The Alishan Cherry Blossom Season Begins Today, with Vintage Steam Trains Also in Service to Carry Passengers

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

The Alishan Cherry Blossom Season officially began today (March 15). It is expected that the most popular pink-and-white Yoshino cherry blossoms will be in full bloom by March 20, followed by the Oshima cherry, and then the Penglai Elephant cherry by early April. To ease traffic during the cherry blossom viewing period, the Forestry Bureau has specially arranged shuttle buses outside the park on non-holidays along Highway 18 from kilometer 83 to 95, and eight shuttle buses on holidays (including four starting passenger pick-up as early as 4 a.m.). There are 10 temporary bus stops, operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with one bus departing in each direction every 20 minutes. Additionally, visitors using the shuttle bus on holidays can enjoy a 25% discount on park admission tickets.

The Chiayi Forest District Office stated that steam trains have always been very popular among the public. To serve visitors, during the cherry blossom season, steam trains with cypress wood carriages will be scheduled to run on the Zhiping Line every Thursday morning (specifically on March 22, 29, and April 5, 12). During the cherry blossom season, both the Sacred Tree Line and the Zhiping Line will increase their train frequency. Services will start earlier at 9 a.m. daily, with trains running every half hour, adding four extra runs on each line. On the Sacred Tree Line, additional services may be added flexibly between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. depending on visitor volume.

In addition, a small concert titled “Spring in Alishan – A Dialogue of Blossoms and Music” will be held near the cherry tree area close to the popular cherry blossom spot — the Alishan Work Station. From March 17 to April 1, performances will take place every Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. In case of rain, the event will be moved to Alishan Station. Musicians who are music majors from universities such as National Taichung University of Education, National Chiayi University, National Pingtung University of Education, and Nanhua University will perform using instruments such as the violin, flute, and clarinet. The repertoire includes pieces like “Walking Waltz,” “My Neighbor Totoro,” and “Beautiful Rosmary,” allowing visitors to enjoy not only the visual feast of cherry blossoms in Alishan but also an amazing auditory experience.

● Read more: Top Cherry Blossom Spots in Nantou – A Blend of Taiwanese and Japanese Flavors

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