Alishan National Forest Recreation Area

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area boasts "five wonders" – the forest railway, sacred trees, sea of clouds, sunrise, and sunset glow – making it Taiwan's most renowned and popular forest recreation area, a dazzling emerald on the Alishan mountain range. The Alishan Forest Railway is a famous high-mountain scenic forest railway. You can take the forest train from Chiayi Railway Station and enjoy the forest scenery all the way to the terminal station, Alishan (the Forest Railway is managed by the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office, and its main line and branches are fully open). Alternatively, you can drive up along winding Provincial Highway 18, reaching the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area at 88.2k, an elevation of 2,216 meters, in less than two hours. The Alishan Mountain Range is one of Taiwan's five major mountain ranges, though Alishan itself is not a single mountain but refers to the entire mountainous region. Historically, it was rich in cypress resources, operating as Taiwan's largest logging site between 1912 and 1960. After extensive logging, the original cypress forests were almost depleted. Today, nearly forty giant red cypress trees remain along the First and Second Giant Tree Trails, allowing visitors to recall the majestic and sacred ancient sacred tree forests. The famous Alishan Sacred Tree was struck by lightning in 1956, and half of it collapsed due to rain in 1997. To respect natural ecology, life, and ensure visitor safety, the Forest and Nature Conservation Agency laid down the Alishan Sacred Tree in its original location in June 1998 for visitors to admire. In 2006, the "Alishan Xianglin Sacred Tree" was voted as the second-generation sacred tree, standing 45 meters tall with a circumference of 12.3 meters, making it a must-visit spot when coming to Alishan. The Alishan National Forest Recreation Area boasts rich ecology. Among its most unique plants are the rare *Cyclosorus terminans*, *Phlegmariurus saurus*, Alishan *Mahonia*, and Formosan *Pleione*. The animal kingdom is enlivened by "little stars" such as Formosan macaques, Mikado pheasants, Formosan yuhinas, Alishan bush-warblers, and Alishan salamanders, creating a vibrant scene. Besides the sacred trees, Alishan offers numerous other attractions: the forest railway, the ethereal Sister Ponds, the magnificent and moving sea of clouds, the beautiful Zhushan sunrise, Shouzhen Temple, the century-old Ciyun Temple, historical forestry sites, and a vibrant display of cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring. The Alishan National Forest Recreation Area is an international-class tourist destination representing Taiwan's cloud forest zone, welcoming travelers from around the world to discover the rich and beautiful landscapes of Taiwan's mountains.