Alishan in the Mist

Alishan, a large national park in Taiwan, offers several nature trails for hiking. The highlights of visiting Alishan include: 1) Ancient pine forests that are thousands of years old, giving a sense of nature's immense power. 2) Watching the sunrise early in the morning amidst light fog and green mountain peaks. 3) Alishan Forest Railway, a romantic train route that resumed full service in July 2024. Travel Information: 1) Take the Alishan Forest Railway from Chiayi Station to Alishan Station. 2) Alternatively, take a bus from Chiayi city, which takes about 2:30 hours. Tips: 1) Recommended hiking trails suitable for beginners with easy paths and short distances: 1.1) Shuishan Trail: This trail passes through the classic old railway route and leads to a thousand-year-old sacred tree. 1.2) Zhaoping Park: The starting point of popular hiking trails like Sister Ponds and large pine forests. This trail is easy as it consists of stairs throughout. Along the way, you will encounter uniquely shaped large trees. 1.3) Duigaoyue Station: Offers high vantage points for viewing and photo opportunities with the railway tracks. During our visit in late autumn, we encountered thick fog. 2) Sunrise Viewing Spot: MT. OGASAWARA VIEWING LOT is a popular spot for watching the sunrise. Traveling by train may be crowded, but you can avoid this by using the park's bus service.