Old Hongqi Sugar Refinery destined for sweet future

Another of Jinwan District's abandoned sugar factories is to be converted into a Cultural & Creative Industry Park. Hongqi Sugar Refinery, designated for themes of culture, tourism, and leisure, will join the former Pingsha Sugar Refinery, which already features tourism, leisure, entertainment, fitness, and film shooting.

Located in the Sanban Industrial Zone adjacent to the Sanban Provincial-Level New Countryside Demonstration Area, the Hongqi plant has 31,000 sq m (37,076 sq yd) of floor space on a 58,000-sq-m (69,370-sq-yd) tract. With a budget of 350 million yuan ($55.6 million), Zhuhai Shili Lianjiang Agricultural Tourism Development Co will renovate and reconstruct the facilities over ten years once planning is finalized.

Investors and Hongqi Town officials at contract signing [Photo courtesy jinwan.gov.cn]

The proposed park relies on the Pingsha Sugar Refinery model with its studios, office buildings, and planned scenic spots, hotels, and commercial complexes. Pingsha was the largest refinery in Zhuhai bounds that also contained the Hongqi, Qianwu, Baijiao, and Wushan sugar factories, forming a pillar industry at the time.

The Hongqi park will preserve the history and development of the sugar industry with processing machines and crafts displayed within a museum. There also will be areas for cultural creations and tasting, as the park will provide a DIY sugar-making experience and chances to sample candies, including some classics.

Qianwu Sugar Refinery in Doumen [Photo by Chen Kunrong / nandu.com]