Alishan Forest Railway

Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office (AFRCHO), Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Executive Yuan
Taiwan
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The Journey

Navigate from Chiayi Station (TRA, Chiayi City, 23.4775°N 120.4419°E) to Alishan Station (Alishan Township, Chiayi County, 23.5105°N 120.8039°E) across a span of 71.4km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Sea-of-cloud vistas at Shizilu and Zhushan observation platform
  • Mist-filled ancient cypress groves of the Alishan Recreation Area
  • Z-shaped switchbacks through bamboo forests between Zhuqi and Fenqihu
  • Century-old Japanese-era timber trestle bridges (multiple heritage structures)
  • Sunrise over Yushan (Jade Mountain, 3,952 m) from the Zhushan observation platform
  • The Sacred Tree (estimated 2,300+ years old, 50 m tall) within the Alishan Recreation Area
  • Fenqihu bento lunch box tradition (since 1970s — a famous station cuisine)
  • Three Sisters Mountain peaks visible on clear days from Erwanping
  • Cherry blossom tunnel along the upper line (March 20 – April 10 peak)
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    4.5 hours

  • Distance

    71.4 km

  • Est. Price

    NT$600 Alishan Express full-fare Chiayi–Alishan; NT$350 local train; NT$150 Zhushan sunrise; NT$100 Zhaoping / Sacred Tree branch lines within recreation area

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: Bento stop at Fenqihu (pay-on-board, famous station lunch box since 1970s)

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

DL-36 series diesel locomotive (built by Taiwan Forestry Bureau / AFRCHO; some heritage Shay geared steam locomotives, including SHA-11, also preserved for special workings)

Locomotive Weight

40 tons (DL-36 class); SHA-11 Shay geared steam approximately 35 tons

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 (June–September) causing rockfalls and landslides

  • Century-old timber trestle bridges requiring ongoing maintenance and replacement

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

  • Steep gradients up to 6.25% on some sections

  • 15-year full-line reconstruction after 921 Earthquake (1999) and Typhoon Morakot (2009) damage — officially reopened 1 July 2024

  • Mianyue Line upper branch indefinitely suspended due to 921 Earthquake and typhoon damage

  • Scarcity of original-spec 762 mm gauge replacement parts (spokes and rolling-stock components custom-fabricated by AFRCHO)

Maximum elevation

2,216 m (Alishan Station)

Route distance

71.4 km

Maximum speed

40 km/h

Carriage type

Original 1924–1950s wooden-bodied coaches restored; some later steel-bodied DL-36-hauled coaches

Year opened

1912 (first section Chiayi–Beimen–Zhuqi–Linjia); 1924 (full line to Alishan); 1 July 2024 (post-typhoon full reopening)

Electrification

None — fully diesel-hauled (DL-36 series; SHA-11 Shay geared steam for special workings)

Operator

Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office (AFRCHO), Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Ministry of Agriculture

Cultural heritage status

Taiwan Cultural Heritage Site (designated 2018)

World context

One of only three 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge forest-railway systems in the world still in regular passenger service

Average gradient

Up to 6.25% on switchback sections

Engineering features

Spiral loops, Z-shaped switchbacks, century-old timber trestle bridges

Booking window

14 days in advance, 06:00–24:00 Taiwan time

2026 fares

NT$600 Alishan Express reserved; NT$350 local train; NT$150 Zhushan sunrise; NT$100 Zhaoping/Sacred Tree branch lines

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    4.5 hours

  • Distance

    71.4 km

  • Est. Price

    NT$600 Alishan Express full-fare Chiayi–Alishan; NT$350 local train; NT$150 Zhushan sunrise; NT$100 Zhaoping / Sacred Tree branch lines within recreation area

Official Booking Provider