Alishan Township · Nature & Scenery

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Alishan Ecological Education Center

To promote the concept of nature conservation and help visitors learn about Alishan’s natural ecology, the Chiayi Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency has renovated the former Alishan Work Station and other old buildings into the Alishan Ecological Education Center, the Forest Era Forestry Story House, and the A-lí-san Mountain & Wilderness Creative House. The buildings are located within the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area. Their exhibits cover topics ranging from Tsou culture and alpine plants to forestry history, mountain culture, literature, and art, guiding visitors to rediscover the many dimensions of Alishan in the relationship between people and nature.

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area

Alishan Township · Nature & Scenery

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area is famous for its five wonders: the forest train, sacred trees, sea of clouds, sunrise, and sunset glow. It is Taiwan’s best-known and most popular forest recreation area, a jewel of the Alishan Range that shines with dazzling brilliance. The Alishan Forest Railway is a renowned high-mountain sightseeing railway. You can board the forest train at Chiayi Station and enjoy a leisurely ride through the mountains to the Alishan terminus. The railway is managed by the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office, and its main line and branch lines are now fully open. Alternatively, you can drive along Provincial Highway 18 and reach the recreation area at kilometer 88.2, at an elevation of 2,216 meters, in less than two hours. The Alishan Range is one of Taiwan’s five major mountain ranges, but Alishan is not a single mountain; it refers to the broader mountain region. Historically rich in cypress resources, it was Taiwan’s largest logging area from 1912 to 1960. After long periods of harvesting, the original cypress forests were almost entirely cut down. Today, nearly forty giant Taiwan red cypress trees remain along the first- and second-phase giant tree boardwalks, allowing visitors to remember the grandeur and sanctity of the former sacred tree forest. The famous Alishan sacred tree was struck by lightning in 1956 and later partially collapsed from rain in 1997. To respect natural ecology, life, and visitor safety, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency laid the tree down in place in June 1998 so that visitors could view it. In 2006, “Alishan Xianglin Sacred Tree” was voted the second-generation sacred tree. Standing 45 meters tall with a trunk girth of 12.3 meters, it is a must-see landmark for visitors to Alishan. The recreation area is rich in ecology, with especially notable plants including rare ferns, Lycopodium somae, Alishan mahonia, and Taiwan phalaenopsis. Wildlife highlights include Taiwanese macaques, mikado pheasants, white-whiskered laughingthrushes, Alishan robins, and Alishan salamanders. Beyond the sacred trees, Alishan offers many other attractions: the forest train, the ethereal Sisters Ponds, the majestic sea of clouds, the beautiful Zhushan sunrise, Shouzhen Temple, the century-old Ciyun Temple, forestry heritage sites, and spring blossoms of cherry trees and rhododendrons. Alishan National Forest Recreation Area is an international-class destination that represents Taiwan’s mist forest zone and welcomes travelers from around the world to discover the rich and beautiful mountain landscape of Taiwan.