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    Alishan
    CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

    Taiwan

    Alishan

    Point of InterestMountainsNature

    Alishan is a forested mountain region in Taiwan's western Central Mountain Range, reached by a historic narrow-gauge railway from Chiayi.

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    9. Alishan
    Alishan is a forested mountain region in Taiwan's western Central Mountain Range, reached by a historic narrow-gauge railway from Chiayi. Ancient cypress forests, mountain villages, and stunning peak sunrises make it one of Taiwan's classic mountain destinations.The Alishan Forest Railway was built during the Japanese colonial era for logging, ascending from Chiayi at 30 meters to Alishan Station at 2,216 meters. En route, it traverses tropical, subtropical, and temperate forest zones. After severe typhoon damage in 2009 and 2015, it is fully operational again since July 2024. From Alishan, an early morning train takes you to Zhushan, where many observe the sunrise over the mountains.
    The Alishan area in Chiayi County ranges from mid-elevation tea villages to the forest area around Alishan Station at over 2,000 meters. The starting point is Chiayi City with its High-Speed Rail station and the Forest Railway station. In the recreational area, hiking trails lead to ancient cypress trees and ponds; early in the morning, the sunrise train departs for Zhushan. Along the way, Fenqihu mountain village and Shizhuo with its tea gardens are worth visiting. Plan at least one overnight stay to experience the sunrise.
    Shizhuo

    District 1 of 2

    Shizhuo

    The mountain village of Shizhuo is located on the road from Chiayi to Alishan and is home to Alishan high-mountain tea. Above the village, hiking trails lead through tea plantations and bamboo forests.

    Shizhuo is about an hour from Chiayi on the mountain road to Alishan. The buses 7329 and 7322 stop in town.

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    Fenqihu
    Jonashtand / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    District 2 of 2

    Fenqihu

    Fenqihu is a mountain village on the Alishan Forest Railway on the way up from Chiayi. Trains make a longer stop here, and the place is known for its Bento lunchboxes.

    Fenqihu is a stopover on the way to Alishan, with the Forest Railway or buses 7329A and 7322A. Perfect for a bento lunch before heading up to the recreational area.

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    Sights in Alishan

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Zhushan Viewing Platform
    Attraction

    Zhushan Viewing Platform

    Early in the morning, a dedicated Alishan Forest Railway train departs from Alishan Station to Zhushan, a journey of about 30 minutes. From the platform near the station, many visitors watch the sunrise over the Central Mountain Range.
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    Shuishan Giant Tree
    Attraction

    Shuishan Giant Tree

    A forest path leads to a Red Formosa Cypress, which is around 30 meters tall and estimated to be approximately 2,700 years old. The tree represents the ancient cypress forests, for which the Japanese once built the forest railway.
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    Fenqihu Old Street
    Attraction

    Fenqihu Old Street

    The mountain village is situated halfway along the Waldbahn, where through trains make a longer stop. The shopping street offers pastries, handicrafts, and the renowned Bento lunchboxes, while historical tools are displayed at the station.
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    Sights in Alishan

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Zhushan Viewing Platform
    Attraction

    1Zhushan Viewing Platform

    Early in the morning, a dedicated Alishan Forest Railway train departs from Alishan Station to Zhushan, a journey of about 30 minutes. From the platform near the station, many visitors watch the sunrise over the Central Mountain Range.
    Open in Google Maps
    Shuishan Giant Tree
    Attraction

    2Shuishan Giant Tree

    A forest path leads to a Red Formosa Cypress, which is around 30 meters tall and estimated to be approximately 2,700 years old. The tree represents the ancient cypress forests, for which the Japanese once built the forest railway.
    Open in Google Maps
    Fenqihu Old Street
    Attraction

    3Fenqihu Old Street

    The mountain village is situated halfway along the Waldbahn, where through trains make a longer stop. The shopping street offers pastries, handicrafts, and the renowned Bento lunchboxes, while historical tools are displayed at the station.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Alishan

    1

    Xinxin Restaurant

    The Taiwanese restaurant in the town center near Alishan Station has almost 500 reviews on Google and is a reliable choice for lunch or dinner in the recreation area.
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    2

    Siang Yi (21 noodle dishes)

    This noodle spot, in the recreational area's small village, offers Google-rated Taiwanese noodles. Perfect for a warm meal after cypress forest hikes.
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    Eating and Drinking

    In the mountain villages, you'll eat simply, with a cup of highland tea.

    Alishan Highland Tea

    The Oolong from the tea gardens around Shizhuo is one of Taiwan's most famous teas; tea houses and farms invite you to sample.

    Bento in Fenqihu

    The mountain village on the Waldbahn is known for its Bento lunchboxes, perfect for a stop on your journey.

    Tea and Coffee at YuYuPas

    In the Tsou Cultural Park, local tea and coffee are grown and sold, and the teahouses resemble traditional meeting houses.

    Tsou, Forest Railway & Highland Tea

    The mountains around Alishan have been home to the Tsou for centuries. Their largest villages, Dabang and Tefuye, alternately host the Mayasvi, a festival for the god of war. Learn more about their culture at the YuYuPas Cultural Park.The forest railway was built during the Japanese colonial era for transporting cypress wood and overcomes the gradient with switchbacks. Today, the region is primarily known for its high-mountain tea: In Shizhuo, the Alishan High Mountain Tea, an Oolong that is one of Taiwan's most renowned teas, grows.

    Getting there and around

    You can reach Chiayi from Taipei by high-speed rail in about 90 minutes. From there, there are two ways up:Bus: The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 7329 departs from Chiayi HSR Station (Exit 2, Bus Platform 7) for Alishan, while the 7322 runs from the downtown station, offering more departures. The journey takes approximately two and a half hours, and EasyCard is accepted.Forest Railway: From Chiayi Station, the train travels to Alishan in about five hours, with a longer stop in Fenqihu en route. Tickets often sell out quickly.On Site: Within the recreation area, short branch lines of the railway connect the Alishan, Shenmu, Zhaoping, and Zhushan stations; you'll walk between them.At altitude, it's significantly cooler than in the cities and the weather changes quickly, so bring a warm jacket.

    Accommodations in Alishan

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    Nearby

    Fenqihu

    Fenqihu

    Fenqihu is a mountain village on the Alishan Forest Railway on the way up from Chiayi. Trains make a longer stop here, and the place is known for its Bento lunchboxes. Buses 7329A and 7322A from Chiayi also pass through Fenqihu.
    Shizhuo

    Shizhuo

    The mountain village of Shizhuo is located on the road from Chiayi to Alishan and is home to Alishan high-mountain tea. Above the village, hiking trails lead through tea plantations and bamboo forests. All buses from Chiayi to Alishan stop here; the journey from Chiayi takes about an hour.
    Central Taiwan

    Central Taiwan

    Central Taiwan stretches from the metropolis of Taichung into the Central Mountain Range, home to Sun Moon Lake and the Alishan mountain area. Those seeking lakes, forests, and tea plantations will find them here.Taichung, with its high-speed rail station and metro, serves as the region's transport hub, with buses departing from here to Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County. Further south, the historic Alishan Forest Railway runs from Chiayi to over 2,000 meters. To its east rises Yushan, Taiwan's highest mountain at 3,952 meters.
    Ita Thao

    Ita Thao

    Ita Thao, on Sun Moon Lake's southern shore, is the village of the Thao, one of Taiwan's smallest indigenous peoples. Many shops on the main street are owned by Thao families, and local eateries offer dishes like mountain pork, sticky rice, and millet wine. Boats run from Shuishe twice an hour, crossing in about ten minutes.
    Sun-Moon-Lake

    Sun-Moon-Lake

    Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County, Central Taiwan, is the island's largest body of water, situated at 748 meters amidst forested mountains. Boats ferrying between piers, a cycling path around the lake, and temples with lake views make it a tranquil counterpoint to the cities.The lake owes its name to the shape of its two parts, resembling a sun and a crescent moon. Along its shores lives the Thao people, one of the smallest of the 16 recognized indigenous peoples, whose center is Ita Thao village. The Wenwu Temple on the north shore honors Confucius, as well as the gods of war Guan Yu and Yue Fei. A cable car connects the lake with the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village.