The Classic Alishan Forest Railway of Taiwan

Part 2: A Journey Through Time

This section delves deeper into the captivating history and allure of the Alishan Forest Railway, a timeless treasure nestled within the heart of Taiwan.

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http://pantip.com/topic/35268330

When it comes to classic or romantic trains in Asia, many people think of Japan. Or, if you want to go further, the classic Trans-Siberian Railway. But if you want to experience another classic train route in East Asia that many people may not be interested in or even know exists, the answer is "yes". It's in Taiwan, and when you say "Alishan", many people think of the high mountains that stretch across central Taiwan, with images of the sun rising above the mist in the early morning, or the iconic red train of this line. But did you know that you can take this train from the city of Chiayi? So this review will take you on a train ride.

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On the morning of April 13, 2016.

Upon waking up at my accommodation, "CHIAYI PEPETI HOYSETL," I was greeted by the sight of Chiayi Railway Station directly in front of me. In other words, the railway station was located behind my hotel. It took me approximately 5-6 minutes to walk from the station to my accommodation, which was not a long distance. After waking up early, my friend and I prepared to head to Chiayi Railway Station to collect our tickets for the classic train line.

Front of Chiayi Railway Station

Upon arriving at Chiayi Railway Station, my friend and I went to the ticket counter to collect our Alishan Forest Railway tickets. We presented our reservation confirmation and passports to verify our identities as the individuals who made the booking. Before I delve into further details, let me first explain the process of booking tickets for this railway line. You can find the detailed steps I took to book tickets for this railway line by following this link.

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Booking Tickets for the Alishan Forest Railway

This section provides information on how to book tickets for the Alishan Forest Railway.

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Current Information on Alishan Forest Railway Operations

Please note: This translation is for informational purposes only and may not be entirely accurate. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to official sources.

1. Train ticket reservations for the Alishan Forest Railway can only be made 15 days prior to the travel date. For example, if you are traveling on April 13, 2016, you can make a reservation starting on March 30, 2016. Reservations cannot be made several months in advance.

2. The Alishan Forest Railway is currently operating between Chiayi Station and Fenqihu Station only. Further travel to Alishan is not possible at this time due to damage to the railway line between Fenqihu and Alishan caused by Typhoon Meranti several years ago. Repairs are currently underway.

3. The current one-way train ticket price is 240 TWD.

After collecting our train tickets, we had some time to spare, so my friend and I decided to grab a bite to eat outside the train station. The atmosphere in Chiayi City was similar to that of Taipei in the early morning, in that no shops were open. We ended up having to eat boxed train meals at Family Mart to keep ourselves going. After finishing our meal, we walked back to the train station.

In front of the train station, there is a building that houses buses to Alishan. If you don't want to take the Alishan train, you can take a bus from the front of the station. Buses run frequently, starting at 7:00 AM. However, the train only runs at 9:00 AM. You will also encounter taxi drivers who seem to have a sixth sense about tourists going to Alishan. They will ask you if you want to go to Alishan with them. There are many ways to get to Alishan, depending on your budget.

After that, walk into the Chiayi Railway Station. Once inside, follow the signs that say "ALISHAN LINE" as the tracks for this line are separate from the regular train tracks.

As we walked in, we saw the red train at the head of the line. My friend and I were surprised and said, "Hey, why is it here so early? It's only 8:30 AM." We ran to the train and asked the officer. The officer was very kind and said, "This is not the train you need to take. The train you need to take will arrive at 9:00 AM."

This sign indicates that the Alishan Forest Railway is one of the three most scenic mountain railways in the world. As avid travelers, we would be remiss to miss this opportunity.

This is the Jungshing Express 311 train from Chiayi to Dulishan. It departs at 8:20 am and arrives at its destination at 9:44 am. The train is quite crowded, even though it is not the Alishan line.

This wooden sign indicates the route from Jiayi Station to Beimen Station, with an elevation of 30 meters above sea level.

The train cars operating on the Alishan Forest Railway, including both the Jungshing Express 311 and the ALISHAN trains, share similar characteristics. The primary distinction lies in the seating arrangements. The Jungshing Express 311 features longitudinal seating, akin to the benches found in Thai songthaews. In contrast, the ALISHAN train offers a 2-1 seating configuration.

A must-do when riding this classic railway is to take a photo with the "ALISHAN FOREST RAILWAY" sign. It's a thrilling way to commemorate your journey on this historic line.

A deserted view of the Jieyi Railway Station on a weekday, looking back.

Are you ready for an adventure? The train is about to arrive!

The Alishan Forest Railway, which I had been eagerly anticipating, finally arrived. I was so overjoyed that I almost cried. Every time I visit Taiwan, I can't seem to escape trains. I've ridden the THSR, TRA (commuter trains), and even the MRT. I've now experienced them all!

The atmosphere inside the train carriage was calm, as it was a weekday and most passengers were elderly. I envy people in East Asia, such as China, Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong, where older adults enjoy traveling, hiking, and exploring nature. This active lifestyle might be one reason why they tend to be healthier and live longer.

Alishan Forest Railway

Departure Station: Chia-Yi Station

Destination: Alishan Station (currently Fenqihu Station)

Is there anything else I can help you with?

However, as mentioned earlier, Typhoon Morakot has previously devastated this route, making it only accessible by bus to Fenghsihu.

The Alishan Forest Railway climbs from an elevation of 30 meters in Chiayi City to 1403 meters at Fenqihu. If the railway were fully operational, it would continue to climb to Alishan Station at 2216 meters. From there, passengers would transfer to a train to Chushan Station (sunrise viewing point), the highest point on the line at 2451 meters.

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Before we delve into the journey, let's first familiarize ourselves with the Alishan Forest Railway. Otherwise, we'll be lost in conversation with others.

Translation:

The Alishan Forest Railway was constructed in 1912 to transport timber from the Alishan Mountains to Chiayi City. However, in 2009, Typhoon Morakot devastated Taiwan, causing significant damage to the railway. As a result, only a portion of the line is currently operational.

According to available data, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in China holds the title of the world's highest railway. The Alishan Forest Railway ranks 13th globally, but within Asia, it occupies the second position after the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

The image above depicts the Alishan Forest Railway, which begins in Chiayi City (Chiayi Railway Station) and terminates at Alishan Railway Station. The train ascends from a starting elevation of 30 meters above sea level in Chiayi City, gradually climbing through numerous winding curves and tunnels until it reaches Durhhshan. The railway continues to ascend to Alishan Station, reaching an altitude of 2216 meters. However, due to damage caused by Typhoon Morakot, the railway currently only operates as far as Fenchihu (elevation 1403 meters). To reach Alishan, passengers must transfer to a bus. Notably, the train's elevation changes result in a diverse range of forest types, from tropical forests to temperate rainforests.

Train schedule from Chiayi Railway Station to Fenqihu

Train Schedule from Fenqihu Station to Chiayi Station

Precautions

Translation:

Is there anything else I can help you with?

1. The Alishan Forest Railway operates between Chiayi and Fenchihu, with trains running in both directions: Chiayi to Fenchihu and Fenchihu to Chiayi.

Weekdays:

• Departure (Chiayi - Fenqihu): 9:00 AM
• Return (Fenqihu - Chiayi): 2:00 PM

Holidays (Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays): 2 additional trips are added, one departing from Chiayi to Fenqihu at 10:00 AM and one returning from Fenqihu to Chiayi at 3:00 PM.

This is a rough outline of the information. This is a train ticket from Chiayi to Fenchihu on the Alishan Forest Railway. (Why did I get this kind of ticket? I thought I would get a ticket with the Alishan train on it. I'm so disappointed.)

While sitting, I noticed another train standing alone.

The train departs from Chiayi Railway Station, passes Beimen Railway Station, and arrives at the striking green platform of Jhuci (Zhuqi) Station. This station experiences a significant influx of passengers. After boarding passengers at Jhuci Station, the train steadily ascends in elevation.

The train chugs through the city, past the park, and now climbs the mountain, revealing a breathtaking panorama that stretches as far as the eye can see.

The sky began to darken, signaling the imminent arrival of rain. Despite being safely inside the train, the sight of the tracks clinging to the cliff face was enough to send shivers down my spine.

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As the train moved, the staff explained the route in Chinese (I couldn't understand it at all, I don't know what they were saying) and played Alishan music. I only realized when the train stopped on the tracks. At first, I wondered why it had stopped, and I saw Taiwanese people standing around watching, so I thought they must have stopped to let us take pictures of the train as it turned a corner (my imagination was running wild). And it was true.

The train then arrived at its final destination, Fenchihu, from Chiayi. The train departed at 9:00 AM and arrived in Fenchihu at 11:20 AM, taking a total of approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. The arrival coincided with a heavy downpour.

Upon arriving at the train station, heavy rain poured down as if the sky were leaking. The mist cut through the mountains, creating a different kind of beauty.

Upon exiting the train, you will encounter a train depot resembling a museum, which is open to the public. The image above depicts a labyrinthine tunnel, a testament to the ingenuity of the ancients. This intricate tunnel network is located at Dulishan Station, at an altitude of 741 meters.

After walking around the warehouse, he went to the Fenshuihu Station to do something. That is, ?????

Translation:

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After entering the Fenchihu Railway Station, you will find the ticket office and the exit opposite it. Across from the ticket office, you will see a shop (pictured above). This shop sells boxed railway meals starting at 120 TWD. However, the main reason for visiting this shop is to purchase a commemorative railway meal box, as it's not every day you get to visit Taiwan. So, while you're here, why not pick one up?

This is the appearance of the train lunch box from this shop (left side). The right side is a bag containing the train lunch box set. It was almost bad to communicate with the seller, but luckily (again, there are only good things in Taiwan except for the rain), I met a Thai woman whose boyfriend is Taiwanese who came to buy the same as me. She helped me communicate, but I didn't want to bother her too much. But thank you very much. Let's talk about the price. As I said, the starting price for a train lunch box is 120 TWD, but if you want a lunch box set, the total price is 550 TWD. After I bought it, the owner, an aunt, explained the cloth bag in Chinese (um, I didn't study Chinese, aunt) and also taught me how to carry the lunch box bag.

The Fencihu Railway bento box is packed with vegetables, meat, and other ingredients, making it a hearty and satisfying meal. Let's take a closer look at the contents of this limited edition bento box.

A red cloth bag with a yellow train printed on it.

2. Stainless steel or aluminum lunch box with a train logo.

3. Red bag with spoon and chopsticks

Translation:

Is it expensive? Yes, it is. But it's not like we come here often, so it's better to keep it as a souvenir.

Upon purchase, the friendly owner will provide you with a cup to enjoy your drink inside the shop or, like me, you can take it with you to Alishan.

From the boxed lunch shop near the train station, we walked to Fenqihu Old Street. The atmosphere was similar to Jiufen in Taipei, but due to our limited time in Fenqihu, we had to catch a van to Alishan at 1:00 PM. Otherwise, it would be too late to enjoy the atmosphere. (I'll fix it later.)

The atmosphere was eerily quiet, perhaps due to the rain and the fact that it was a weekday, resulting in fewer people.

After capturing the essence of the Fenqihu Old Street, it was time to immortalize the Alishan Forest Railway. As luck would have it, the rain had stopped, and I was filled with joy.

The classic wooden sign of Fenqihu Railway Station, the last stop before transferring to Alishan.

Translation:

From Fenghsihu Station, walk straight into the warehouse. Once you reach the end of the warehouse, walk up the hill and turn left. As shown in the picture, you will find a pavilion with cars parked there.

Travel information from Chiayi to Fenqihu

1. Take the Alishan Forest Railway from Chiayi to Fenchihu for TWD 240 one way (details above).

Translation:

2. The bus ticket sales point for Alishan or Fenchihu is located in front of Chiayi Railway Station.

There are several ways to travel to Alishan.

1. The first train from Chiayi THSR Station to Alishan (Line A) departs at 10:10 AM.

Data http://www.ali-nsa.net/Event/2013_AliTravel/indexEn.aspx

2. From TRA Chiayi Station to Alishan, the first round is 06:10 (Line B)

Information http://www.ali-nsa.net/Event/2013_AliTravel/indexEn.aspx

3. From Fenqihu to Alishan (Line B1)

AliTravel 2013

For the B1 route, please note that there is only one train departing from Fenchihu to Alishan on weekdays, at 13:00 and 14:40. Most passengers take the 13:00 train to arrive at Alishan before the Alishan Railway Station closes and purchase tickets for the sunset view in advance.

Another point to note is that if there are few direct buses from Fenchihu to Alishan, another option is to take a bus from Fenchihu to Shizhao, where there are more frequent buses. From there, you can take bus A or B. However, it is important to plan your trip carefully. In addition to buses, there are also vans available, but they are more expensive. For example, my friend and I took a van to Alishan with a Malaysian couple. The four of us were charged 250 TWD each. This is another option, but if I hadn't taken the van, I wouldn't have experienced the kindness of the Malaysians. During the van ride, the Malaysians shared their snacks with us, so we also shared the snacks we bought from Chiayi with them. My trip to Taiwan was full of good experiences, except for the rain. 555

We took a van to Alishan. The road was winding, so my friends, a Malaysian couple, and I decided to take a nap. By the way, if you take a van to Alishan, you can leave your luggage with the driver when you arrive at Fenchihu. Also, arrive before 1:00 PM. The driver will tell you to arrive around 12:40 PM to travel to Alishan so that you can walk around Fenchihu comfortably. Otherwise, you might get annoyed carrying your luggage.

Conclusion

- The Alishan Forest Railway is currently operating on only two-thirds of its route, from Chiayi to Fenqihu.

Translation:

• To reach Alishan, one must take a bus or rent a van.

Translation:

The railway line will pass through towns, communities, farms, and gradually climb into a forest with diverse geographical features (requiring knowledge of geography, it seems).

- As the train runs through the mountains, the scenery on both sides is dominated by trees. However, there are some sections where the view is quite breathtaking, as the train tracks run along steep cliffs. While it may not be scary, it is certainly exciting! 555

• If you've been to Taiwan and Alishan, don't forget to take this train ride. It's a feeling. 555

This concludes the review of the Alishan Forest Railway. In the next episode, we will explore Alishan in the mist.

Please elaborate further.

The price of the Alishan Forest Railway from Chiayi to Fenqihu has increased from 240 TWD to 384 TWD. The price change took effect on May 1, 2016. When I visited, the price was still 240 TWD. I checked the price again and confirmed the increase as shown in the image above.