Alishan Flower Season Begins – Cherry Blossom “King Tree” Blooms at 60%

▲ The earliest-blooming Yoshino cherry blossom “King Tree” in Alishan is about 60% in bloom. (Photo / Courtesy of the Chiayi Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau website)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Chiayi Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau held the opening ceremony of the Alishan Flower Season on the 10th at Zhoupingshan Park within Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, officially marking the start of the season. However, the main highlight of this flower season — the Yoshino cherry blossoms — are not yet in full bloom. The earliest-blooming Yoshino cherry blossom “King Tree” is only about 60% in bloom, with many areas still featuring buds. As for the classic scene of trains passing through seas of blossoms, visitors may have to wait until late March to catch a glimpse.

The Yoshino cherry blossom “King Tree” in front of the Alishan Work Station has always been the earliest to bloom. Yesterday, it was around 60% in bloom. However, most Yoshino cherry blossoms in other areas are still in bud, so visitors hoping to see the snow-white blossoms in full splendor may need to wait until late March.

In addition, the classic and dreamy sight of steam trains weaving through the floral canopy will be even more spectacular. During the flower season, the Chiayi Forest Management Office of the Forestry Bureau and the Alishan Forest Railway Office of the Taiwan Railways Administration will also deploy heritage-class steam locomotives pulling cypress wood carriages on the Zhouping Line. These special services will run on 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, and 4/9, with only three morning time slots available: 10:00, 10:30, and 11:00. Tickets can only be purchased on-site, so those interested should seize the opportunity.

To better serve flower-viewing tourists, the Chiayi Forest Management Office of the Forestry Bureau has also launched the “Alishan Cherry Blossom Fun – Mobile Guide APP,” allowing users to access popular flower-viewing routes, the latest activities, and blossom conditions in the Alishan area at any time. It also provides useful information such as temperature, sunrise times, and forest railway timetables to help plan your trip effectively.

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