A-li-shan Travel Guide

  travelling to Chiayi
by chatterley
 
  • travelling to Chiayi
      travelling to Chiayi
    by chatterley
  • the view from our homestay!
      the view from our homestay!
    by chatterley
  • Alishan Forest
      Alishan Forest
    by chewy3326
  • Sunrise @Zhu-Shan
      Sunrise @Zhu-Shan
    by hanabiwaiwai
  • Railway Lunch Box
      Railway Lunch Box
    by hanabiwaiwai
 

Explore A-li-shan

Things to Do  

Looking for Flying Squirrels & Fireflies at night

Looking for Flying Squirrels & Fireflies at night, A-li-shan

 chatterley Says:  At night, our guide took us deep into the forest for a walk, and to look at 2 types of animals - the "flying squirrel" and fireflies. I especially enjoyed watching the hundreds of fireflies, giving out a green glow in the dark. It was a magical experience for us city... 

A 2300 year-old tree - Guangwu Cypress

A 2300 year-old tree - Guangwu Cypress, A-li-shan

 chatterley Says:  This tree, a Taiwanese red cypress tree, has been around for 2300 years! It was tall and huge and was named as the Alishan Siang Lin Sacred Tree. It is also one of the monuments of the Alishan Forest Reserve. It has another name - Guangwu Cypress, as it had been around... 

Wild cherry blossoms

Wild cherry blossoms, A-li-shan

 chatterley Says:  We saw red maple leaves on Alishan, and some wild cherry blossoms. The cherry blossom is a major attraction every March, and our guide told us that many visitors would make their way up to Alishan to view the flowers. All the wild cherry trees would be full of pink flowers... 

Seeing the Gu Fish at DaNaYi Valley Nature Reserve

Seeing the Gu Fish at DaNaYi Valley Nature Reserve, A-li-shan

 chatterley Says:  The nature reserve is run by an indigenious tribe - the Zou tribe. These fishes are a protected species, and they feed on algae on the rocks in the rivers. When feeding, they turn their bodies belly-up, and expose their silver bellies. When viewed at a distance, these... 

Eating "Ai Yu" @ "Ai Yu Bo's House"

Eating "Ai Yu" @ "Ai Yu Bo's House", A-li-shan

 chatterley Says:  Our guide brought us to this place (Ai Yu Bo's House) to eat our railway lunchboxes and to enjoy a cooling desset - Ai Yu. Ai Yu is made from a fruit, the fruit is grounded into powder which turns into jelly when mixed with water. Each bowl of Ai Yu is topped with bits of... 

Eating the Famous "Railway Lunchbox"

Eating the Famous "Railway Lunchbox", A-li-shan

 chatterley Says:  As trains travel slowly and the journeys are long, some people with good business acumen started selling "railway lunchboxes" at the train stations to the hungry passengers. These lunchboxes are actually quite famous, and some people are actually known to travel from Taipei... 

Fen Qi Hu Train Station

Fen Qi Hu Train Station, A-li-shan

 chatterley Says:  During the old times, there used to be commercial logging activities on Alishan. The trains and railway system were used to transport the logs down from the mountains. Nowadays, these trains are used to transport people from Fen Qi Hu to Alishan. The trains travel at a slow... 

Wasabi!

Wasabi!, A-li-shan

 chatterley Says:  The climate and altitude of Alishan was also suitable for the cultivation of wasabi plants, which were introduced to Taiwan by the Japanese. Some stall owners were selling the wasabi plant and its sauce, others were selling wasabi-flavoured sausages. 

Sisters Pond @ Alishan Forest Reserve

Sisters Pond @ Alishan Forest Reserve, A-li-shan

 chatterley Says:  Inside the Alishan Forest Reserve, there is a Sisters Pond. As we went there during winter, the water level is lower (the water level would be much higher during the summer season). There is a legend behind this pond. It was said that 2 beautiful sisters, belonging to one of... 

Catch the sunrise on Alishan (III)

Catch the sunrise on Alishan (III), A-li-shan

 chatterley Says:  Finally, at 7.00 am, the sun rises up from behind the mountains... 

Restaurants  

Around the train station

Around the train station, A-li-shan

 bafgkm Says:  There're several food stands and restaurants around the train station providing local food. Actually,those are typical taiwanese food, but the vegetable and tea are worth trying.The cost depends on which restaurant you choose. Not too expensive though. Vegetable , rice and... 

Nightlife  

Outside without light: Starry starry night......

Outside without light: Starry starry night......, A-li-shan

 bafgkm Says:  I went to a-li-shan several times before, but this time is the first time I went there all alone. In my college life,I went there 2 times with the Astronomy club....so you now know what we did during the night....HA HA.....Remember to bring a flash light though! Oh,and... 

Transportation  

The Alishan forest railway

The Alishan forest railway, A-li-shan

 bafgkm Says:  During the trip, you will hear music and a brief instruction through the broadcast.When the train stops at every small station for about 2 minutes, you can choose some to get off and take a picture. 

Alishan Narrow-Gauge Railway

Alishan Narrow-Gauge Railway, A-li-shan

 chewy3326 Says:  The Alishan Narrow-Gauge Railway (阿里山小火車) is one of the more popular and famous methods of getting around Alishan. It is one of the five famous sights there; it is also rickety but overall a pleasant ride. Tickets (I believe) are NT... 

Shopping  

Agricutural products

Agricutural products, A-li-shan

 bafgkm Says:  There're several shops close to each other, they are almost the only light after sunset, you won't miss them. Tea : a-li-shan tea!Sweets:ma(2) shu(3), cakesAboriginal craft: mostly made from woodsOther agricutural products, like vinger,honey,cafe and so on. Tea bag: 20 tea... 

Tourist Traps  

Cooler Temperatures

Cooler Temperatures, A-li-shan

 Kyle-Taiwan Says:  One tends to be in lower elevation Taiwan and never thinks about Taiwan being cold. Alishan gets cold, bring jacket/jeans! in winter it can snow and get icy, so also prepare for driving if thats how your getting there.The first time i went there i was used to my 25-30 degree... 

What to Pack  

Well-prepared for Sunrise Watching!

Well-prepared for Sunrise Watching!, A-li-shan

 hanabiwaiwai Says:   Thick jacket is a must! Bring some motion sickness pills if u have problems with train / bus journey more than 2 hours... especially if u take a bus... there are many sharp turns that may make u sick. Bring a tripod if u want to capture a non-shaking sun. Sunglasses to... 

Some survival kits =P

Some survival kits =P, A-li-shan

 bafgkm Says:  a small bag for your own trash when trekking/hiking in the moutain,let's protect and maintain the beautiful area together! warm, better with goretexNo sandel in winterumbrella , just in case Some headache pills maybe, for it's over 2,200m high. Of course! If you use DC,... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Wasabi Farms

Wasabi Farms, A-li-shan

 Kyle-Taiwan Says:  On the drive to Alishan, close to it, sometimes you will see little pull offs and trails into the forest, sometimes they are wasabi farms. They are truly mystical looking things, something youd think of from a fantasy movie. Often they are trellised up the hill of a river... 

Favorites  

Hiking to Chuashan Sunrise Lookout

Hiking to Chuashan Sunrise Lookout, A-li-shan

 lhe Says:  If you want to hike to the Chuashan Sunrise Lookout instead of taking the train, you should follow the main road "Trail to Chuashan". Then use Chuashan Sunrise Viewing Trail as a shortcut. Entrance to this trail is right before the Chaoping Station. Eventually the trail will... 

The Place

Plan a A-li-shan vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and A-li-shan locals

Experience A-li-shan
  •   45 Tips and Reviews
  •  71 Photos
  Share your Travels  
Map of A-li-shan
 

The People

 
Our Members Say
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 Aka Arnold Janssen Activity Centershare bath/WCSingle Room 500NTD with Very nice view!!!Dorm Bed 250NTD (No view)a little bad smell in the room... 

 

Questions and Answers

sueannlee profile photo

Q:  Hello there I am planning to get from Hualien to Rueili directly. At first i thought there would be a train from Hualien to... 

nuttyazn profile photo

A: I heard that it is a really great but hairy drive across the Central mountain Expressway. Beautiful scenery etc. If you are not going to drive (Don't know how many of... 

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Top A-li-shan Writers

1

A-Li-Shan: A 3-Day 2-Night Adventure

chatterley profile photo

 Our package to A-Li-Shan included accommodation at a homestay, meals (dinner on Day 1, breakfast+lunch+dinner on Day 2 and breakfast on Day 3), transport to the Alishan National Scenic Area, admission... 

2

Alishan - Sunrise, Cloud Sea & Mountain Train

lhe profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in A-li-shan. I'd love to share with you the 10 tips I've written, the 16 photos uploaded, and 1 travelogue I've created. 

3

The Enchanted Forest

chewy3326 profile photo

 Alishan National Forest Recreation Area (Alishan Guojia Sinling Yolechu) (Mt. Ali National Forest Recreation Area) (ˆ¢—¢ŽR𠉯?X—Ñ—VžÙ™½) or more simply, just Alishan, is considered Taiwan's most... 

4

Taiwan is really beautiful!

bafgkm profile photo

 The area I point out on the Taiwan map indicates the location of a-li-shan. It's close to Mt. Jade (Yu shan) , so you can even plan an extended trip to Yu shan forest park after you see sunrise! 

5

Storyin Alishan

storyin profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in A-li-shan. I'd love to share with you the 3 tips I've written, the 1 photo uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

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