National park · Taiwan
Alishan National Scenic Area阿里山國家風景區
Give Alishan one night, not a day trip: arrive by the 10:00 forest railway or the morning bus, walk the giant-tree loop and Two Sister Ponds in the afternoon, then take the pre-dawn Jhushan train for sunrise. Weekdays in Oct–Nov or Mar–Apr beat summer and cherry-blossom weekends, when the village sells out and the trains run packed.Give Alishan one night, not a day trip: arrive by the 10:00 AM forest railway or the morning bus, walk the giant-tree loop and Two Sister Ponds in the afternoon, then take the pre-dawn Jhushan train for sunrise. Weekdays in Oct–Nov or Mar–Apr beat summer and cherry-blossom weekends, when the village sells out and the trains run packed.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
415 km² (160 sq mi)160 sq mi (415 km²)
approximate
Established
2001
Best months
Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Taiwan ↗Check visa-exemption length, passport validity and the online arrival card (TWAC) on the official sites before you fly.
- Taiwan ↗An EasyCard (or iPASS) covers MRT, buses, local trains and many convenience-store purchases; buy one at the airport or a station.
- Taiwan ↗When a local government declares a typhoon day, transport and sights can close for the day; follow the official notice, not the forecast alone.
At a glance
- Country
- Taiwan
- Area
- 415 km² (160 sq mi)160 sq mi (415 km²)
- The scenic area covers a mountain range of roughly 415 km² across Chiayi County; figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 2001
- Best months
- Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Alishan is a mountain range in Chiayi County, southern Taiwan, managed as a national scenic area since 2001 and the island's most-visited park. Its draw is a 1912 Japanese-built narrow-gauge logging railway that still climbs from the coastal plain to 2,216 m, groves of red cypresses over a thousand years old on boardwalk loops, and sunrise over Yushan from Jhushan. The park sits at around 2,200 m, so it is cool in summer and near-freezing on winter nights, and the weather turns fast: clear mornings, mist and cloud by noon, storms by late afternoon. Almost everyone arrives from Chiayi by train or bus; staying one night inside the village is what separates a rushed day trip from the sunrise and the empty late-afternoon trails.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2001.
Size and age
415 km² (160 sq mi)160 sq mi (415 km²) · national park since 2001
The scenic area covers a mountain range of roughly 415 km² across Chiayi County; figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- A working 1912 narrow-gauge logging railway still climbs from the coastal plain to 2,216 m through tea villages and cypress forest.
- The giant-tree trails hold red cypresses well over a thousand years old, on boardwalks that are easy to walk in half a day.
- Sunrise over Yushan from Jhushan station is the classic Taiwan view, and the pre-dawn train gets you there in 25 minutes.
- Overnight guests get the trails almost to themselves from late afternoon; day-trippers leave on the last buses.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayCaution
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCold, clear mornings; occasional snow
- FebDry; misty afternoons
- MarCherry blossoms; book weekends ahead
- AprBlossoms end, skies clear, mild
- MayRain builds; afternoon storms
- JunWettest month; trails slick
- JulTyphoon season; heavy rain
- AugTyphoon peak; landslips possible
- SepStorm tails; quieter weekdays
- OctDry, clear, good walking
- NovDry and cool; best all-round
- DecCold, often clear; quiet
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry blossoms around the village and ZhaopingMar–Apr · Peak weekends fill every hotel; book weeks ahead. | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Orange montbretia on the mountainsidesJun–Aug | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Mist and cloud sea below the viewpointsOct–Jan · Most reliable on clear, cool mornings. | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Forest birds and butterflies on the boardwalksApr–May, Oct–Nov | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Chiayi (TRA station)
Forest railway narrow-gauge train, one departure around 10:00; or bus route 7322 from the bus station beside the TRA station.Forest railway narrow-gauge train, one departure around 10:00 AM; or bus route 7322 from the bus station beside the TRA station.
4–5 h by train, 2–3 h by bus
From Chiayi (THSR station)
Bus route 7329 from the stop outside the high-speed rail station; a rail-plus-bus combo ticket gives a discount on the THSR return.
2.5 h
From Sun Moon Lake
Yunglin bus 6739 from Shuishe visitor centre, morning departures only; reserve at least a day ahead.
4–5 h
From Taipei
High-speed rail to Chiayi, then bus or forest railway up the mountain.
4–6 h total
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Alishan village | Station, hotels, restaurants, 7-Eleven and the visitor centre on a steep hillside. | Open; the base for everything. |
| Zhaoping and Sister Ponds | The most-walked loop: ponds, pavilions, Shouzhen Temple and the trailhead for Greater Tashan. | Open; 1 km (0.6 mi) walk or a short train ride from the village.Open; 0.6 mi (1 km) walk or a short train ride from the village. |
| Shermuh giant-tree area | The named cypresses, Cihyun Temple and the Tree Spirit Pagoda, linked by boardwalk loops. | Open; Sacred Tree line train or a walk. |
| Jhushan | Sunrise viewpoint on the east side, above the village. | Pre-dawn train, or a lit 1 h walk up. |
| Fenqihu and Shizhuo | Tea villages below and north of the park, with their own trail systems. | Open; stops on the railway and bus routes. |
Sketch map
- 1Alishan station · Ranger station≈23.510, 120.804Map ↗
- 2Alishan bus station · Ranger station≈23.508, 120.801Map ↗
- 3Zhaoping station · Ranger station≈23.514, 120.814Map ↗
- 4Two Sister Ponds · Viewpoint≈23.519, 120.814Map ↗
- 5Shermuh (Sacred Tree) station · Trail≈23.519, 120.808Map ↗
- 6Jhushan station · Viewpoint≈23.510, 120.823Map ↗
- 7Greater Tashan summit · Summit≈23.515, 120.818Map ↗
- 8Fenqihu · Village≈23.505, 120.695Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions within the park, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entrance (foreign visitor) | TWD 300 (≈ US$10) | person | 2026 estimate; NT$150 discount with a same-day bus ticket. |
| Park entrance (Taiwanese visitor) | TWD 200 (≈ US$7) | person | 2026 estimate; rates differ by residency. |
| Forest railway, Chiayi to Alishan | TWD 399 (≈ US$14) | person one-way | About 5 h up, 4 h down; book ahead. |
| Jhushan sunrise train | TWD 150 (≈ US$5) | person one-way | Two departures before dawn; times posted at 16:30 the day before. |
| Sacred Tree or Zhaoping line | TWD 50–80 (≈ US$2–3) | person one-way/return | Half-hourly; last train back around 16:00. |
| Bus from Chiayi THSR station | TWD 290 (≈ US$10) | person one-way | Route 7329; about 2.5 h. |
| Bus from Chiayi TRA station | TWD 240 (≈ US$8) | person one-way | Route 7322; about 2–3 h. |
| Taxi from Chiayi outside bus hours | TWD 1,600 (≈ US$55) | car | 2026 estimate. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entrance ticket permit or guide
Jhushan sunrise train seat permit or guide
Forest railway seat from Chiayi permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- NT$300≈ US$10
- NT$200≈ US$7
- NT$399≈ US$14
- NT$150≈ US$5
- NT$50–80≈ US$2–3
- NT$290≈ US$10
- NT$240≈ US$8
- NT$1,600≈ US$55
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Alishan National Scenic Area — official site before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on the trails
- Boardwalks and paved paths only; the forest off-trail is steep, mossy and easy to slip in.
- Sunrise train tickets
- Reserve ahead; same-day seats are sold only 30 minutes before departure and can sell out.
- Litter and picking
- No picking plants or tea leaves; carry out all rubbish, including from the sunrise platform.
- Drones
- Flying inside the scenic area needs permission from the park administration (check).check
- Fires
- No open fires or camping outside designated areas.
Where to stay
In the park
Alishan village hotel area
About a dozen basic hotels downhill from the station; convenient for food and the pre-dawn train, but a 1–2 km (0.6–1.2 mi) walk from the trails.About a dozen basic hotels downhill from the station; convenient for food and the pre-dawn train, but a 0.6–1.2 mi (1–2 km) walk from the trails.
In the park
Catholic hostel by the gate
Simple rooms just inside the park entrance, run by the church.
Near the park
Fenqihu
Mountain village on the railway with guesthouses and lunch-box shops, about an hour below the park.
Near the park
Chiayi city
Full range of hotels near the TRA and THSR stations; only workable if you take the first bus up.
Safety
Cold and altitude at 2,200 m medium
Wet, mossy steps medium
Motion sickness on the mountain road medium
Typhoons and landslips high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The village, visitor centre and main boardwalk loops are step-free or have gentle ramps in places; the terrain is hilly.
- Greater Tashan and the Fenrui trail involve long flights of stairs and are not suitable for limited mobility.
- The forest railway and park minibuses can reduce walking, but boarding the narrow-gauge carriages involves steps.
Visiting lightly
- Take the bus or train up instead of driving; parking in the village is limited.
- Buy tea directly from growers in Shizhuo or Fenqihu rather than souvenir-shop blends.
- Carry a refillable bottle; refill points are available around the visitor centre.
- Keep to boardwalks so moss and cypress roots are not trampled.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Alishan?
The park entrance is around NT$300 for foreign visitors and NT$200 for Taiwanese residents (2026 estimate). Show a same-day bus ticket and you get NT$150 off. On top of that, budget NT$399 one-way for the forest railway from Chiayi, or NT$240–290 for the bus, and NT$150 for the sunrise train.
What are the best hikes in Alishan?
For most people: the Giant Trees Trail boardwalk loop near Shermuh station, and the Zhaoping–Two Sister Ponds–Shouzhen Temple circuit. If you want a real climb, Greater Tashan (2,663 m) takes 1.5–2 hours up on steep stairs and stays free of tour groups. The Fenrui Historic Trail near Fenqihu is a half-day option.
When is the best time to visit Alishan?
October–November and March–April. Autumn and early winter give the clearest skies and the cloud sea; spring brings cherry blossoms but also the biggest crowds. June–August is the wettest and carries typhoon risk, which can close roads and the railway.
Can I visit Alishan as a day trip from Chiayi?
Yes, but you will miss the sunrise, which is the main reason to come. The first bus up and the last bus down leave roughly six hours in the park, most of it shared with tour groups. One night in the village gives you the trails in the late afternoon and the pre-dawn train.
Do I need to book the sunrise train in advance?
It helps. Seats can be reserved up to two weeks ahead, and same-day tickets are only sold 30 minutes before departure at Alishan station. Departure times are announced at 16:30 the day before. If it sells out, the walk up is about an hour on a lit road.
Is Alishan the same as Yushan?
No. Alishan is a scenic area and mountain range in Chiayi County, peaking at Datashan (2,663 m). Yushan (3,952 m) is Taiwan's highest mountain and a separate national park; you see it from Alishan's sunrise viewpoints, but climbing it needs its own permit and a different trip.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go