Spiritual Heights To Sweet Delights

OVERVIEW

Behold the massive Buddha statue that rises serenely above a hillside park in Changhua and tour a former sugar factory that fueled Taiwan’s economy for nearly a century. Built in 1961 atop Mount Baguashan, the hollow Buddha is divided into interior sections, some of which hold exhibits detailing the spiritual life of Buddha. The ground floor is a sanctuary. If you climb into the head of the bronze Buddha statue, you can look through the eyeholes at the beautiful setting below. Although no longer operating, the Xihu Sugar Factory offers a nostalgic look at how sugar manufacturing shaped everyday life in the surrounding area. You will see where the sugar – up to a staggering 350 tons per day – was produced through processes such as boiling, crystalizing and separating the molasses. The sugar was used for all sorts of products, including a variety sweet, which will be given out as samples.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stand before a bronze statue of Buddha that towers above a hillside park.
• Explore the six floors inside of the hollow 86-foot-high statue and peer out Buddha’s eyes.
• Tour a former factory that produced enormous quantities of sugar.
• Sample a selection of sweets much like the ones made at the factory.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.