On Monday afternoon, April 21, 2025, the Education and Culture Committee of the Taichung City Council conducted an on-site visit and forum at the historic Taichung Tobacco Factory located in Dali District. The event was attended by committee convener and city council member Chen Ting-Hsiu, fellow committee members, representatives from relevant municipal departments, and tobacco industry experts. Together, they engaged in discussions focused on the future development blueprint for this historical site, which stands as a testament to the rise and decline of the tobacco industry in central Taiwan.
　　Director Chen Chia-Chun of the Cultural Affairs Bureau noted that the revitalization and reborn of the Tobacco Factory is not merely a restoration project of a historic building, but a significant initiative to reconnect city memory with the daily lives of citizens. Future plans include the establishment of a “Cultural Heritage and Materials Management Center” and an “Archaeological Artifact Storage Facility.” Additionally, the site is expected to incorporate multimedia interactive exhibitions, creative research and development spaces, and cultural and creative commercial functions. These efforts aim to transform the former industrial grounds from a relic of the past into a hub for cultural innovation and a space for community life.
　　The Cultural Heritage Department noted that the Taichung Tobacco Factory—originally known as the Taichung Branch Tobacco Re-drying Facility—was planned and constructed during the period of Japanese rule. The site comprises 17 registered historic buildings, including warehouses, boiler rooms, and a grand hall, which collectively preserve the architectural characteristics and operational traces of the tobacco industry from both the Japanese rule and the post-war period. After the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation ceased operations at the site in 2018, the Taichung City Government promptly applied to the National Property Administration of the Ministry of Finance for entrusted management. All industrial equipment has been fully preserved, and the city has actively promoted plans for the adaptive reuse of this cultural asset, aiming to integrate functions such as cultural collections, arts and cultural performance venues, creative industries, and community living spaces, thereby breathing new life into this historic complex.
　　This visit included a specially arranged forum for members of the city council’s Education and Culture Committee to engage in dialogue with relevant departments and organizations. Through cross-departmental collaboration and public-private partnerships, they aspire not only to restore the historical grandeur of the Taichung Tobacco Factory but also to transform it into a model cultural venue that embodies industrial heritage revitalization and sustainable local development.
　　The team for the visit included city council member and convener Chen Ting-Hsiu, deputy convener Lin Pi-Hsiu, city council members Huang Shou-Ta, Lin Te-Yu, Chang Fen-Yu, and representatives from city council member Lee Chung’s office, along with Senior Executive Officer Chang Wen-Chih and staff member Wang Ting-Pang from the Taichung City Council. They were joined by Director Chen Chia-Chun of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Director Luan Chih-I of the Information Bureau, Director Yu Chih-Hsiang of the Sports Bureau, Director Chiang Wei-Min of the Education Bureau, Secretary Hsiung Tseng-Jen of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Deputy District Director Chang Chen-Chang of Dali District Office, Deputy Director Cho Tsui-Yun of the Central Region Branch of the National Property Administration under the Ministry of Finance, and Director Lee Chih-Fu of the Cultural Heritage Department. Together, they conducted an on-site inspection of the Taichung Tobacco Factory.