Home › Travel › The Alishan Flower Season Kicks Off: 3 R...

The Alishan Flower Season Kicks Off: 3 Recommended Routes to Admire Cherry Blossoms Across the Mountain

Published: 2026-09-24 👁 100 views

Last updated 2026-09-24 — In recent years, climate change has led to an earlier flowering season. This year, the Alishan Flower Season will run from March 10 to April 10, starting five days earlier than usual. Many flowers within Alishan National Forest Recreation Area have already begun to bloom quietly. ...

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Reported by Chen Guanxin

In recent years, climate change has led to an earlier flowering season. This year, the Alishan Flower Season will run from March 10 to April 10, starting five days earlier than usual. Many flowers within Alishan National Forest Recreation Area have already begun to bloom quietly. Mountain cherry blossoms, Ryukyu mountain cherry blossoms, calla lilies, daisies, and golden rhododendrons are all vying for attention. To serve early spring visitors coming up the mountain to admire the flowers, the Chiayi Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau began offering free shuttle bus services outside the recreation area starting March 8, providing parking and transfer services for flower-viewing tourists.

The Alishan Flower Season will begin on March 10. (Photo provided by Chiayi Forest District Office, Forestry Bureau)

Every year between March and April, the world-renowned “Alishan Flower Season” attracts many visitors on a pilgrimage. The cherry blossoms in Alishan bloom in a sequence: first come the Beni-shidare, Ryukyu mountain cherry, Mikurajima cherry, and Thousand Island cherry, then the star of the season—pink-and-white Somei-yoshino cherry blossoms—takes center stage. The single-petal Oshima cherry marks the end of the single-flower phase, and by the end of March, double-petal cherry varieties make their appearance, including weeping cherry, Takasago cherry, Benzaiten cherry, Kanzan cherry, Beni-higan, Kirin cherry, Goshiki cherry, Ichihatsu cherry, Tulipa, and Wanlixiang, all competing in a dazzling display. To catch the fleeting steps of spring, head to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area to admire its diverse colors and shapes of cherry blossoms.

The vibrant beauty of cherry blossoms makes Alishan a popular destination for cherry blossom viewing. (Photo provided by Chiayi Forest District Office, Forestry Bureau)

In addition, the Chiayi Forest District Office also recommends three cherry blossom viewing routes, allowing netizens to fully enjoy the cherry blossom scenery in Alishan.

Relaxed Family Stroll

Recreation area entrance (Kirin cherry, Oshima cherry) → First Control Post (Beni-shidare, mountain cherry) → Alishan Hotel area (Somei-yoshino cherry) → Alishan Work Station (Beni-shidare, Ryukyu mountain cherry, Thousand Island cherry, Oshima cherry, Wanlixiang, weeping cherry) → Heading to the Sangen Tree Cherry Blossom Trail (Somei-yoshino cherry, Rhododendron morii) → Ciyun Temple (Taiwan lady’s slipper orchid). Estimated one-way walking time is about 1.5 hours; you can take the park shuttle bus and get off at Xianglin Bridge Station.

Lively Health Walk

Recreation area entrance (Kirin cherry, Oshima cherry) → First Control Post (Beni-shidare, mountain cherry) → Alishan Hotel outdoor garden café skywalk (Somei-yoshino cherry, pieris) → Zhiping Park (Beni-shidare, crabapple, Somei-yoshino cherry) → Alishan Police Station (Somei-yoshino cherry, calla lily, Takasago cherry) → Sakura Path (strolling above the cherry grove) - Sisters Ponds → Next to Shouzhen Temple (Ryukyu mountain cherry, Beni-shidare). Estimated one-way walking time is about 2.5 hours; you can take the park shuttle bus and get off at Zhiping Station.

Two-Day-One-Night Full Cherry Blossom Tour

Day 1: Recreation area entrance (Kirin cherry, Oshima cherry) → First Control Post (Beni-shidare, mountain cherry) → Alishan Hotel area (Somei-yoshino cherry) → Alishan Work Station (Beni-shidare, Ryukyu mountain cherry, Thousand Island cherry, Oshima cherry, Wanlixiang, weeping cherry) → Heading to the Sangen Tree Cherry Blossom Trail (Somei-yoshino cherry, Rhododendron morii) → Ciyun Temple (Taiwan lady’s slipper orchid).

Day 2: Zhushan → Alpine Botanical Garden (Beni-shidare, mountain cherry, Rhododendron morii, wisteria) → Ogasawara Observation Platform (chance to see the Mikado pheasant!) → Alishan Guest House (Taiwan lady’s slipper orchid, red leaves, Takasago, Wanlixiang, Goshiki) → Zhiping Park (Beni-shidare, crabapple, Somei-yoshino cherry) → Alishan Police Station (Somei-yoshino cherry, calla lily, Takasago cherry) → Sakura Path (strolling above the cherry grove) → Sisters Ponds → Next to Shouzhen Temple (Ryukyu mountain cherry, Beni-shidare). You can also combine your visit with the Alishan Forest Railway and Alishan park shuttle buses.

Cherry blossom conditions and blooming times are greatly affected by weather factors. Alishan National Forest Recreation Area is equipped with “Taiwan Live Cam” surveillance cameras that can monitor the condition of the Cherry King in front of the Alishan Work Station and the flowers in Zhiping Park at any time. Netizens can check real-time flower conditions on the Taiwan Live Cam website.

● Related Reading:

Wuling Cherry Blossom Season Begins with Daily Entry Limit of 6,000 People

www.mook.com.tw/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=9603

Following the recommended routes by the Chiayi Forest District Office allows you to admire more than ten varieties of cherry blossoms across Alishan. (Photo provided by Chiayi Forest District Office, Forestry Bureau)

Share

This article is published by HowToTrip. Sharing and reposting are welcome — please credit the source.
Article URL: https://www.howtotrip.net/views-38727

← Previous

Best Honeymoon Hotels in the Maldives: Indulge in the Beautiful Pearls Scattered Across the Indian Ocean

Next →