A|Zone Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park 花蓮文化創意產業園區
Located in the centre of Hualien City, the creative park's grounds were originally built 100 years ago as part of a wine-making factory complex. Occupying 33,000 SQ. M of land next to a major intersection in downtown Hualien, the park's 26 factory warehouses have been repurposed after their 1988 closure into a public exhibition space and creative industry hub for the area. Entrance is free for visitors.
As the largest creative market in Hualien and the east coast, various markets are set up around the grounds from Wednesday to Sunday for visitors to enjoy, and events are regularly held in the area.
The buildings along the western side of the property previously were warehouses and are now retail spaces for interesting goods such as rare Japanese-style cypress.
The buildings in the centre contain a Live House (previously a packing factory) for live band, concert, and art performances and the Wine Museum (previously a fermentation factory) where visitors can browse creative and historical wine-related goods.
The buildings along the eastern side are primarily exhibition zones.
The grounds contain a Japanese dormitory buildings constructed between 1928 and 1933 for employees of the factories. There are 13 independent cabins built in a traditional Japanese style.
At the front entrance near the circular intersection of Zhongzheng and Zhonghua Roads is a western restaurant with a unique architectural style consisting of a European theme on the ground level and Japanese traditional design and style on the 2ND floor. This building is the oldest in the complex.
Locals note that visiting during day-time and night-time provide a different atmosphere.
A|Zone is located at the southern edge of Hualien City's downtown district at the circular intersection of Zhonghua (中華路) and Zhongshan (中山路) Roads on the north side.
Some structures in the complex are remnants of the Japanese occupation period, specifically pillboxes scattered around the grounds that were used by the Japanese military during a World War II military attack from the United States against Japan.
