We’re back! 😀 We spent 3 days and 2 nights in Alishan, followed by 3 days and 2 nights in Tainan. Here are some key highlights and insights/notes from our trip — specifically in Alishan

Alishan Highlights and Insights

• There are multiple ways to reach the mountain. Buses tend to fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons or for large groups. To secure your seat, you can purchase pre-sale tickets in advance at a Family Mart convenience store kiosk (FamiPort) or through the online FamiTicket ticketing system.
• We booked online through another vendor for a round-trip bus and park entrance, but missed our scheduled bus because 5-6 people with Family Mart reserved tickets were given priority over all other passengers.
• We had the option to wait for the next bus or share a cab with two others. We decided to share the cab.
  • The advantage of taking a cab was that, while we used some of our bus tickets, we could still use the entrance ticket and save the remaining bus tickets for the return trip.
  • The taxi graciously drove us to one of the region’s largest tea farms. There, we savored exquisite green and red teas and had the chance to purchase them directly from the source before continuing our journey to Alishan.
  • We arrived well before the bus. The bus takes about 4 hours, while the cab takes roughly half that time.

• The Alishan Forest Railway is the slowest option for ascending. It’s often more convenient to take a bus or taxi instead.
• We stayed at the Chin Shan Villa located within the park. I highly recommend staying inside the national park if you want to experience the sunrise or sunset. The food is traditional Taiwanese, so if that’s not to your taste, consider treating yourself to a stay at the Alishan Hotel for a more upscale dining experience.
  • Booking hotels inside the park can be challenging, so it’s important to reserve your stay well in advance.
  • One great perk of booking Chin Shan Villa is that, for a small fee, they offer sunrise, sunset, and stargazing tours within the park. According to our guide, they were the original pioneers of these tours. Our guide was very helpful in arranging the sunset experience, providing tripods and setting up our phones at the viewpoint for the perfect shot.
    • We were fortunate to witness stunning cloud formations and a beautiful sunset in excellent weather. Keep in mind that weather in Alishan can change rapidly, so your experience may differ.

• Food inside the park may or may not suit your taste, but there is a 7-11 open 24 hours offering a wide variety of options. Otherwise, the available food is mostly local cuisine.
• For the sunrise train to the peak, we secured our tickets the day before. Be sure to check the sunrise time and plan accordingly.
• The train is small and fills up quickly, so be sure to arrive early to secure a spot on one of the first departures.
  • From the Chushan train station, I recommend heading right. The path leads through a charming tea store and continues up to a vantage point where you can enjoy a stunning sunrise on clear days.
• On our last day, we rode the train from FenQiHu down to Chiayi, then caught the high-speed rail from Chiayi station to Tainan.