| Scenic area | Alishan National Scenic Area set up in 2001; 41,520 hectares in Chiayi County |
|---|---|
| Forest railway | completed 1914 to carry timber; logging ended in 1963, after which passengers and tourism became its main use |
| Main line | reopened end to end on 6 July 2024 after 15 years of repair |
| Indigenous people | the Tsou, with the main villages Tapangu and Tfuya |
| Five wonders | sunrise, sea of clouds, sunset glow, the sacred trees and the railway |
Taiwan – Getting to Know Alishan
Located in southern Taiwan, the Alishan National Scenic Area is one of Taiwan’s best-known mountain destinations. Forested peaks, high-altitude tea terraces and old cypress groves make up the landscape, with cherry blossoms in spring and maples in autumn.
Alishan Travel Essentials
“Alishan” refers to a mountain range that forms Taiwan’s backbone, averaging 2,500 m in elevation and crowned by Datashan (2,663 m). From here you can even glimpse Yushan (Jade Mountain), Taiwan’s highest peak at 3,952 m. Indigenous Tsou communities have called these slopes home for millennia; in the early 1900s, the Japanese built the narrow-gauge Alishan Forest Railway to harvest giant cedar and cypress. The railway was finished in 1914, and after logging ended in 1963, Alishan evolved into a national scenic area (designated in 2001).
Climate & Forests
Thanks to its elevation, Alishan’s climate is crisp and cool. As you ascend from palm and banana groves to evergreen woodlands, giant Formosan red cypresses – some more than 3,000 years old – dominate the canopy. Visitors can stroll along boardwalks to see the Sacred Tree (now fallen) and the towering “600-Year-Old Tree.
Top Activities
- Alishan Forest Railway: Board the heritage train in Chiayi for a forest-lined ride up to Fenqihu station, then explore on foot.
- Cherry Blossoms & Autumn Leaves: Visit in March-April for pink petals or October-November for golden maples.
- Trekking & Tea Tours: Hike to high-mountain oolong plantations, wasabi farms or the Jiao Lung Waterfall on nearby Datashan.
- Sunrise Impression Concert: Ring in January 1 at the Duei Gao Yue viewing deck, where live music ushers in Taiwan’s first sunrise.
Off-Trail Discoveries
- Leye Mihu Trail (“Absent-Minded”): Meander through bamboo groves and shaded pavilions.
- Leye Village: Learn about Tsou culture, language and daily life.
- Fenqihu Town: Wander the Cedar Plank Trail past rock formations, mountain streams and firefly-lit temples, plus sample local treats like bamboo-shoot pickles and aiyu jelly.
- Tea Tasting: No Alishan visit is complete without a Gao Shan (High-Mountain) oolong tea ceremony – sip the world’s finest and perhaps take home a fresh harvest.
From heritage rail rides to sunrise concerts, Alishan combines forest, railway and Tsou culture, and it suits a night or two in the mountains.
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. A log wagon at the Alishan Forest Railway.
The forest railway: what to know
The Alishan Forest Railway was finished in 1914 to bring timber out of the mountains. Logging ended in 1963, and it has since served passengers and tourists. Typhoons and the 1999 earthquake damaged parts of the line more than once, and the main line from Chiayi to Alishan reopened its full length on 6 July 2024 after about 15 years of repair. Taiwan has only two mountain forest railways still operating, the other being the Taiping Mountain one. Check the current timetable and which sections run before you plan around it.
The five wonders
The Alishan forest recreation area is known for the “five wonders”: sunrise, the sea of clouds, sunset glow, the sacred trees and the railway. The original Sacred Tree has fallen, and the grove of sacred trees stands in its place. The sea of clouds is counted among Taiwan’s eight scenic views.
Sources (read in Chinese, Chinese Wikipedia): 阿里山國家風景區, 阿里山林業鐵路. Last checked November 2026.
Alishan: FAQ
Is the Alishan Forest Railway running?
The main line from Chiayi to Alishan reopened end to end on 6 July 2024 after 15 years of repair. Check the current timetable.
When was the Alishan Forest Railway built?
It was completed in 1914 to carry timber. Logging ended in 1963.
What are the five wonders of Alishan?
Sunrise, the sea of clouds, sunset glow, the sacred trees and the railway.
Who are the Tsou people?
Alishan’s main Indigenous people, with large villages at Tapangu and Tfuya.