Suantou Sugar Refinery was established in 1906 and, during the Japanese colonial period, ranked as Taiwan’s third-largest sugar factory. After Typhoon Nari in 2001 flooded the plant and severely damaged the sugar-making equipment, sugar production ceased. The site gradually transformed into a leisure-oriented tourist sugar village. Suantou combined Taiwan Sugar Corporation’s iconic narrow-gauge “five-cent” trains to develop the “Zhecheng Cultural Park.” The centennial sugar mill is the park’s centerpiece; although the machinery is idle, a guided route still runs past exhibits such as sugar-cane slabs and molasses, with interpreters explaining every step of sucrose production. The old refinery itself is a rustic wooden building where visitors can board a tiny五分仔train for an outing.
The train departs the station toward Taibao and Nanjing. On-board guides describe the pastoral scenery, including the ever-shrinking white-cane fields, while antique buildings flash past the windows, offering a vivid sense of progress. At the end of 2004 the park added a new Eco-Park, doubling as an outdoor classroom.
Inside the refinery, try the unique, authentic ice treats: garlic-sugar red-bean popsicles, Zhecheng red-bean shaved ice, Job’s-tears pops, and sour-plum bars—flavors that will keep you coming back for more!