Guangfu Sugar Factory Ice Cream (Hualien Tourism Sugar Factory)

Review

The Hualien Tourism Sugar Factory on Tangchang Street in Guangfu Township, better known as the Guangfu Sugar Factory, was a working sugar mill before being converted into a visitor park after production stopped. CommonWealth's Smile Taiwan features it in a slow-travel guide to Guangfu and Fenglin, and Bunnyann includes it in a valley day trip; almost everyone who comes buys an ice at the ice counter.

Ice is the park's signature, from milk ice cream to traditional popsicles. Flavours include red bean, taro, peanut, pineapple, chocolate and vanilla, plus more unusual choices such as roselle and durian. You can choose a cup or a crunchy cone, but only the combinations on display. Neither source gives prices; visitors describe them as pocket-change level, so go by what is posted.

Reviewers like the fast service and wide choice, often naming red bean with milk, taro and durian as highlights. Eating ice while gazing at the Central or Coastal Mountain Range and wandering among Japanese-era wooden houses feels like a holiday, and the toilets are reasonably clean. Criticisms include ordinary basics like vanilla and some overly sweet popsicles; weekends bring tour-bus crowds, and some feel it is a once-is-enough stop.

The ice counter opens roughly 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., extending to 8 p.m. at weekends; other sources say 9 a.m. opening and 5 p.m. weekday closing, so sources differ and checking ahead helps. Entry and parking are free; for a small fee you can buy fish food for the pond, and there are trains to photograph from the lawn at the back. The park also offers Japanese-style cottage stays and sugar-making activities.

It suits road-trippers wanting a break and an ice on a hot day, families with children and fans of old buildings. Order two flavours in one serving, starting with local-feeling ones like red bean or taro. Summer midday is busy, so come in the morning or late afternoon and pair it with nearby Mataian Wetland or Danongdafu Forest.