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7 Ways to Get to Alishan! Besides the Alishan Shuttle, There's 'Something' for Sneaky Transportation

Travel guide in english
  1. Common Alishan Transportation Options
  2. Common Transportation Methods in Alishan
  3. Where are the Alishan Shuttle Bus stops? How much does it cost?
  4. About Alishan Transportation: Questions from PTT Users
  5. Alishan Transportation Companion - Tripool, Saving Time and Effort on Your Journey

As one of Taiwan's Eight Wonders, the sea of clouds at Alishan has always been a popular destination for both domestic and international travelers. The choice of Alishan transportation has also become a necessary task for visitors before their trip.

Some people may ask, "Is it easy to drive to Alishan? How long does it take to drive up to Alishan?" Apart from driving on your own, what other transportation options are available for Alishan?

Due to Alishan's altitude of over 2,000 meters, the mountain roads leading up to it are steep and winding, making the driving difficulty quite high. It takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours to drive from Chiayi City to Alishan. However, during holidays or unfavorable road conditions, it may take longer.

In addition to driving on your own, Taiwan Tour Bus provides public transportation options for the Alishan route. You can also choose to ride the century-old Alishan Forest Railway. If you are unfamiliar with the road conditions or prefer not to use public transportation in Alishan, chartering a vehicle for your trip is also a good option.

Alishan Transportation | Charter Service

Before going on a trip, do you ever feel the need to do a lot of research and worry about how to take the high-speed rail, Taiwan Railways, or buses for transfers? If you have such concerns, then Tripool's charter service is the best choice for you! Whether you need a one-way or round-trip transfer, Tripool can arrange it for you. Simply make an easy reservation on the Tripool official website, and a professional driver will pick you up at your doorstep. You can depart with peace of mind and fully enjoy your journey!

Tripool's charter service is also highly suitable for the following situations:

As one of Taiwan's Eight Scenic Spots, the sea of clouds at Alishan has always been a popular destination for both domestic and international travelers. The choice of transportation to Alishan has also become an essential part of travelers' preparations.

Some people may ask: "Is it easy to drive to Alishan? How long does it take to drive to Alishan?" Besides driving on your own, what other transportation options are available for traveling to Alishan?

Due to Alishan's altitude of over 2,000 meters, the road up the mountain is steep and winding, making it quite challenging to drive. It takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to drive from Chiayi City to Alishan, but during holidays or unfavorable road conditions, it may take longer.

In addition to self-driving, Taiwan Tripool offers public transportation options for the Alishan route. You can also choose to take the century-old Alishan Forest Railway. If you are unfamiliar with the road conditions or prefer not to take public transportation in Alishan, hiring a car for your trip is also a good choice.

Alishan Transportation | Car Rental

Before going on a trip, do you feel the need to do a lot of research and worry about how to take the high-speed rail, Taiwan Railways, or bus transfers? If you have these concerns, then Tripool's car rental service will be your best choice! Whether you want a one-way or round-trip transfer, Tripool can arrange it for you. Just make an easy reservation on the Tripool official website, and a professional driver will pick you up at your doorstep. You just need to relax and enjoy the journey!
Tripool's car rental service is also very suitable for the following situations:

  • First-time travelers to Alishan who are unfamiliar with the route
  • Travelers who are afraid of long drives on Alishan mountain roads and easily feel fatigued
  • Travelers accompanied by elderly or young children
  • Travelers who want to reduce the time spent looking for parking spaces during peak seasons (e.g., cherry blossom season) in Alishan

Alishan Transportation Methods | Taiwan Trip

Taiwan Trip offers an Alishan Shuttle Bus (Alishan Transportation Bus) route, mainly along Provincial Highway 18, commonly known as the Alishan Highway. This road leads all the way up, with beautiful scenery along the way, allowing you to appreciate the natural landscapes and ecological beauty that will leave you amazed.

Alishan-A Line (Departing from High-Speed Rail)

Ticket price: Calculated by mileage, one-way fare is 278 yuan

Boarding locations:

  • High-Speed Rail Chiayi Station Exit 2 → BRT Express Bus → Chiayi Railway Station → Taiwan Trip Alishan B Line
  • High-Speed Rail Chiayi Station Exit 2 Platform 7 → Taiwan Trip Alishan A Line

Timetable: Please refer to the Alishan-A Line (Departing from High-Speed Rail) Timetable

Alishan-B Line (Departing from Taiwan Railways)

Ticket price: Calculated by mileage, one-way fare is 251 yuan

Boarding location: Chiayi Railway Station → Taiwan Trip Alishan B Line

Timetable: Please refer to the Alishan-B Line (Departing from Taiwan Railways) Timetable

Reminder: Currently, advance seat reservation is available for the Alishan-B Line (Taiwan Railways Chiayi Station to Alishan or Alishan to Taiwan Railways Chiayi Station) by following these methods:

  • On-site seat reservation: Daya Station of Chiayi County Bus (No. 635, Section 2, Daya Road, Chiayi City) or 7-Eleven convenience store at Alishan Forest Recreation Area
  • Presale ticket: FamiPort at FamilyMart convenience stores. FamilyMart's advance tickets can be booked from one month to midnight before the day of departure! Passengers are requested to board according to the ticket time and interval. For ticket refunds, please follow the instructions and address on the ticket. Chiayi County Bus service window inquiry hotline: 05-2788177

(Source: Taiwan Trip official website)

Alishan Transportation | High-Speed Rail

For travelers departing from other cities or counties, you can take the high-speed rail to Chiayi Station and then transfer to Taiwan Trip's Alishan Line:

  • High-Speed Rail Chiayi Station Exit 2 → BRT Express Bus → Chiayi Railway Station → Taiwan Trip Alishan B Line
  • High-Speed Rail Chiayi Station Exit 2 Platform 7 → Taiwan Trip Alishan A Line

Timetable: Please refer to the Alishan-A Line (Departing from High-Speed Rail) Timetable, Alishan-B Line (Departing from Taiwan Railways) Timetable, and High-Speed Rail Timetable

Alishan Transportation | Train

One of the most famous attractions in Alishan is the Alishan Forest Railway left over from the Japanese era. It is a special forest railway used for timber transportation! However, if you want to take this train, there are some important things to note!

Since Alishan is located at a high altitude, the Alishan Forest Railway can be divided into two sections: the flatland and the mountainous area. Moreover, it spans four climate zones: hot, warm, temperate, and cold, so the scenery in each climate zone is different! In addition, this train has a history of over a hundred years and is susceptible to weather conditions. If you want to take the small train, be sure to check if it is in operation and some routes can be reserved in advance.

In order to help everyone better understand the information about the Alishan Forest Railway, we have specially compiled some relevant data. We hope it can make it more convenient for you to plan your trip!

Image source: Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Management Office

Alishan Forest Railway

Here are the routes of the Alishan Forest Railway:

Main Line: Chiayi ⇆ Shizi Road
  • Stops: Beimen, Lumang (Luma Production), Zhuqi, Zhangnaoliao, Duli, Liyuanliao, Jiaoliping, Shuishe Liao, Fenqihu, and Duolin.
  • Currently, the railway only operates up to Shizi Road Station. If you want to continue to the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, you can get off at Fenqihu Station or Shizi Road Station and walk to the "Shizi Village" bus stop to take the Chiayi County bus (7322, 7329, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle) to Alishan.
  • Timetable: Main Line Timetable, Bus 7322 Chiayi ⇌ Alishan, Bus 7329 High-Speed Rail Chiayi Station ⇌ Alishan
Branch Lines: (Inside Alishan National Forest Recreation Area)
  • Zhushan Line: The sunrise time varies every day throughout the year. The Alishan Station adjusts its schedule based on the daily sunrise time and the number of passengers. To take the sunrise-viewing train, please purchase tickets in advance between 13:00 and 16:00 on the previous day at the 2F ticket counters of the Alishan Forest Railway stations in Chiayi, Beimen, Fenqihu, and Alishan. (It takes about a 20-minute walk to reach the Zhushan Sunrise Platform)
  • Shenmu Line: Please refer to the timetable for Zhaoping Station, and after getting off, walk to the Shuishan Line.
  • Zhaoping Line: Please refer to the timetable for Zhaoping Station, and after getting off, walk to the Shuishan Line.
  • Shuishan Line: Please refer to the timetable for Zhaoping Station, and after getting off, walk to the Shuishan Line.
  • Mianyue Line: Currently out of service and prohibited from access due to a disrupted route.

Timetable: Branch Lines Timetable

Ticket Booking Instructions: Due to the high popularity and limited availability of the Alishan Forest Railway, it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance. Please refer to: Online Booking, Ticketing Instructions

Data source: Alishan National Scenic Area Administration

Alishan Transportation | National Highway Bus

For travelers from other counties and cities: You can make use of the National Highway Bus service. After arriving at Chiayi High-Speed Rail Station or Chiayi Train Station, you can transfer to the Alishan Line introduced in detail above to go up the mountain.

For Taipei travelers: You can choose to take the "Guoguang Bus 1835 Line" directly from Taipei Bus Station to Alishan. From March to October, the departure time from Taipei Bus Station is 20:45 on Fridays, and from November to February, the departure time is 21:45 on Fridays.

  • Travel time: Approximately 6 hours and 10 minutes.
  • Fare: Full fare 690 NTD / Half fare 315 NTD / Round trip 1330 NTD
  • Timetable: Refer to Guoguang Bus 1835 Line Timetable and Fare
  • Friday evenings are the most suitable for direct departure from Taipei. If you want to spend the weekend in Alishan and catch the sunrise, taking the Guoguang Bus will be another cost-saving option for you.

Alishan Transportation | Self-Driving

If you are traveling by car, please pay special attention. Due to the high terrain of Alishan Forest Recreation Area, heavy fog often occurs on the roads in the afternoon. It is recommended to go up the mountain in the morning and be cautious of your speed. Do not violate traffic rules, and it is safer to avoid overtaking or changing lanes. Here are three driving routes and some reminders:

  • Route 1: National Highway 3 ➜ Provincial Highway 3 ➜ Meishan Interchange (279K) ➜ County Road 162 (Meishan, Ruili, Ruifeng, Taihe area)
  • Route 2: National Highway 3 ➜ Provincial Highway 3 ➜ Zhuzi Interchange (290K) ➜ County Road 166 (Zhuzi, Taixing, Ruili)
  • Restrooms: There are scenic rest areas near 56K and 66K on the Alishan Highway, but there are no toilets. However, there is a restroom located next to Shizhao Daming Auto Repair Shop (No. 21, Alishan Highway, Zhuzi Township, Chiayi County).
  • Gas Stations: Alishan National Scenic Area Highway 18 Gas Station
  • Alternative Road (to be used when the main roads are blocked, but it is a single-lane road suitable for small cars):
  • Crossroad-Shizhao: There is an industrial road at the crossroad that leads to Tefuye and then to Shizhao. The road conditions are good, but it is narrow and not suitable for frequent passing of vehicles. Beware of falling rocks.
  • Shizhao-Chukou: At Shizhao, you can take Dahua Highway to Fanzhulu and then reach Chukou. There is also a road leading to Gongtian between Loutou and Xiding, which connects to the Alishan Highway near Chukou.
  • For road closure information, you can contact the Alishan Works Section of the Fifth District Engineering Office of the Directorate General of Highways at 05-2592427, or visit the Website of the Fifth District Maintenance Engineering Office of the Directorate General of Highways.
  • Route 3: National Highway 1 ➜ Jiayi System Interchange (272K) ➜ Route 82 Expressway ➜ National Highway 3 ➜ Zhongpu Interchange (297K) ➜ Provincial Highway 18 (Source: Alishan National Scenic Area Administration)

The Alishan Shuttle Bus is currently provided on a non-regular basis and is usually available during specific festivals or holidays to alleviate congestion within the park.

For example, during the 10-day Chinese New Year holiday in 2023, the park provided free Alishan Shuttle Bus services as an alternative mode of transportation for visitors. Therefore, I recommend checking the Alishan National Scenic Area Administration - Latest News to see if there are any related free shuttle bus information if you plan to visit Alishan during consecutive holidays.

Next, I would like to discuss the issue of Alishan shuttle services with everyone here! In addition to previously explaining various modes of transportation, I have also collected some of the most frequently asked questions about Alishan transportation on the PTT forum. Let me answer them one by one for you!

Q1: Where can I find late-night Alishan shuttle services?

A: Generally, public transportation operates during specific hours. In addition to the previously mentioned Kuo-Kuang Bus service from Taipei Bus Station to Alishan on Friday evenings, there is also the option of charter services.

If you need to arrange for a late-night shuttle to Alishan, you can make a reservation in advance on the Tripool official website. Tripool provides shuttle services every day of the year, allowing you to book transportation for any day.

Q2: What are the transportation options from Fenqihu to Alishan?

A: The common transportation options are as follows:

Taiwan Good Travel

Q3: How long does it take to travel from Chiayi Train Station to Alishan?

A: The distance from Chiayi Train Station to Alishan is approximately 60 kilometers, and it takes about 2 hours by car.

Q4: Which transportation option offers the best value for money in Alishan?

A: The best value for money transportation option in Alishan is undoubtedly charter services! What? You don't believe it? Then take a look at the Tripool charter service recommendations below and let me tell you how to save up to 1864 NTD in travel funds when traveling in a group!

If you are planning a trip to Alishan, besides the various transportation options in Alishan we introduced earlier, Tripool's Alishan shuttle car service is also a great choice.

By using Tripool's charter service, you don't need to transfer between different vehicles or worry about road conditions. Moreover, if you are traveling with multiple people, choosing Tripool's charter service is definitely a cost-effective choice! Oh, I knew you wouldn't believe it! So let me do the math for you!

Charter Services

Take the example of an 8-person ride in a 9-seater van charter:

Charter cost per person: Only 1125 NTD, with a travel time of approximately 4.5 hours to reach Alishan directly. It's a dedicated car service for the entire journey, eliminating the need to transfer to other transportation options in Alishan, making it easy to reach the park.

High-Speed Rail Transfer Shuttle

If you choose to take the high-speed rail from Taipei to Chiayi High-Speed Rail Station and then transfer to the Taiwan Tripool Alishan shuttle:

The high-speed rail fare is 1080 NTD/person, with a travel time of approximately 1.5 hours to reach Chiayi High-Speed Rail Station. The Taiwan Tripool Alishan shuttle fare is 278 NTD/person, with a travel time of approximately 2 hours. The total fare is 10684 NTD, so the cost per person per trip is 1080 + 278 NTD = 1358 NTD.

The total travel time is 3.5 hours, excluding the time required to arrive at the high-speed rail station in advance and the waiting time for the Taiwan Tripool Alishan shuttle.

As described in the table below, although the total travel time for taking the Tripool Alishan shuttle is one hour longer compared to the high-speed rail + Taiwan Tripool shuttle, the fare is cheaper. Each person can save about 233 NTD in transportation costs, and a group of 8 can save 1864 NTD as a travel fund. Moreover, there is no need to transfer throughout the journey, allowing direct access to Alishan Forest Recreation Area.

Transportation Tripool Charter High-Speed Rail + Shuttle
Total Fare NT.8999 NT.10864
Cost per Person NT.1125 NT.1358
Travel Time 4.5 hours 3.5 hours
Transfer Time No transfer required  
Advantages Affordable, direct access Shorter travel time
Disadvantages Longer travel time Higher cost and waiting time for shuttle transfer

"Charter vs High-Speed Rail + Shuttle Price Comparison Table"

Come on! Smart you already know how to plan your next trip to Alishan, right? Follow the suggestions from me, and not only can you enjoy the trip with ease, but you can also save some money! Quickly follow my steps and book your journey on the Tripool Charter Shuttle official website. Let our professionals guide you to have a joyful and worry-free experience! https://www.tripool.app/en

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