Greater Taichung Tourism Factories

Translated by Erica Lin

In recent years, Taichung and Taiwan at large have seen a growing number of tourism factories welcoming the public, providing a unique, inside perspective into a variety of local industries. As of 2012, over 110 such factories were already open to the public island-wide and those numbers have continued to grow.

From everyday-use items to food and beverage products, these factories not only provide visitors with the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable first-hand look at manufacturing processes, products and other special features, but also offer a fresh leisure option for families and individuals during holidays.

Mutou Wood

63, ShuYi Rd, South Dist.
Opening Hours: 9 am-5:30 pm，DIY-experience visitors should enter before 4:30 pm.
Individual and group admission Tue.-Sun. during winter/summer vacation. Non-winter/summer vacation: Individual admission on weekends; group admission with reservations Tue.-Sun.
Ticket Prices: NT$150, NT$100 of the ticket price can be used towards on-site purchases (no pets or outside food allowed).
http://www.mutou-wood.com

Experiencing a magical carpentry journey
Located in Taichung's South district, Mutou Wood is a creative wood paradise filled with surprises and fun. Facilities include the Creativity DIY Hall, Puppet DIY Experience Hall, Happy Carpentry Hall, Wood Art Surprise Hall, Red Turtle Cake Cultural Experience Hall, Lu Ban Board Games Hall, Wood Workshop, Hometown San He Yuan (a historical three-section compound; a central building with two wings attached perpendicular to either side), Grandma's Vegetable Garden, and Wooden Birds Cafe. Wood-constructed play areas and mind puzzle games are found inside and outside throughout the site. An abundance of annual events includes the Block Making Festival, Wood Crafted Toy Festival, and "Creative Christmas" event.

To enjoy DIY wood-coloring activities, one can purchase any wooden items in the DIY merchandise section and paint them. Mutou Wood also offers various DIY wooden articles such as pen holders, picture frames or small benches, and the friendly staff explain how to blend and apply colors to these. They even prepare aprons for visitors, ensuring that guests enjoy their painting without worrying about their clothes. Additionally, the Wooden Birds Cafe offers delicious meals and drinks and a place for visitors to rest. Mutou Wood is an ideal spot for families, student-teacher groups, and clubs to experience and appreciate wood and woodworking. --By Lucy Lin

Shoney

(04) 2359-0112
11, GongYeQu 8th Rd, Xitun Dist.
Opening Hours: Mon.-Sun. 9:30 am-5:30 pm (last entry at 4 pm)
Guided Tours: 11:30 am, 3:30 pm
Ticket Prices: NT$100/person. NT$50/for kids 90-120 cm tall, the disabled, and caretakers. Free entry for kids under 90 cm. (Ticket fees may be used toward souvenirs purchases, DIY fees, food and drinks.)
shoeswonderland.bestmotion.com

Showcasing top Taiwanese shoes
This is the only factory that focuses on making shoes the traditional way in Taiwan, but also incorporates high-tech shoe-making methods. The factory not only manufactures and retails shoes, but also enables visitors to learn more about shoe-making history and processes, and to experience DIY shoe and bag decoupage (the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in combination with special painted effects) activities. All products are made in Taiwan and one has the chance to create some unique shoes and bags (canvas shoes/NT$350, Birkenstock-style shoes/NT$899, canvas handbags/NT$299, and big tote bags/NT$899).

The Shoe Industry Cultural Hall at Shoney educates visitors, from the history of the shoe industry to the manufacturing process, allowing them to learn more about the footwear we use daily.

During the summer vacation, Shoney will be participating in a two-day, one-night Travel Taiwan program hosted by the Youth Development Administration. Registered participants will learn about the Taiwanese shoe industry in depth and children of all ages are welcome. --By Chloe Wei

Right: DIY decoupage small book bag

Taiwan Balloons Museum

(04) 2528-4525
505, DaFeng Rd, Sec 5, Anli Village, Shengang Dist.
Opening Hours: Mon.-Sun. 9 am-5 pm (last entry at 3 pm)
50% discount for kids under 3 and senior citizens above 70 ; ID required.
http://www.prolloon.com.tw
(nline reservations recommended; for tour schedule go to the official website)

Having a ball with balloons
Located in Shengang District, this museum is housed in the old factory of Prolloons Co. Ltd., which has been making balloons for over 50 years. This factory is the only manufacturing place for rubber balloons in Taiwan today. Later, it was transformed into a tourism factory, allowing visitors to learn how balloons are made. In 2011, it was also a recipient of the Executive Yuan's English Service Gold Emblem.

Factory tours are divided into Luxurious (NT$250/person), Standard, (NT$190/person), and Economy (NT$120/person) versions, led by specialized guides, and include information about the origins and history of balloons. There are also special seasonal activities, such as summertime "Sea World DIY" sessions and water balloons fights. If one is still wants more balloon-related memorabilia, the balloon shop has all kinds of balloons to choose from. --By Myra Lin

Taiwan Miso Culture Museum

(04) 2532-0279
701, XiShi Rd, Sancun Village, Fengyuan Dist.
Opening Hours: 9 am-5 pm (closed Mondays)
Guided Tours Times: 10:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm.
3 types of guided tours available: Basic guided tour NT$100; tour & DIY miso-making NT$250; tour & DIY handmade miso soap NT$250
www.weijung.com

Miso Oishii! ('Delicious Miso')
Do you know who invented miso? What three ingredients are necessary for miso making? How is it beneficial for human bodies? All of these answers can be found on a visit to the Wei Jung Food Industry Co.'s Taiwan Miso Culture Museum, housed in a building that was entirely built with environmentally-friendly concepts. The museum imports organic soy beans to make delicious organic miso and soy sauce. A complete guided tour, flow charts and actual production facilities are open to the public and visitors can engage in fun activities such as DIY making of miso and handmade soap to take home. Warm, savory miso soup is also available on the spot for tasting. --By Uvia Chang

Universal Webbing Tourism Factory

(04) 2623-2886
567, XingHe Road, Lufeng Village, Shalu Dist.
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 am-4:30 pm；Sat. 9 am-12 pm
Group reservations: NT$100/person for groups of 10 people or more. NT$100 ticket can be used towards on-site purchases.
Individual reservations: NT$100/person, only on odd Saturdays.
www.webbingmaster.com.tw

Located in Taichung's coastal Shalu district, Universal Webbing Products Co., Ltd. produces a wide variety of merchandise. Grace Kuo, the second-generation factory chairwoman, inherited the family business after studying in the United States. Applying simple webbing to create quality goods, the factory makes a variety of quality Taiwanese-style bags. The Universal Webbing Factory not only designs customized products, but also offers unique items in its souvenir shop. Catering to the young generation, the company integrates various fun elements into belts and cellphone straps. At the same time, business customers can choose from briefcases, computer bags and other high-end bags. To ensure the highest quality, all webbed products here go through a complex process that includes the use of imported machinery and strict MIT (Made In Taiwan) testing standards before being offered for sale. --By Linda Huang

Imported machines manufacture the webbed products. Doubling is the process for combining two threads of different colors together.