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With tourism in Taiwan at an all-time high, its many factories have taken an interesting step to take advantage of the huge numbers of visitors spending time in the region. Once a textile and manufacturing giant, many industries have seen a slump in profits in recent years, and so they have turned to the tourist dollar to make ends meet. Factory tours are big business in Taiwan and of the 130 or so that you can take throughout the island here are some of the best.

Lucky Art Crayon Factory

Building

crayons and oil pastels
Stas Malyarevsky/Shutterstock
Lucky Art is one of the most established factory tours on the list. Originally started to promote the factory products and to show local children how their art supplies are made, this is an incredibly popular tour for families. Here you can make your own crayons and have your face painted by staff at the factory. Check out their website.

Taiwan Balloon Factory

Museum

Balloons
ZMW Designs/Shutterstock
Another one for the kids is the Taiwan Balloon Factory tour in Taichung. This fun tour not only teaches the kids how to the factory makes balloons but also gives them the chance to make balloon animals. Lots of fun.

Taiwan Glass Gallery

Museum

As one of the region’s most popular factory tours, the Glass Gallery can get a little busy but it’s well worth the trip. With tons of fun mirrors and DIY projects, this tour of a former factory is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon in Changhua.

Kavalan Whiskey Distillery

Distillery

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© Connie / Flickr
A must for any whiskey lover is the tour of the distillery in Yilan. Here you can learn about the distilling process and enjoy some tasting sessions with the distillery staff. There’s also a restaurant/food hall where you can enjoy your lunch after the tour.

Puli Paper Factory

Museum

Paper butterflies
New Africa/Shutterstock
Ever wondered how they make paper? Well, you can learn all about it in the paper factory in Puli. Converted to a tourist attraction in 2007 this factory is now dedicated to teaching visitors about the local paper industry. There are tons of DIY activities that you can get involved in here.

Yingge Ceramics Street

Museum

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© Yi-ting Chen / Flickr
So this isn’t quite a factory tour as such. The old street in Yingge is full of old ceramics factories that have been turned into stores. Here you can make your own pottery and even take a walk through an old kiln. A great day trip just outside Taipei where you can find some wonderful souvenirs.

Hualien Tourism Sugar Factory

Restaurant, Dessert

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© Joke Chien / Flickr
More of a cultural park connected to a factory, this large sugar factory is now a hugely popular tourist attraction. Locals often spend the weekend here dining in the restaurant and enjoying the products from the factory itself. From ice cream to deliciously sweet candy, you can sample it all on this tour.

Sha Yang Ye Robot Wonderland Pavilion

Museum

Learn all about robotics from one of the leading lights in the robotics industry, right here in Taiwan. This incredible place is full of fun and adventure for all ages. Use your body movements to control robots and learn about the history of robotics.

Music4Fun

School

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© Ivani Chang / Flickr
This working piano factory offers visitors the chance to play a wide variety of musical instruments while also getting to see how a real working piano is made from start to finish. A popular destination for school tours because, well, it’s lots of fun.

Chimei Happiness Factory

Museum, Shop

Chimei Happiness Factory
© Bill Chiang / Flickr
The brilliantly named Happiness Factory is a great tour for foodies. Here at the Chimei factory visitors learn about the various food manufacturing processes before getting a chance to sit down and make their own handbaked goods. There’s also a great shop selling tons of Chimei’s products.

If after all that you still have time to explore Taipei, then check out these wonderful city tours. They offer something for every type of traveller.

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About the author

An Irishman living in Taiwan since 2003. I used to teach but now I write words for a living and by some fluke of nature, people actually read them.

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