The Alishan Forest Railway begins at Chiayi Station, the junction with the Taiwan Railway, so families arriving by train can change platforms rather than towns. The Alishan Express runs the main line uphill daily, stopping at stations such as Zhuqi, Jiaoliping and Fenqihu on the way to Alishan.
At the top, three branch lines take over. The Zhushan Line runs the Sunrise Train, whose departure moves every day with the sunrise and with passenger numbers, so the time is not fixed in advance. The Shenmu Line is the short hop to the Sacred Tree, and the Zhaoping Line normally runs a cypress carriage on Wednesdays.
The trade-off: a ticket covers only the section printed on it. Get off midway, say at Fenqihu for a look around, and the rest of the ticket is void with no refund, so plan any stops as separate journeys.
Family FAQ
How much does Alishan Forest Railway cost?
Chiayi to Alishan on the Alishan Express costs NT$600 full fare; branch lines are NT$150 (Zhushan) and NT$100 (Shenmu, Zhaoping).
What are the opening hours of Alishan Forest Railway?
From 10 January 2025 the uphill Alishan Express leaves Chiayi daily at 09:00 (No. 1) and 10:00 (No. 5).
