Sugar Refinery. Along with the lush green landscape and the historic Taiwan Sugar employee dormitories, visitors can clearly witness the historical footprint of Taiwan's sugar manufacturing industry.