Alishan
Taiwan · Chiayi · 2216 m
Description
Alishan (阿里山) is a mountain area of cedar and cypress forest at around 2,200 metres in Chiayi county, reached by one of the last working narrow-gauge mountain railways. The line was laid by the Japanese to bring timber down and now climbs through three climate zones in a series of switchbacks and spirals. Visitors ride an early train to Zhushan for sunrise over a sea of cloud, though the cloud only forms on roughly one morning in ten even in season. The forest recreation area holds the giant cypress trail, the Sisters Ponds and Shouzhen Temple, and the slopes below at Shizhuo are planted with high-mountain oolong. Cherry trees flower here from mid-March, a month later than in the lowlands, and the area books out completely for it.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 3 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: March – April or October – November
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Alishan Forest Railway
- Sunrise at Zhushan
- Sacred Tree and Giant Tree Trail
- Alishan National Forest Recreation Area
- Sea of Clouds (December - February)
- Sisters Ponds
- Shouzhen Temple
- Fenqihu Old Street(Day trip)
- Zhaoping Station and Park
- Fenqihu Railway Bento(Day trip)
- Cherry Blossoms at Alishan (March - April)
- Ciyun Temple
- Tashan Trail
- Tea Plantations at Shizhuo(Day trip)
- Shuishan Giant Tree Trail
- Duigaoyue Sunrise Platform
- Eryanping Trail(Day trip)
- Mianyue Line Abandoned Railway Trail
- Xiding Lookout Platform(Day trip)
- Shenmu Station
- Tsou Indigenous Culture(Day trip)
- Alishan Museum
- Xiaoliyuanshan Lookout
- Yuyupas Tsou Cultural Village in Leye(Day trip)
- Zhaoping Cherry Blossom and Poetry Trail
- Dabang and Tefuye Tsou Villages(Day trip)
- Stargazing at Alishan
- Fenrui Historic Trail(Day trip)
- Alishan High Mountain Oolong Tea
Getting there
- Train stations:
- Alishan