[Taiwan Travel]Whether by car or self-drive, both are fun — the ultimate Ali Mountain transportation guide!

Tripbaa Funbaa!, Asia's Free Travel Expert

Once built to transport timber, the Ali Mountain Mini Train — the main line of the Forest Railway — has now become a world-renowned and highly entertaining sightseeing railway. Riding the Ali Mountain Mini Train allows you to enjoy a variety of breathtaking views, from sunrises and sea of clouds to sunset glow, sacred trees, and cherry blossom season. All of these sights can be admired in Ali Mountain, and none should be missed. Here are four types of railways you can take to enjoy them.

Ali Mountain Mini Train. (Photo / Tripbaa Funbaa!, Asia's Free Travel Expert)

Fenchihu Old Street is not only the highest-altitude old street, but is also known as the “Jiufen of Southern Taiwan.” It features charming, classic streetscapes along with vintage arts, specialty goods, and local delicacies. The must-try is the Fenchihu boxed lunch. Don't miss out if you’re taking the Ali Mountain Mini Train. If you have time, consider a one-day trip to Ali Mountain and Fenchihu!

Ali Mountain – Fenchihu. (Photo / Tripbaa Funbaa!, Asia's Free Travel Expert)

■ Ticket Price: NT$384.
■ Ticket Purchase Info: Available 15 days in advance at the Ali Mountain Forest Railway, or 12 days in advance at Chiayi Station, Beimen Station, Fenchihu Station, and Ali Mountain Station.
■ Additional Info: You can travel as far as Jiaoluo Station. There’s also the Zhongxing Train that runs from Chiayi Railway Station to Fenchihu Station.

For actual schedules, please refer to the official Railway Bureau website.

For an easy yet memorable experience on the Ali Mountain Mini Train, just 30 minutes will take you to Zhushan to watch the sunrise on the so-called “Sun Viewing Train.”

■ Ticket Price: One-way full fare NT$150 (half fare NT$75)
■ Ticket Purchase Info: Purchase on-site at Chiayi Station, Beimen Station, Fenchihu Station, or Ali Mountain Station between 1:00 PM–4:30 PM the day before.
■ Notes: Seats cannot be reserved, and there is a limit on the number of passengers: 700 people on weekdays / 1,000 people on holidays. Only operates in the morning (for sunrise viewing).

Ali Mountain Mini Train. (Photo / Tripbaa Funbaa!, Asia's Free Travel Expert)

With just a 6-minute ride, the shortest Ali Mountain Mini Train route takes you past attractions such as Zhaping Park and Sister Ponds. During cherry blossom season, the view of blossoms alongside the train draws crowds and shutterbugs to Zhaping Station. The Zhaping Line is perfect as part of a park tour route.

Ali Mountain Mini Train – Zhaping Station / (Photo / Tripbaa Funbaa!, Asia's Free Travel Expert)

■ Train Frequency: A train departs every 30 minutes.
■ Ticket Price: One-way full fare NT$100, half fare NT$50.
■ Ticket Purchase Info: Purchase on-site at Ali Mountain Station.

Ali Mountain Mini Train – Zhaping Station / (Photo / Tripbaa Funbaa!, Asia's Free Travel Expert)

The Sacred Tree Line, with trains departing every 30 minutes, is the most popular Ali Mountain Mini Train route. Facilities at the Sacred Tree Station are all made of wood, and you’ll be surrounded by giant trees, allowing you to fully enjoy the natural ambiance of the forest. The Sacred Tree Line is ideal as part of a park tour.

■ Ticket Price: One-way full fare NT$100, half fare NT$50.
■ Ticket Purchase Info: Purchase on-site at Ali Mountain Station.

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Since there is no train service between Fenchihu and Ali Mountain Station, you’ll need to take a bus for that segment. If you want to go directly from Chiayi Railway Station to Ali Mountain, you can take the “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle” sightseeing bus. If you don’t want to worry about arranging Ali Mountain transportation, simply head to Chiayi Railway Station or High-Speed Rail Station to enjoy the guided Ali Mountain bus tour route.

When taking this Ali Mountain transport option, you’ll pass through Xidi, Mengfei Valley, Wufeng, Shouzhen, and Zhenzhu Pond, among other spots. Each offers different forest trails for exploration. Even in summer, you can admire diverse natural ecosystems and terrain landscapes ranging from 1,000m to 2,500m in altitude.

■ Ticket Price: One-way NT$278.
■ Payment methods: EasyCard, Yoyo Card, cash.
■ Ticket information: Tickets purchased on the bus.
■ Notes: *Denotes services that pass through Fenchihu.

■ Fare: One-way NT$251.
■ Payment methods: EasyCard, Yoyo Card, cash.
■ Ticket information: On-site: Chiayi County Bus Office Daya Station, 7-11 in Alishan Recreation Area, on the bus. Pre-sale: FamilyMart FamiPort.
■ More information: For details, please visit the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle official website.

■ Little extra tip: If you want to take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle bus in Shizhao, you can purchase your ticket at the Shizhao eatery next to Hi-Life. This saves you the hassle of preparing change for the bus ride.

If you want to take a bus to Alishan but prefer not to take a train or high-speed rail to Chiayi Station on your own, you can opt for a sightseeing bus. Departing from Taichung to Alishan, you’ll enjoy a scenic journey surrounded by sea of clouds. You can also stop by Sun Moon Lake along the way to take in two of Taiwan’s most famous sights in one trip, then relax at Dongpu Hot Springs. This is the most convenient and enjoyable way to plan your trip to Alishan.

If you’re traveling from cities or counties other than Chiayi, don’t worry too much about arranging transport to Alishan. Even if you’re departing from Kaohsiung or Tainan, you can still easily take a sightseeing bus to Fenchihu, enjoy local specialties and Fenchihu boxed meals, and have a full day exploring Alishan.

Of course, if you’d like to enjoy the scenery along the way without the time constraints of trains or tour buses, and without the fatigue of driving, the most relaxing way to get to Alishan is by booking a private car.

Compared to train fares, which are relatively higher, one advantage is that you don’t need to transfer to a bus at Fenchihu Station. Compared to the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle buses, the fare may be higher, but you have more flexible timing, fewer stops for quicker travel, and can arrange your itinerary more freely. It can be said to be one of the best value-for-money options for getting to Alishan.

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If you want the freedom to manage your own schedule and enjoy a carefree and happy trip planning experience, then self-driving is the way to go. Here we recommend three Alishan travel routes — no matter whether you’re coming from the north or the south, you can easily drive to Alishan and enjoy your own road trip adventure.

Route 1:Adults dip their fingers in realgar wine and draw a “king” character on the child’s forehead.

Route 2:National Freeway 3 → Provincial Highway 3 → Zhushan Interchange → Route 166 (Zhushan, Taixing, RuiLi)

Route 3:National Freeway 1 → Chiayi System Interchange → Freeway 82 → National Freeway 3 → Zhongpu Interchange → Provincial Highway 18

After seeing these four ways to get to Alishan, are you feeling tempted? Take action now, and use simple transportation to admire the majestic scenery of Alishan.

Authorized reprint from Tripbaa Original source: Alishan Transport: A Complete Guide on How to Get There – A Lazy Person’s Guide to Small Trains, Tour Buses & Self-Drive

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