Cherry Blossom Viewing / Alishan’s Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom – A New Highlight: The “Cherry Blossom Skyway”

Reported by Chen Tzu-yin / Taipei

▲Alishan Cherry Blossom Season has begun, featuring the “star” Yoshino cherry. (Photo /Alishan Flower Season Fan Page)

Alishan’s flower season officially kicked off this week, with cherry blossoms across the park now in full bloom, attracting large numbers of visitors who take advantage of the weekend to head up the mountain. A variety of cherry blossom types are blooming together, including Yoshino cherry, Edo higan, single-petal cherry, and Oshima cherry, among others.

The mountain forest is accompanied by the sound of melodious music. In addition to the original steam trains, the new cypress-scented train also carries the fragrance of cypress as it passes through the cherry groves, offering a true feast for the senses of sight, hearing, and smell.

Additionally, the newly completed “Cherry Blossom Skyway” in Zhapuding Park is the highest aerial walkway in all of Taiwan, standing about 40 meters high and stretching approximately 176.7 meters in length. Standing on it offers panoramic views of the surrounding forests and vast expanses of cherry trees, making it a new highlight within the Alishan scenic area.

Given that previous Alishan Cherry Blossom Seasons often saw overwhelming crowds, leading to traffic jams on Highway 18, the Chiayi Forest District Office under the Forestry Bureau and the Directorate General of Highways will implement traffic control and visitor volume restrictions during this year’s event. From 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends and holidays, as well as during the Qingming holiday period, cars will be required to park at the foot of the mountain unless holders possess a pass or are staying overnight. Instead, visitors must take public transport up the mountain. The Forest Management Office also provides free shuttle buses from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The cherry blossom blooming period lasts about one month. Fans of cherry blossoms should seize their free time to visit Alishan.

▲The Oshima cherry, a type of double-flowered cherry, features white petals with purplish-red streaks. (Photo /Alishan Flower Season Fan Page)

▲The Edo higan cherry, which has the most petals, forms fluffy pom-poms resembling cotton candy. (Photo /Alishan Flower Season Fan Page)