Sisal Industry History Exhibition

Introduced to Kenting from Mexico around the turn of the 20th century, sisal is a cactus-like plant whose fiber is used to create rope. During the World War II, the Japanese built a sisal farm and production plant on the site, growing sisal and manufacturing rope made from the plant’s fiber — the Hengchun Township of Pingtung therefore became a center of sisal fiber industry. If you enjoy learning about local history, the Sisal Industry Historical Exhibition will be a delight.

Together with onions and harbor tea, sisal was known as one of the three treasures of Hengchun at its heyday. However, with the invention of artificial fibers like nylon, the sisal industry died out, and the site itself went into sharp decline. Luckily, exhibition rooms were later built on the remnants of the old factory and workers quarters, allowing visitors to gain a better understanding of its role in the local economy and early development of Kenting. Guided tours led by local volunteers are available — a unique way to peek into the industrial past of this historic little town in southern Taiwan.