Taitung Sugar Refinery

The Taitung Sugar Refinery was established in 1913 and belonged to the Taitung Sugar Manufacturing Co., Ltd. during the Japanese colonial period. In 1996, sugar production ceased due to environmental changes. Following the recent trend of redeveloping historical sites, heritage buildings, and idle spaces, the Taitung Sugar Refinery, with its long history and numerous cultural advantages, has been revitalized and repurposed. It now serves as a tourist and leisure destination, preserving the local sugar industry culture and demonstrating excellent potential for spatial activation, thereby contributing to the prosperity of the Taitung area. This factory site is the largest existing industrial heritage site in Taitung County. The former sugar industry made indelible contributions to the county's economic development, leaving behind memories for future generations to appreciate. There are annual plans to revitalize the 'Taitung Sugar Refinery' as a cultural asset with commercial value, preserving the sugar industry culture, integrating local Indigenous culture, opening for educational visits and tourism, and gradually developing it into a 'Cultural and Creative Industries Park'. The Taitung factory area was approved by the company in 2004 to be developed as a 'Cultural and Creative Industries Park'. In 2004, the Taitung County Government registered it as a 'Historical Building'. Since 2006, with funding from the Ministry of Culture, historical buildings have been gradually renovated, revitalized, and repurposed. The gantry crane in the sugar cane storage area was transformed into an open-air stage, and industrial landscape iron sculptures such as 'Sweet Wheel,' 'Singing Pipes,' and 'Robocop' were added, creating a strong industrial landscape art atmosphere. To actively transform into the Taitung Sugar Refinery Cultural and Creative Industries Park, the Taitung Sugar Refinery has integrated local cultural and creative industries and artistic and humanistic characteristics. It has recruited local artists, cultural and creative leisure businesses, and catering industries to set up shop. Currently, about 34 businesses have moved in, including: woodworking workshops, Indigenous traditional craft workshops, restaurants, weaving workshops, and bicycle rental shops. Visitors can explore local Indigenous handicrafts and savor the sugar industry culture within the park.