Qishan Sugar Factory is the most iconic industrial cultural asset in Qishan District, Kaohsiung City. Its predecessor was 1909 (Japanese era) one of the core factories of Kaohsiung Sugar Industry Co. After the war, it became Taiwan Sugar Qishan Factory—a century of Qishan sugar industry history. In 2000 s when sugar production stopped, the park restarted as "Qitang Cultural Park," preserving red brick warehouses, hosting weekend creative markets, and serving famous Taipower popsicles. For guests staying at Hanyuan B&B , this is the best Qishan half-day trip to taste sugar industry history and buy souvenirs. It's near Qishan Old Street, walkable as the richest cultural walking route.
Qishan Sugar Factory history dates to Meiji 42 (1909 ). The Japanese developed Kaoping River basin's rich agricultural resources, founding "Kaohsiung Sugar Industry Co.," "Damukou Sugar Factory," etc., and selected Qishan Sugar Factory Village at the Nanzi Creek and Qishan Creek confluence. It was second only to Pingtung and Qiaotou sugar factories—one of Kaohsiung Prefecture's three major sugar factories. Every sugar production season (November to next year 4 ), thousands of workers were employed, with five-foot gauge trains (Qiwei Line) running between Qishan, Meinong, Shanlin, and Tianliao, transporting sugarcane and sugar—the deepest industrial memory of local residents.
After the war, Qishan Sugar Factory was taken over by Taiwan Sugar Corporation and renamed "TSC Qishan Factory," continuing sugarcane purchasing, sugar processing, and distribution. In 1970 s, Qishan Sugar Factory remained the local economic lifeline, sugar production accounting for over 60% of Kaohsiung County's agricultural processing. With 1980 -s industrialization and sugar policy transformation, Qishan Sugar Factory officially stopped sugar production in 2002 , with equipment dismantled, leaving only office buildings, red brick warehouses, five-foot gauge railway ruins, and tall chimneys.
2006 The Kaohsiung County Government (before merger) guided TSC to transform Qishan Sugar Factory into "Qitang Cultural Park" with the concept of "industrial cultural asset regeneration," preserving red brick arch warehouses, sugar industry offices, and sugar press ruins while introducing creative markets, local crafts, and arts performances. In 2010 , after Kaohsiung County-City merger, the city continued investing resources, positioning Qitang Cultural Park as the "Kaohsiung Mountain Town Cultural-Creative Industry Base," attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. In 2018 , the park further collaborated with local groups, promoting "Qishan Sugar Industry Cultural History Exhibition," displaying five-foot gauge train models, old photos, sugar factory worker tools—the best place to learn Qishan's century-old industrial history.
Qishan Sugar Factory's five-foot gauge railway (Qiwei Line) is also a core element of its cultural memory. The Qiwei Line was commissioned in the Japanese era, with total length about 14.7 km, from Qishan Sugar Factory via Zhongtan, Yuantan, Simei, Weizhuang to Zhuzi-Men. It was the main transportation artery for early Qishan and Meinong, carrying sugarcane, sugar, passengers, and goods. After the war, TSC continued operating the Qiwei Line until 1979 when road transport rose and it ceased operation. Though the railway is no longer running, parts have been planned as "Qishan Bike Path," where cyclists can experience early sugar industry transport history—an important extension of Qishan Sugar Factory cultural tour.
Qishan Sugar Factory's sugar processing technology was advanced during the Japanese era, introducing the latest pressing technology and centrifugal crystallization methods, with leading sugar production efficiency in Taiwan. The Japanese-era sugar factory had staff dormitories, clinics, children's schools, and consumer cooperatives, forming a self-sufficient sugar factory community—an early model for Taiwan's industrial community development. These historical buildings and stories are now preserved and conveyed through the Sugar Industry Cultural Exhibition Hall and volunteer docents to every visitor.
Qishan Sugar Factory (Qitang Cultural Park) is in Sugar Factory Village, Qishan District, Kaohsiung City, at "Zhongshan South Road, Qishan District 1 ," geographic coordinates approximately east longitude 120.483 °N, 22.883 degrees. The park is adjacent to Nanzi Creek's north bank, only about 800 meters from Qishan Old Street, walkable. From Hanyuan B&B , take Highway 28 toward Qishan, cross Zhongtan Bridge to Zhongshan South Road; it takes about 15 至 20 minutes to reach the park parking lot.
By Car: Set GPS to "Qishan Sugar Factory" or "Qitang Cultural Park." The park has a large parking lot and convenient roadside parking. On busy holidays, arrive before 10 AM to avoid traffic.
Public Transit:Take Kaohsiung city bus 8023、8032、8046 to "Qishan Bus Terminal," then walk about 10 minutes or take a taxi. From HSR, go to Zuoying Station first, take shuttle bus or TRA to Jiuqutang Station, then transfer to a bus to Qishan.
By Scooter/Bike: 由 Hanyuan B&B start can take 184 via Zhongtan to Qishan; cycling route about 40 minutes—a popular cycling route. The park area also has YouBike stations, allowing cycling from Qishan Old Street to the Sugar Factory, enjoying leisurely countryside scenery.
Suggested duration: including creative market shopping, sugar factory popsicles, red brick warehouse tour, and sugar industry cultural exhibition, takes about 2 至 3 hours. To walk to Qishan Old Street, schedule afternoon time—you can complete both in one go—the core node for planning Nearby Attractions .
Qishan Sugar Factory's core experience is "see monuments, browse markets, eat popsicles." Six must-see highlights:
Classic Tour Route: Morning 10 go to sugar factory ice cream department for popsicles first → Walk to red brick arch warehouse complex for photos → Enter sugar industry cultural exhibition hall → Saturdays and Sundays for creative market → Lunch at park or nearby restaurants at noon → Afternoon walk to Qishan Old Street (about 10 minutes) for old street, monuments, and souvenirs.
In-depth Cultural Route: For those wanting in-depth Qishan Sugar Factory cultural history, book volunteer docents in advance. About 2.5 hours. The tour covers sugar industry history briefing, red brick architecture tour, five-foot gauge train model introduction, sugar industry artifact stories, and access to generally closed sugar production ruins—the best educational choice. Book through TSC official website or contact the park service desk.
Family Route:For families with children, visit weekend mornings. Start with popsicles at the ice cream department, then pick DIY handcraft experiences (pinwheels, Hakka indigo dyeing, handmade soap, etc.), then enjoy packed lunch at the park's grass picnic area. This route lets kids learn monuments and enjoy crafts without being too tight—the best family choice.
Qishan Sugar Factory's seasonal highlights focus on "festive activities × and seasonal ice cream":
Ecology: Qishan Sugar Factory is adjacent to Nanzi Creek's north bank, with rich riparian ecology around the park. Cycling along the creek bike path, you can observe little egrets, cattle egrets, black-crowned night herons, and red-bellied squirrels among roadside trees. Every 10 to next year 3 , the kapok tree road behind the park blooms with bright red flowers—a "hidden" photo hotspot for photographers.
Behind Qishan Sugar Factory is the Nanzi Creek watershed, an important habitat for many amphibians and waterbirds. Every 4 至 9 at night, you can see Asian grass frogs, tiger frogs, and black-spined toads in paddies and irrigation channels around the factory, with fireflies dancing in dreamy scenes. Additionally, the old banyan and flame trees planted in the park, every 5 至 7 is the peak breeding season for five-colored birds, Taiwan blue magpies, and tree pies—a private spot for birders.
Qishan Sugar Factory park preserves many old trees and native plants, including century-old banyans, lemon eucalyptus, and longan trees—important green assets. Every 3 至 5 , when longan trees bloom, bees and butterflies flutter through flowers collecting nectar—the most lively seasonal scenery. Additionally, the kapok tree road behind the factory in 3 至 4 bloom time, combined with red brick warehouses, creates beautiful color contrast—a private photo hotspot for photographers.
If you're coming from Hanyuan B&B When planning a Qishan Sugar Factory trip, combine with nearby attractions:
Want to see all top Qishan & Meinong attractions? See Hanyuan B&B Nearby Attractions Overview— covering all 12 nearby attractions with maps, helping you plan the richest Hakka mountain-town trip.
Zhongshan Road and Zhonghua Road near Qishan Sugar Factory are lined with many Qishan old-name snacks, including angelica duck, popsicle city, egg pancakes, vegetable rice dumplings, tomato plates—perfect for tasting authentic Qishan food. After visiting the sugar factory, walk to Qishan Old Street for food and monuments; with more time, head to Qishan Creek riverside park at dusk to enjoy sunset glow with sugar factory chimneys in retro scenery.
Must-eat: Sugar factory popsicles (peanut, red bean, taro most popular), traditional rice pudding, egg ice cream. Must-visit: Red brick warehouse creative market (weekends), handmade DIY classroom, sugar industry cultural exhibition hall; cyclists often stop for rest.
Qitang Cultural Park daily 09:00 至 18:00 open; some shops & ice cream stores close at 20:00. The creative market mainly runs on Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 至 17:00 —we recommend visiting on weekends for the liveliest experience.
Qishan Sugar Factory's red brick warehouses are excellent photo spots—arched windows and weathered walls have strong retro atmosphere. Free outdoor photography. The exhibition halls inside follow on-site rules; some areas prohibit flash and commercial photography—ask the service desk first.
Qishan Sugar Factory and Qishan Old Street are only about 800 meters apart, about 10 至 15 minutes' walk. We recommend visiting the sugar factory creative market and eating popsicles in the afternoon, then walking to Qishan Old Street at dusk for snacks, old street sunset and night view—fully walkable.