Buzz
Alishan is considered the most impressive destination in Taiwan, along with Taroko Gorge in Hualien and Sun Moon Lake in Nantou. Gia Nghia is more well-known with Alishan National Scenic Area located at an altitude of over 2600m, famous for sunrise above the sea of clouds, ancient cherry blossoms, misty forest, and renowned for its rare high-mountain tea plantations.
However, reaching Alishan National Scenic Area can be a bit challenging and complex, so you should plan your journey well. Transportation information also significantly affects your time exploring here (personally, one day is enough to visit the national park with a clear plan, but some may choose to stay overnight for more leisure time).
The red train runs through the entrance gate to Alishan National Scenic Area.
Entrance to Alishan National Scenic Area adorned with cherry blossoms. The red train line runs through the gate into Alishan National Scenic Area.
After multiple visits to Alishan National Scenic Area, I've compiled detailed guidance for those seeking information on transportation, ticket booking, accommodations, attractions, and essential tips.
An essential point to note is the cherry blossom season from March to May or during the Lunar New Year. It's advisable to book accommodations and purchase train or bus tickets in advance, as this period sees extended holidays in Taiwan, resulting in crowded transportation and limited hotel availability in Alishan.
Bus schedule to and from Alishan National Scenic Area. While there are various means of transportation to Alishan National Scenic Area, always pay attention to the departure times of trains and buses.
Navigating the map in Alishan National Scenic Area can be intricate for first-time visitors due to winding paths and numerous attractions. I've simplified the map design to make it more user-friendly for better understanding.
Bus 7329 at Chiayi HSR Station
Traveling from Taipei to Alishan
Gia Nghia City (Chiayi) is your initial destination to reach Alishan National Scenic Area. You can take a train, bus, or Shinkansen high-speed train to get here. Note that the high-speed train arrives at Chiayi HSR station.
Gia Nghia Train Station where bus 7302 departs
Departure schedule of bus 7302
Railway route to Alishan National Scenic Area
The Alishan Forest Railway is a must-try experience when visiting Alishan National Scenic Area. Originally built by the Japanese to transport precious cypress trees downhill, it was the sole route to Alishan until 1982 when the highway was constructed. A segment of the railway was severely damaged by Typhoon Morakot in 2009, specifically the section from Fenqihu to Alishan.
The iconic red railway line symbolizing Alishan National Scenic Area
Fenqihu is a charming small town renowned for its bento lunch boxes and scenic forest trails. You can even stay overnight here or at a tea farm in the nearby Shizhuo village.
Travelers by train often spend 1-2 hours in Fenqihu for lunch or exploration before catching a bus to Alishan. As bus services are limited, it's crucial to note the schedule or consider sharing a taxi with fellow travelers.
3 internal railway routes within Alishan National Scenic Area
When reaching Alishan, many opt to stay overnight on the mountain, enhancing the experience of witnessing the sunrise above the sea of clouds. This extended stay allows ample time to explore the unique and operational forest railway lines.
All three routes commence at Alishan Station (阿里山火車站), where you can marvel at the sunrise or embark on a long hike. There are subtle differences between the trains, offering experiences such as steam engines with large, black heads, misty villages nestled amidst expansive forests, or entirely wooden-hued carriages. You'll even catch the scent of wood while seated amid the mountains.
Tickets for these routes can be purchased at the Alishan train station upon arrival. However, during holidays, festivals, or peak blooming seasons, it's advisable to buy tickets early and consider online reservations.
Chaoping Station (Zhaoping)
Three fascinating train lines to experience are the Chaoping Line, Chushan (Sunrise Viewing) Line, and Shenmu (Sacred Tree) Line.
Chaoping Station (Zhaoping)
Chaoping serves as the terminal station on the Zhaoping Line, the shortest among the three routes. This is the closest stop to the trail leading to Sister Ponds, the most renowned hiking trail in Alishan, as well as a prime spot for cherry blossom viewing.
Note that you can also walk from Alishan tourist village to Chaoping (15-20 minutes). The most popular way to explore Alishan is to start your hike at Chaoping Station and finish at Shouzhen Temple or Shenmu Station before returning to Alishan tourist village by bus or train.
Shenmu Station (Sacred Tree)
Shenmu Station, or Sacred Tree Station (named after the giant sacred tree), is located at the end point of the Shenmu Line. This is the only route not accessible by bus, but buses have stops nearby at Shouzhen Temple (on the Xianglin Line).
ideal.
Ancient cherry blossom trees in front of Alishan police station
Zhushan Station - Sunrise Viewing
Zhushan, located at the end of the Zhushan Line, also known as the Sunrise Line. It is the farthest and highest station. It will take you to the most famous sunrise viewing spot in Alishan, called the 'Zhushan Sunrise Observation Deck,' so trains only operate here in the early morning. In the evening, you can take a shuttle bus up here.
The train schedule to Zhushan changes every month according to sunrise times. You can check the schedule and buy tickets in advance from 1:00 to 4:00 PM or 30 minutes before departure in the early morning from Alishan Station or book online.
Alishan E-Bus operates internally within Alishan National Scenic Area.
The Alishan electric bus is an alternative to the three forest train lines above if you are short on time and especially convenient for seniors.
Bus pickup stations:
Note: Easy cards are not accepted on the bus; you can only prepay at the ticket station or use cash.
Trail through centuries-old forests
From Taichung to Alishan National Scenic Area
The quickest route is to take the high-speed train at HSR Taichung Station, purchase a ticket to HSR Chiayi Station, then take bus number 7329 to Alishan National Scenic Area. Alternatively, you can take the train to Fenqihu from TRA Chiayi Station, as mentioned above.
If you are visiting Sun Moon Lake and want to travel directly from there to Alishan, aside from taking the bus back to HSR Taichung Station, there's good news. You can go directly to Alishan from Sun Moon Lake with bus number 6739 operated by Yuanlin. The bad news is that there is only one daily departure at 8:00 AM, arriving at Alishan around 11:00 AM, and departing from Alishan back to Sun Moon Lake at 1:00 PM, reaching Sun Moon Lake at 4:00 PM. The small bus has limited space, and tickets cannot be purchased in advance; only cash and EasyCard are accepted (~ 336 TWD).
The most delightful experience in Alishan National Scenic Area is sitting on the red train that travels through the deep pine forests.
From Kaohsiung to Alishan National Scenic Area
It takes only about 30 minutes by high-speed train from HSR Zuoying Station to HSR Chiayi Station. From there, take bus number 7329 to Alishan National Scenic Area. You can also travel from Tainan at HSR Tainan Station with trains starting as early as 5:50 AM (410 TWD). Regular train journeys take 80-140 minutes (158-245 TWD).
From Hualien to Alishan National Scenic Area
Hualien and Alishan, like two opposing poles, are not easily reached in the quickest way possible. Each located at opposite sides of the Taiwan island, traveling from Hualien will be quite a distance. There are multiple ways to reach Alishan from Hualien. If you have read the instructions above clearly, you can take a train to Kaohsiung and continue from there to Alishan, as explained above. Alternatively, you can return to Taipei and from there, purchase high-speed train tickets to Taichung or Chiayi to reach Alishan National Scenic Area.
The winding train tracks within the forest
Overnight Stay in Alishan National Scenic Area
If you wish to witness the sunrise above the sea at the peak of Alishan, it's advisable to stay in Alishan overnight. Book your hotel room on Mytour to ensure you have enough time to catch one of the earliest trains to the mountain's summit for the sunrise. Otherwise, you can rent accommodations such as hotels, hostels, or inns near the train station in Chiayi for the night before, making it more convenient to catch the bus to Alishan the next morning.
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