Six Retro Gems Full of Nostalgia: A One-Day Trip to Qishan Old Street and Sugar Factory

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported
 
Qishan is located in Kaohsiung. Its former name was Fanshu Liao. Situated in a tropical monsoon climate zone with high temperatures and abundant rainfall, the area developed early on and boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage. Take a weekend to visit Qishan with your family.

Originally named Qimei Sugar Factory, Qishan Sugar Factory was established in 1909 by the Takasago Sugar Refining Co., Ltd. In the 1960s, facing low-cost competition from other developing countries, its production gradually declined, and it ceased operations in the 1980s, with its railway network eventually dismantled. The Japanese-era factory buildings, red-brick warehouses, and the factory manager’s residence are still well-preserved. The towering chimney remains the most iconic landmark of the sugar factory. Near the entrance, a visitor rest area has been set up, selling a variety of diversified products developed by Taiwan Sugar. Among them, popsicles and ice cream are the bestsellers. If you have the chance to visit Qishan, be sure to stop by the sugar factory to enjoy these cool and sweet treats.
 
Address: No. 33, Zhongxiao Street, Qishan District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-6613265
Hours: 08:30 to 17:30

The Qishan Neo-Baroque-style street houses are all two-story buildings. In addition to brick-and-wood structures, there are also concrete ones. The roof trusses are wooden sloped-roof buildings, and the street-facing facades are the most distinctive, often using reinforced concrete structures and decorated with exposed brick, washed stone, and ceramic tiles. Particular emphasis is placed on the design of columns, doors, windows, window sills, as well as the intricate patterns on the gables, fully showcasing the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the builders at that time.
 
Address: Zhongshan Road, Qishan District, Kaohsiung City

Located at the foot of Drum Mountain, the Budokan was built in 1934 (Showa 9) during the Japanese colonial period to promote martial arts and ethics. The building is modeled after a Tang-style palace, with beams and columns constructed of reinforced concrete-strengthened brick that mimics wood, and an exterior finished in washed stone. The roof trusses are wooden, and the roof is a hip-and-gable style with straight ridges and gently curved surfaces, covered with traditional Japanese black tiles. The bracket arms are robust and unpainted. The mountain-style roof over the entrance porch faces forward, featuring a Tang-style hip-and-gable ornamentation.

Address: Qishan District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-6614684
Hours: 09:00 to 18:00, closed on Mondays

The old Japanese-style rice mill next to Qishan Old Street finally unveiled its mysterious veil after restoration was completed at the end of 2014. This rice mill, owned by the Qishan Farmers’ Association, was a two-story wooden building constructed by the Japanese in 1942. The approximately 2,000-ping factory was divided into rice intake, grain storage, milling, and shipping areas. The wooden machinery left inside allows visitors to deeply appreciate the wisdom of its designers.
 
Address: No. 5, Lane 1, Zhongshan South Street, Qishan District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-6612515
Hours: Weekdays 09:00 to 15:00, weekends 10:00 to 17:00