Relive a Century of Glory: Yunlin’s Historic “Huwei Sugar Factory Iron Bridge” Reopens

▲ Huwei Sugar Factory Iron Bridge. (Photo / Screenshot fromYunlin County Government Cultural Affairs Bureau)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The Huwei Sugar Factory Iron Bridge, a Yunlin County-designated historic site damaged during Typhoon Sula in 2012,has been restored thanks to a donation from Donghe Steel Corporationand reopened in May 2015, bringing back its century-old scenic charm after nearly three years of damage. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on the 9th to mark the iron bridge’s return to public view, heralding the rebirth of this historic landmark of Huwei, the Sugar City.

▲ The ribbon-cutting inauguration ceremony of the iron bridge on the 9th. (Photo / Screenshot fromYunlin County Government)

The ribbon-cutting ceremony on the 9th was attended by County Magistrate Lee Chin-yung, Donghe Steel Enterprise Co., Ltd. Chairman Hou Jie-teng, and others. Magistrate Lee stated that the century-old iron bridge is a shared memory for all, recalling the days of riding Taiwan Sugar Railway’s small trains to pick sugarcane, the sound of train whistles, and the scent of passing trains—memories that remain unforgettable for the older generation. Donghe Steel Enterprise Co., Ltd. Chairman Hou Jie-teng shared that his grandfather once worked at the sugar factory, and the iron bridge carries the memories of his father and grandfather catching trains to school. With the bridge’s restoration, he is able to pass on those ancestral memories to future generations and provide a better environment for the next.