Day Trip to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area From Fenqihu

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Fenqihu, where we overnight is the half-way point on the way to the top of Alishan and it takes almost an hour from there to Alishan. As we need to catch the earliest train in order to witness the sunrise, we pre-booked taxi from Fenchihu Hotel to pick us up at 4am. The 1-hour ride to Alishan National Forest Recreation costs NTD1,600 (approx. to RM220) and we're lucky to find someone to share the ride with us. 

#1: From Fenqihu to Alishan, it takes nearly an hour car ride.

Originally built to transport log of cypress trees, Alishan Forest Railway is now operating as a scenic tourist route from Chiayi to the Alishan Forest Recreation Area. The railway features 3 branches within the park; the Zhushan Line for sunrise and sea clouds viewing, the Zhaoping Line to the Chaoping Area and the Sister Ponds Trail, and the Shenmu Line to see the scared trees. After extensive repairs following typhoon damage, the line to Alishan fully reopened in 2024, connecting it to the mountainous region's villages and cultural heritage sites.  

#2: Zhushan Line Schedule & Fares 

They will even clearly stated the sunrise timing

#3: Zhushan Station - The highest point on Taiwan's railway network

#4: While waiting for the sunrise, you can grab some hot drinks or food from the stalls outside the railway station 

#5: Actually both of my husband and I were more anticipated on Unkai (sea of clouds) than the sunrise but unfortunately, we didn't catch any of Unkai. 

#6: Right after the sun rose, we need to immediately catch the train from Zhushan Station because there will be no more train after that. 

#7: From Zushan Station, we alighted at Chao Ping Station for some hiking activities. 

If you are visiting in spring time (between late March to early April), Chao Ping Station (Zhaoping Station) is well-known for cherry blossoms viewing area. Even though it's not a spring time during our visit, Chao Ping Station marks the starting point of the hiking trail that leads to the Sister Ponds Trail. 

#8: Hiking through the lust forest was breathtaking. 

#9: Sister Ponds Trail

#10: Shouzhen Temple, the largest temple within Alishan area and also the highest altitude temple in Taiwan. 

#11: By the way, if you are wondering how's the hike? Well, it's one pretty easy hike for us 

#12: Three Generation Trees 

#13: From Chao Ping Station, the trail leads us to Shenmu Station 

#14: Mandatory photo with the railway track in Alishan 

#15: Shenmu Line to Alishan 

#16: Hotels within Alishan area 

#17: Other facilities can be found in Alishan National Forest Recreation Area:

• Visitor's center
• Post office with ATM 
• Restaurants, tea shops and souvenir stores 
• 7-Eleven convenience store (the highest 7-Eleven in Taiwan) 

Is it day trip from Fenqihu to Alishan doable? Yes, it's possible for us where we able to witness sunrise at Zhushan, hiking at Chao Ping and catch train from Shenmu back to Alishan. 

#18: We ended our Alishan trip by taking train back to Fenqihu

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Taiwan For The 5th Time (Sneak Peek)

I just came back from Taiwan last year and little did I know, I will be going there again. It's not like that I don't like Taiwan, I love it actually and it's one of my favourite countries after Japan and Thailand but travelling to the same place over and over again in less than a year, it will make the place seems to be uninteresting cause I might be repeating the same things I did from the previous visit. 

#1: Flying to Taiwan with AirAsia X

But since Taiwan is calling me again, well it's no harm for returning and check out what other things Taiwan has to offer.

Our trip didn't start well when our flight from Kuala Lumpur to Taiwan Taoyuan delayed for more than 8 hours due to Typhoon Lekima and all our initial plan was kinda screwed up. Now I'm in the midst of claiming my travel insurance. Wondering how much will be my claim? I will share about this in future. 

#2: Welcome to Chiayi

Once we arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, immediately we took bus to Taichung and overnight there before heading to Chiayi on the following day. I've been both Taipei and Taichung several times but never Chiayi. Chiayi serves as a stopover/transit before proceed to Alishan National Scenic Area. 

#3: Alishan Forest Railway ride

But again due to Typhoon Lekima aftermath, the rain poured without a stop in Alishan and we can't do much activities, except riding on Alishan Forest Railway. We even missed out watching the sunrise which is one of the things must do when in Alishan. 

#4: Ningxia Night Market, less than 10 minutes walk from Taipei Main Station

We then went back to Taipei and cracking our head thinking what should we do, where should we go since both the boyfriend and I have been like so many times - I've been like 5 times whereas the boyfriend has been like almost or even more than 10 times, I guess. But of course the one and only thing I must include in my itinerary when comes to Taiwan is by visiting any of their night markets. A trip to Taiwan is definitely incomplete without a visit to any of their night markets, which is believed there are more than three hundred of them.

Other than night market, these are the things we did and places we went throughout our trip; some we went for the very first time and some we repeat again: 

#5: Huashan 1914 Creative Park - it's my first time here but for me, nothing to shout about.

#7: Mr J French-Italian Restaurant - a restaurant inspired by a multitalented Taiwanese pop star, Jay Chou but kinda disappointed cause they removed the grand piano which appeared in "The Secret" movie.

#8: Ximending Mala Hot Pot for second time to celebrate our 2nd year anniversary

#9: Din Tai Fung - a prestige Taiwanese restaurant specialising in xiaolongbao. It's my first time cause I was so lazy to join the super insanely long queue previously but lucky this time we got seat in less than 30 minutes. 

#10: Hike up Elephant Mountain for the best view of Taipei city.


#11: We're cool for the summer.

Will I return Taiwan for the 6th time? Maybe yes, but not in the nearest future cause I prefer to discover and explore more new country as there are quite number of countries in Asia I haven't been yet such as India, Pakistan, Mongolia and etc. 

Do you love Taiwan and how many times have you been there? What things of Taiwan make you love this nation even more? Do share with me by comment below. Cheers 💓 

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