The Chiayi to Zhushan Section of the Alishan Forest Railway to Resume Service on December 23

By MOOK Travel & Life / Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

 

The Alishan Forest Railway is an international-class tourist attraction in Chiayi. Previously, only branch lines such as Zhushan, Zhaoping, and Shenmu had resumed service, but now the flatland section of the Alishan Forest Railway is back in operation too. The Chiayi Forest District Office under the Forestry Bureau will hold a celebration event at the Chiayi Depot Park on Sunday, December 23, 2012, marking both the 100th anniversary of the Alishan Forest Railway and the reopening of the flatland section between Chiayi and Zhushan.

The Chiayi Forest District Office has combined the reopening of the Alishan Forest Railway’s flatland section with the celebration of its 100th anniversary. According to the office, the Alishan Forest Railway is a national treasure-level railway in Taiwan and represents the development history of the forestry industry in the Chiayi region. The flatland section runs from Chiayi Station to Zhushan Station and is the most gently sloped part of the entire line. The route features beautiful scenery along the way — including alleys, residential houses, farmlands, hills, and small patches of forest — all filled with the unique charm of Chiayi. Each station along the line also has its own distinctive character, such as the Beimen Station, a Japanese-style train station built with Alishan red cypress wood; the Luma Chan Station, with its unique slanted triangular structure exuding an old-world charm; and the Zhushan Station, a wooden historic train station. Each station is worth stopping to appreciate.

 

On the morning of December 23, elders from the Tsou tribe will be invited to perform a blessing ceremony for the Alishan Forest Railway at the Chiayi Depot Park. There will also be performances by local performing arts groups in Chiayi and the Tsou Cultural Dance Troupe of Alishan. From December 23 to January 1, 2013, a 10-day exhibition will be held at various sites including the Chiayi Depot Park, Beimen Station, Luma Chan Station, Zhushan Station, Fenchihu Station, and Alishan Station. The exhibition will feature displays of historic trains, historic carriages, historical railway photographs, as well as introductions highlighting the World Heritage value of the Alishan Forest Railway.

 

 

● Read more: Alishan Hotel Renovation Completed, Opens to Guests on December 15

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