aeeble

The Yuemei Sugar Refinery in Houli District, Taichung City, invites visitors to discover the bygone splendor of Taiwan’s sugar industry in the guise of a tourist sugar factory. Originally established by the Japanese in 1909 as the “Tachia Sugar Mill” under the Japan Sugar Company, it was taken over in 1919 by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation’s Yuemei Plant. The mill not only earned large amounts of foreign exchange for Taiwan but also became one of the architects of the island’s economic miracle. With the passage of time, Taiwan’s sugar industry underwent restructuring, and sugar production ceased here in 1999. The venerable refinery has since reinvented itself as a tourism-oriented sugar factory that combines education with leisure. Inside the park, visitors will find a Taiwan Sugar product exhibition area, an explanation zone detailing the sugar-making process, and other rich displays, plus a waterside boardwalk and a koi pond, creating an interactive space perfect for family outings. Begin your visit at the old five-cent railway station, once a vital hub for transporting sugar, then join a guided tour through the century-old refinery to gain an in-depth understanding of traditional sugar-craft. Finally, don’t forget to enjoy a nostalgic sugar-factory popsicle—its cool, sweet flavor is the perfect end to this memorable, sugar-coated journey.