Alishan

Taiwan – Getting to Know Alishan

Located in southern Taiwan, the Alishan National Scenic Area is the island’s most-visited park and for good reason. Towering forested peaks give way to high-altitude tea terraces, ancient cypress groves and rushing waterfalls, while spring’s cherry blossoms and autumn’s fiery maples transform the landscape.

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. Passenger service began in 1918, and after logging ended in the 1970s, 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 blends natural wonders and cultural heritage for an unforgettable mountain escape.