Students from Six Universities Explore Kaohsiung Through Grand Tour Program, Discovering the City’s Industrial History
2026-05-05
During Taiwan’s Labor Day holiday in early May, students from universities across Taipei, Chiayi, Tainan, Pingtung, Penghu, and Kaohsiung joined faculty members from the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) for an immersive walking tour of Kaohsiung’s industrial heritage. Over the course of the program, participants walked more than 20,000 steps while exploring Ciaotou Sugar Refinery, Yancheng District, and Port of Kaohsiung to better understand the historical development of the city.
The Taiwan Grand Tour Program was jointly initiated by NUK President Chen Chi-Jen along with leaders from University of Taipei, National Ilan University, National Chi Nan University, National Chiayi University, Tainan National University of the Arts, National Pingtung University, National Penghu University of Science and Technology, and National Quemoy University.
Under the program, each university offers courses and travel opportunities that allow students to select destinations and engage in place-based learning. Inspired by the historical concept of the Grand Tour—when European nobles and craftsmen traveled extensively before completing their education—the initiative encourages students to leave their campuses, explore new regions, and deepen their understanding of society through firsthand observation.
NUK designed this year’s featured program, “Sugar Factory, Yancheng, and Harbor City: A Grand Tour of Kaohsiung’s Industrial Heritage,” focusing on the city’s industrial transformation.
Kaohsiung’s evolution from a small fishing village into a major port city reflects Taiwan’s broader history within global industrial development. Modern industrialization in Taiwan began during the early Japanese colonial period with the construction of Ciaotou Sugar Refinery. To transport sugar produced there back to Japan, colonial authorities expanded port infrastructure by reclaiming land, dredging Kaohsiung Harbor, and constructing railways.
The first phase of port development created Hamasen, while the second phase led to the development of Yancheng District.
On Labor Day, Assistant Professor Weng Jiong-Ching—whose family has roots in the sugar industry—led approximately 30 students from participating universities to Ciaotou Sugar Refinery, where he explained the operation of sugar production machinery and railway transportation systems. Students also visited Kaohsiung Museum of History for a broader introduction to the city’s development.
On May 2, Assistant Professor Hung Sheng-Fei—whose family background is connected to customs services—guided students through Dagouding, Hor Jiang Shopping District, Port of Kaohsiung, and Hamasen.
Students shared that although many had visited Kaohsiung before—or were originally from Kaohsiung but studying elsewhere—they had never fully understood the rich historical significance behind these locations.
One student, surnamed Yang, reflected:
“This program helped us understand Kaohsiung’s sugar and salt culture. At Ciaotou Sugar Refinery, we learned the full sugar production process—from harvesting sugarcane to refining sugar—which made me realize how difficult and dangerous industrial labor once was. Later, we visited former sugar warehouses in Yancheng that have now been transformed into the Pier-2 Art Center, showing the value of adaptive reuse. What impressed me most was Hamasen, where preserved Japanese-era streets and railway culture helped me imagine Kaohsiung Harbor’s early prosperity.”
Through this deep, place-based learning experience, students gained a richer understanding of Kaohsiung’s industrial heritage and Taiwan’s broader development story.
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