We visited the historical “Ciaotou Sugar Refinery” in Kaohsiung county during this trip to Taiwan. It was the first sugar refinery built in Taiwan. Sugar refinery was the most prosperous industry in Taiwan during 1950s. Although the sugar refinery industry has since faded in Taiwan, Ciaotou Sugar Refinery certainly established itself as one of the symbols of old Taiwan. The Taiwan Sugar Corporation turned the refinery into the Taiwan Sugar Museum to preserve the old buildings and the history.

After the completion of Kaohsiung Rapid Transit System, it was much easier to visit the old refinery and enjoyed their famous “red bean ice cream” and ice bars. After the delicious treats, we rented bikes to tour the refinery. I don’t know how to call this kind of bike exactly. It was very interesting to ride on them.

The old buildings in the refinery were just so charming. They had histories written all over them.