Heavy rain alert lifted; Alishan and Shei-Pa National Parks gradually reopen to visitors

▲ Shei-Pa National Park recently announced the closure of its park area. (Photo / from the Facebook page "Reaching New Heights: The Beauty of Shei-Pa," the same below.))

Reported by Chen Hanyin / Compiled from multiple sources

Persistent frontal systems brought torrential rains across Taiwan in recent days, causing landslides and falling rocks on many mountain roads. Fearing potential mudflows and flash floods that could endanger visitors’ safety, many recreational areas and national forest parks have issued closure notices. The Snow Viewing Recreation Area urgently announced a ban on visitors ascending the mountain on the 14th, while the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area also closed on the afternoon of the 17th.

As the rainfall subsides, the Shei-Pa National Park Administration has announced the reopening of park entry activities along the Xueshan Main-East Peak Route, Wuling Four Beauties Route (excluding Xiuba Route), and the Sacred Ridge O Route ecological protection area starting from midnight on the 20th. Other currently closed sections are still under assessment—for instance, the Zhijaiyang Route remains impassable due to high water levels in the Sijilan Riverbed, and the 1.8K section of the Daxiao Jian Route is temporarily off-limits due to a collapsed roadbed. Reopening times will be announced separately on the official website.

▲ Torrential rains caused multiple road collapses.

As for the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, park inspections and reopening preparations have been completed, and it reopened at 12 noon on the 18th. Electric sightseeing vehicles in Alishan have resumed operations, and the branch lines of the Alishan Forest Railway have also returned to normal service. However, the main line between Chiayi and Fenchihu will remain fully suspended until the 23rd due to improvement work on Bridge No. 7. Although public visits have resumed, the Chiayi Forest District Office reminds visitors that post-storm soil and rocks are highly saturated and prone to collapse, urging mountain-goers to stay alert and prioritize personal safety.

▲ Alishan Forest Railway branch lines have returned to normal service. (Photo / Provided by Taiwan Railways Administration)

Shei-Pa National Park Visitor Center
Address: No. 100, Shuiweiping, Fuxing Village, Dahhu Township, Miaoli County

Alishan National Scenic Area
Address: No. 59, Zhongzheng Village, Alishan Township, Chiayi County