ed 12/2025
Xinying Sugar Factory (新營糖廠) is not really a Lost Place—it’s easily accessible. However, right next to the Cultural Park, there’s an abandoned area with many old buildings, and entry doesn’t seem to be restricted. Adjacent to it is a modern complex. Let’s start with the promotional description from the official website, which actually provides a good overview:
Xinying Sugar Factory is one of Taiwan Sugar Corporation’s three major factories. Due to its high organizational level, its office buildings and dormitories are uniquely designed. The factory boasts a dense railway network with flexible vehicle dispatching, making it a key transportation hub during the peak of Taiwan Sugar’s narrow-gauge railway passenger services. The factory grounds still preserve a significant number of operational narrow-gauge train cars and small locomotives. In the diesel locomotive yard, various small diesel locomotives are stationed, along with specialized freight trains that transported raw materials between the Xinying Railway Station and Taiwan Sugar’s by-product processing plant. In the past, Xinying Sugar Factory’s railway operations were diverse and visually striking. (https://www.taisugar.com.tw/chinese/Attractions_detail.aspx?n=10048&s=45&p=0) Indeed, there are a few interesting spots in the Cultural Park, especially for railway enthusiasts.
But of course, the original abandoned area is far more intriguing. The entrance:
There’s not that much to tell—you simply walk through the old site and see the remains of the facilities. Many buildings can still be entered. There are multi-story administration buildings, factory structures, and warehouse halls.
The old residential buildings, as usual, are being taken over by banyan trees, turning them into beautiful ghost houses. A few stray dogs wandered over from the new buildings.
The back halls are quite badly damaged.
But we wouldn’t be The Best Lost Place Page if we didn’t find something else. In the back, hidden behind some bushes, there are well-preserved halls—though the inside is a bit freaky.
Visit in November 2025
I have to admit, I am sad. Since my last visit, it has become clear that the old factory will soon disappear. Many buildings are now severely damaged or even completely demolished. It seems they are no longer considered worth preserving.
On the other hand, I was now able to enter some of the buildings. Here are some new photos.
(Copyright Claudius Petzold)
