[2025 Chiayi County Attraction] Travel Guide for Alishan Forest Railway (Updated Jul)

Take advantage of the end of the Alishan cherry blossom season and go up the mountain to enjoy it🌸 Fortunately, it was sunny for two consecutive days☀️ Although some varieties of cherry blossoms in the park have already bloomed and grown green leaves But I saw the blooming cherry blossoms, the Cherry Road, and the Alishan Police Station. The beautiful scenery of Alishan is really beautiful with the white cherry blossoms After enjoying the cherry blossoms, we visited the Giant Wood Walkway in Alishan. Bathing in the forest relaxes the body, mind and soul The next day we got up early and took the sunrise train to Alishan Saw a perfect sunrise under a clear sky 🌅 After watching the sunrise and having breakfast, we took the time to visit the Shuishan Giant Tree Trail. Compared with the Mianyue Line, the distance is much shorter, but you can still experience the feeling of walking on the railway. Alishan is really great when the weather is good! Recommended The following is a 2-day 1-night itinerary: DAY1: Enter Alishan Park at 1:00 pm -> Cherry King -> Giant Trees Plank Road -> Overnight at Shenmu Hotel DAY2: 4:30 am, go out to Alishan Station to take the sunrise train -> 6:15 sunrise, take the train back to Alishan Station at about 6:30 -> 7:30 breakfast -> 8:50 Shuishan Giant Tree Trail + Shuishan Healing Trail -> 10:30 check out and go down the mountain #Chiayi Cherry Blossoms #Alishan #Shenmu #Sunrise

☀️87% Sunny Girl The weekend weather forecast initially predicted rain, but I had already purchased tickets for the Alishan Forest Railway and planned the trip long ago. I had been looking forward to it for ages. (The forest railway from Chiayi to Alishan is notoriously hard to get tickets for, but it's truly worth it—the scenery is incredibly diverse.) (Although the tickets for the Alishan Forest Railway are hard to come by, the train was far from full during the ride. I wonder who managed to snag all those tickets?) I was worried about the weather, but thankfully, there was no rain at all 🤞🏻. It had been over a decade since I last rode the Alishan Forest Railway. (The railway had been damaged multiple times over the years due to typhoons, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. It took years to repair, and even after reopening last year, another typhoon caused damage, requiring further repairs 🥹.) Riding the train up the mountain offers a unique experience: you can observe the gradual change in vegetation from low to high altitudes and feel the temperature drop by 0.6°C for every 100 meters of elevation gain. Additionally, the railway features three distinct high-altitude train operations: the locomotive pushes the carriages uphill from behind (unlike flatland trains where the locomotive pulls from the front), the spiral ascent method, and the zigzag ascent method 🌟. I thought I’d get sleepy after the initial excitement of boarding the train, but I stayed thrilled throughout the journey, surrounded by lush greenery and countless trees. The route from Chiayi to Alishan includes a stop at Fenqihu for a one-hour break, where you can enjoy Fenqihu lunchboxes, grass jelly cakes, ai-yu jelly, and millet donuts. I tried everything except the lunchbox, which didn’t appeal to me 🤣. The chance to savor coffee mid-journey added a delightful touch to the trip’s design. The train also stops briefly at Erwanping Station for an 8-minute break. If the weather is good, you can catch a glimpse of cloud waterfalls and seas of clouds! Upon arriving at Alishan, there was still plenty of time, so I revisited the familiar Sacred Tree area. It’s a simple trail through a forest of ancient trees, showcasing the grandeur of centuries-old sacred trees. Witnessing such resilient life forms is truly moving. I planned a two-day, one-night trip. On the second day, I woke up at 4 AM to buy tickets for the sunrise train to Zhushan. From there, I headed to the Ogawa Sunrise Viewing Platform to watch the sunrise. Afterward, I hiked the initial section of the Mianyue Line. ⚠️ However, the current Mianyue Line’s initial section has been combined with the Tashan Trail, making it much more challenging with increased elevation changes compared to before. This trip was incredibly fortunate—I managed to see the sea of clouds, the sunset, and a fleeting moment of sunrise. I also got a distant view of the massive landslide on the Mianyue Line. From the opposite side, the sight of such a large crack in the mountain was terrifying 😢. Nature is both breathtakingly beautiful and awe-inspiring. I truly love Alishan ♥. Despite the early wake-up for the sunrise, the moment the sun appeared made all the effort feel worthwhile.

Just returned from an unforgettable journey to Alishan Forest in Taiwan — and I had to share this magical escape with you all! (📸 I’ve attached a photo of the iconic red train — a true symbol of Alishan!) As soon as I arrived, I was swept away by the crisp mountain air, the scent of towering cypress trees, and the peaceful rhythm of nature. The scenery is simply breathtaking — think misty trails, ancient woods, and golden rays of sunlight filtering through the fog. One of the best parts? I took the famous red Alishan Forest Train to Zhaoping Station, and it was only NTD 100! 🚂 The short ride winds through stunning forest landscapes and feels like a trip back in time. Zhaoping Station itself is peaceful and surrounded by walking trails, cherry trees (if you’re lucky with timing), and postcard views in every direction. 📒 Pro tip: Bring a small notebook — you’ll find charming stamp stations around the park, and it’s such a fun (and free!) way to collect memories along the way. I loved stamping each stop I visited. Whether you're chasing sunrises, soaking in mountain air, or just enjoying slow travel, Alishan Forest is a must-visit. I came home with a notebook full of stamps and a heart full of mountain magic. ✨Nature. Nostalgia. Tranquility. That’s Alishan #myitinerary #staycation #travel #staycation #naturalwonders #thingstodo #familytravel

#AprilGoodDestinations2025 We recommend a two-day trip to Alishan, which can be started from Chiayi. The Alishan Forest Park has a tranquil scenery, where you can see many spectacular sacred trees and wild animals. The park also has many early trains for viewing and taking photos. We recommend getting up early the next morning to watch the famous sunrise at Alishan. You can have the sunrise and the sea of ​​clouds at the same time, and the scenery is magnificent. In addition, you should bring a coat even if you go there in summer. The temperature difference on the mountain is really big, and it is still very cool in the morning and evening.

#aprilblooms

Alishan National Park Cherry Blossom Season is from early March to early April every year When driving up the mountain, please note that there will be traffic control and you cannot enter from 0600 to 11:00 on holidays. You can choose to take the shuttle bus or go to the nearby Zhongxing Tea Factory to enjoy a wave of Pink Kawazu cherry blossoms, or have a lunch at Fenqihu Strolling around the old street, the grandma's grass cake and the queue donuts are both delicious If you don't want to wait in line for too long, you can call to make a reservation Then you can go to the nearby Xiaonan wooden plank road to take a walk and rest. Inside Alishan Park Pink and white Yoshino cherry blossoms in full bloom The cherry blossom trees are in full bloom next to the Zhenshan Temple and there are more dense cherry blossom trees next to it Next is the dense cherry blossom trees in front of Numadaira Police Station. You can also catch the moment when the train passes by. The red train is very photogenic. The cherry blossoms under the power tower are also beautiful. There are also some camellias and calla lilies blooming beautifully next to it. There are 7-11/Starbucks/hotels in the park There are also specialty restaurants/there is a food street in front of Zhenshan Temple You can eat and drink in the park, but please don’t leave your garbage in the beautiful forest. Walking around and absorbing phytoncides is very refreshing

#2月好去地方2025 📍Location: Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Chiayi, Taiwan 🕰️Business hours: 24 hours 💞Recommendation reason: After living in the city for a long time, it is also good to go to the forest occasionally to breathe fresh air. Arrive at Alishan early in the morning, take the tourist bus to the Shenmu Park, walk around the sacred trees, and finally take the retro train 🚂 back. #Taiwan #Alishan #Shenmu #Taiwan Attractions

The walk started at 8:20 in the morning and ended at 4:40 in the afternoon. It was the first time in my life that I walked such a long distance (18.4 kilometers round trip), but it was worth it. The scenery along the way was very beautiful. Because the Eye-Moon Line needs to be applied in advance, there are not many people walking on weekdays, so it is very comfortable and relaxing.

Alishan Forest Railway is a forest railway that still exists in Chiayi City, Chiayi County, and Nantou County, Taiwan. It is also used as a means of transportation for tourists visiting Alishan and Yushan. It is also known as the Alishan Mountain Railway. The entire route is designated as a cultural landscape. The Alishan Forest Railway climbs from an elevation of 30 meters above sea level to over 2000 meters. The railway passes through tropical forests up to an elevation of 800 meters, warm temperate forests up to around 1800 meters, and temperate forests up to 3000 meters. The diverse plant distribution, including tropical banyan trees and bamboo, warm temperate camphor and cedar trees, and temperate cypress trees, is one of its features. The beauty of the steep valleys and mountain ranges also adds to the scenic views from the train windows.

#2024TravelReview 🚩A different journey: the unique experience of taking the forest railway Alishan Train, as one of the forest railways, has a history of over a hundred years and is a highlight that cannot be missed during Alishan tourism. Unlike ordinary trains, this railway is designed with narrow gauge and runs through winding mountains and forests. The train moves slowly and steadily, and the scenery outside the window unfolds like a painting, giving people enough time to appreciate the lush greenery of the forest and the tranquility of nature. Taking this little train is like taking a journey through time, back to a simple and romantic era. 🎉Beautiful scenery: Passing through the mountains and forests, the scenery in front of you keeps changing The train shuttles through lush woods, and the scenery outside the window gradually shows a sense of layering as the altitude changes. It starts with bamboo forests and rice fields at low altitudes, then turns to fir and cloud forests in the mountains. Especially in the early morning when the sun is shining, light and shadows interweave among the treetops, as if a natural painting is unfolding before your eyes. When the train passes through a tunnel or crosses a bridge, the feeling of instantly returning to light from darkness is particularly surprising and pleasant. 📍The beauty of the station: the century-old wooden building of Beimen Station Each station along the route has its own characteristics, and the most noteworthy one is the starting station of the Alishan Forest Railway - Beimen Station. This century-old wooden building has attracted countless tourists to stop and take pictures with its quaint and elegant appearance. The station preserves precious historical relics and pictures, detailing the construction process of the railway and its prosperous past. Beimen Station is not only the starting point of the train, but also a door of time leading to the secret realm of Alishan forest. 🔔A railway trip not to be missed The Alishan Railway has become a dream railway in the hearts of travelers with its unique historical value and natural beauty. Whether you are looking for a retro feel or simply want to spend some relaxing time with your family, this trip will satisfy your expectations. On this railway, every sound of a train whistle seems to be calling us to slow down and feel the dual beauty of nature and humanity. When you come to Alishan, be sure to take a ride on the small train and experience this forest road full of stories and poetry! 🟢Transportation strategy: Take Taiwan Express or Alishan Railway 🔵Must-visit attractions: Forest Train, Fenqihu 🟡Recommended hotel: Alishan Hotel 🟠Must-eat food: Fenqihu Railway Bento, Crispy Donuts 🔴Shopping Guide: Alishan Wasabi, Alishan Aiyu #AlishanFeaturedExperience #AlishanForestRailway #ScenicMountains #TransmissionTree #HistoricalRailway #PerfectExperience #WorthVisiting

Ticket: $100 (from Shenmu Station to Alishan Station) The Alishan Forest Railway is a high mountain forest railway system located in southern Taiwan and is Taiwan's first significant cultural landscape. Most of its routes are within Chiayi City and Chiayi County, but parts of the Zhushan Line are in Xinyi Township, Nantou County. The railway was originally constructed during the Japanese colonial period to transport timber from the Alishan forest. After the logging operations ended, passenger transport and tourism became the railway's primary functions. The entire system mainly consists of a main line starting from Chiayi Station in Chiayi City and ending at Alishan Station in Alishan Township, Chiayi County, along with numerous branch lines spread throughout the Alishan mountain area. Currently, the sections open for passenger transport include the main line and parts of the Shenmu Line, Zhaoping Line, and the Zhushan Line, which was built for sunrise viewing. I only took the forest railway from Shenmu Station to Alishan Station, a journey of about 7 minutes, to experience the feel of the small train and take some photos as a memento. **You can join a one-day tour on Trip.com and pay with Trip coins.**

#100 Travel Style Access: Take a bus from Chiayi to Alishan for 240 NTD. Alishan entrance fee: 150 NTD. Tourist attractions: Taiwan, Alishan sunrise, 15-minute forest railway ride at 4am, 150 NTD to the last stop, get off at Zhushan, 10-minute walk from Ogasawara Observatory to see the sunrise over the Yushan mountain range. It's cold, so bring warm clothes. You can also walk to Alishan on the way back. It takes about an hour to get back. Hotel: No problem without a reservation, but it's better to make a reservation on weekends and holidays. Food & Restaurants: There are many, so no problem. Shopping: There are many souvenir shops.

#Taiwan Local Tour Alishan Forest Train-Shenmu Station Alishan Railway Station is a two-story wooden building. The main structure is very beautiful. I love wood, especially the design inside the platform. It's really photogenic! There are Zhushan Line, Zhuoping Line and Shenmu Line in Alishan. Zhushan Line only runs once a day for watching the sunrise, while Shenmu Line and Zhuoping Line run every half hour. Since we still wanted to experience the forest train, we chose to take it to Shenmu Station. As a result, the weather became very bad when we arrived at Shenmu Station. It kept raining. The Shenmu area must be wet and slippery, so we had to give up walking. So we enjoyed the forest bath and phytoncides in the rain in Shenmu District, and then took the next train back to Alishan Station~#Good place for parents and children

#TaiwanTravel If you come to visit Alishan, I recommend a delicious restaurant. There are 2 floors of seating. The restaurant offers a set of Shabu hot pot + 5 dishes. I don't remember the price very well, but it's around 1200-1500 NTD. There were 4 of us. All the dishes were delicious. As for the rice, you can refill it as much as you want. You can help yourself. This is a restaurant that really impresses with the taste of the food here. The restaurant is also decorated warmly, small, and cute.

Alpine Scenic Area Beautiful mountain scenery and mountain railways Beautiful scenic spots worth visiting #travel There are different beautiful scenery throughout the year. Spring is the time when flowers come. There are many cherry blossoms in the park🌸 Best places to enjoy autumn maple leaves Watch the sunrise 🌅 Take the mountain train Itinerary attractions worth visiting again and again ~ #Parent-children good place Transportation: Take the Alishan Forest Railway from Chiayi Railway Station and then take the Taiwan Express to Alishan

The sunrise and sea of ​​clouds at Alishan are so beautiful