TW · Chiayi County · 23.52°N 120.80°E

alishan

Sunrise over a sea of clouds, giant cypress forests and a vintage mountain railway.

Best time
March and April bring cherry blossoms, and big crowds. Autumn and winter usually give the clearest sunrises. It's cool all year and cold at night.
How long
2 days, 1 night
Getting there
Fly from KL to Taipei (about 5 hours), then the High Speed Rail to Chiayi (about 1.5 hours). From there, buses take about 2.5 hours up the mountain, or ride the Alishan Forest Railway from Chiayi station for the slow, scenic way.
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TW · Chiayi Countyalishan23.52°N 120.80°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Sunrise over a sea of clouds, giant cypress forests and a vintage mountain railway.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingAlishanTW, Chiayi County
KLalishan
≈ 3,059 km from KL, as the crow flies
An Alishan Forest Railway diesel locomotive pulling wooden passenger cars through a cherry blossom-lined narrow-gauge track.

Photo: lumoplank · CC0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A mountain forest area in Chiayi County, around 2,200 metres up. People come for sunrise over the sea of clouds, walks among giant red cypress trees, and the old forest railway that climbs up from the plains.

Makan

  1. Fenqihu lunch boxRailway-style bento, a tradition from when trains stopped here for meals.Map ↗
  2. Alishan oolongHigh-mountain oolong grown on the slopes. Tea farms along the road do tastings.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Zhushan sunriseAn early train up to Zhushan to watch the sun rise over the clouds, with Yushan in the distance.Map ↗
  2. Giant Trees TrailBoardwalks through a forest of ancient red cypress, some well over a thousand years old.Map ↗
  3. Sister PondsTwo small ponds on the forest loop, prettiest in the morning mist.Map ↗
  4. Alishan Forest RailwayA narrow-gauge line from Chiayi that loops and zigzags its way up the mountain.Map ↗
  5. FenqihuAn old railway town halfway up, known for its lunch boxes and old street.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Book forest railway tickets ahead. They sell out, especially on weekends and in blossom season.
  • Stay the night on the mountain. Sunrise is too early to make it up from Chiayi.
  • Bring a warm jacket even in summer. Winter mornings can be close to freezing.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.