Alishan Forest Railway

Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office
Taiwan
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The Journey

Navigate from Chiayi Station to Alishan Station across a span of 71.4km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Sea-of-cloud vistas at Shizilu and Zhushan
  • Mist-filled cypress groves
  • Z-shaped switchbacks through bamboo forests
  • Century-old timber trestle bridges
  • Alpine sunrise over the Yushan mountains
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    5 hours

  • Distance

    71.4 km

  • Est. Price

    NT$600 Alishan Express (reserved seats); NT$350 local train; NT$150 Zhushan sunrise

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: Bento stop at Fenqihu (pay-on-board)

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

DL-36 diesel locomotive (built by Alishan Forestry Bureau, Taiwan)

Locomotive Weight

40 tons (DL-36 class)

Track Gauge

762 mm (2 ft 6 in) narrow gauge

Braking Technology

Air brakes with handbrake on rolling stock

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Spiral loops and Z-shaped switchbacks to gain elevation on steep mountain grades

  • Extreme weather: typhoons causing rockfalls and flooding

  • Limited width for passing sidings on single-track mountain sections

  • Steep gradients up to 6.25% on some sections

Maximum elevation

2,216 m (Shizilu Station)

Route distance

71.4 km

Maximum speed

40 km/h

Carriage type

Original 1924-1950s wooden carriages, restored

Year opened

1912 (original line)

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    5 hours

  • Distance

    71.4 km

  • Est. Price

    NT$600 Alishan Express (reserved seats); NT$350 local train; NT$150 Zhushan sunrise

Official Booking Provider