By Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported
This year’s Alishan Forest Recreation Area cherry blossom season concluded on the 15th. During the one-month floral period, a remarkable total of 400,013 visitors came, marking nearly a 50% rise from the same period last year. The average daily number of visitors exceeded 12,500, setting a new five-year high for the Alishan Forest Recreation Area’s cherry blossom season.
Pink Yoshino cherry blossoms filled the sky, adding a romantic touch to the Alishan floral season. (Photo provided by Chiayi Forest District Office)
As Taiwan’s top destination for cherry blossom viewing, Alishan — along with its breathtaking sunrise views and the classic charm of Fenchihu Old Street — attracts large numbers of visitors every year from mid-March to mid-April. Over the past five years, the number of visitors to the Alishan cherry blossom season has shown significant annual growth, except for a dip in the year following Typhoon Morakot. This year, the number surpassed 400,000. Liao Yiguang, director of the Chiayi Forest District Office, stated that this year’s Alishan cherry blossom season rode on the momentum of the Wuling Farm cherry blossom boom. Additionally, the number of mainland Chinese visitors during the season reached 169,500, contributing to a new daily average visitor high.
The iconic Yoshino cherry — a key highlight of the Alishan floral season — begins to bloom abundantly in late March, making it the most numerous cherry variety in the recreation area. (Photo provided by Chiayi Forest District Office)
During this year’s cherry blossom season, the park offered a range of services including shuttle buses, forest railway rides, guided tours at the visitor center, and free shuttle services outside the park. Next year, the cherry blossom season will continue to increase staffing, add more ticket windows, and maintain off-site shuttle bus services to alleviate the large volume of visitors.
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