Hidden within the revitalised grounds of the historic Qiaotou Sugar Refinery (桥头糖厂) in Kaohsiung, the R23 Sugar Warehouse Convention Center (糖廠會展中心) stands as one of the most compelling examples of how Taiwan blends industrial heritage with contemporary cultural life.
Originally built as one of the sugar factory’s large storage warehouses, the structure now known as R23 was part of the sprawling industrial complex established in the early 20th century. During the refinery’s peak operational years, this building helped house sugar products and raw materials — silent testimony to an era when Kaohsiung’s economy revolved heavily around agriculture, processing and export. Fast forward to today, and this same space now functions as a convention and cultural hall, hosting exhibitions, community events, performances and festivals.
R23’s raw industrial aesthetic makes it a great place for photography and quiet exploration. The long corridors, patched brickwork, and steel shadows were visually rich.
Just beside the sugar refinery’s cultural zone lies the Ciaotou Railway Park (橋頭鐵道公園). It is a green, open-air space that celebrates Taiwan’s railway heritage while offering a relaxed setting for walks, play, photography, and community gatherings.
The park’s most striking feature is its original railway tracks, preserved in place and integrated into the layout of the open space. These tracks were once part of the Taiwan Sugar Railway network, which transported cane and sugar between fields, factory, and harbour.
After exploring the sugar refinery compound for more than 2 hours, we started walking back to the MRT station. Along the way, we visited the front and back yard of the Director’s Residence.
Other than a Japanese Zen garden, there is also a bomb shelter within the residence.
During the second half of the Japanese Colonial Era, the Japanese Government implemented the Japanization Movement to aggressively Japanize Taiwanese people. As it promoted religious reformation, Japanese rulers started to build Japanese shrines around Taiwan with the purpose of wanting Taiwanese people to abandon their original religion. The Nationalist Government later rebuilt it into Zhongshan Hall. Rumor has it that the tablet was hidden in the warehouse of Fude Temple and only 2 smiling stone lions are what remain of the shrine.
In front of a singles dormitory built in 1958 is a large and flourishing rain tree. According to research, this place used to be a shooting range for Japanese troops, and dormitories were built later for employees who were single.
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