Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office

Guide map

Alishan is currently an international tourist attraction. Combined with Taiping Mountain and Baxian Mountain, they were known as the three major forest farms in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. The starting point of the Alishan Forest Railway built for exploiting the Alishan Forest Farm's cedar resources was Beimen Station in Chiayi City. The sale and distribution of timber has brought unprecedented prosperity to Chiayi City. At that time, it was ranked as one of the four major cities in Taiwan. Please select the station for more information：

Chiayi

Chiayi

Altitude: 30 m ileage: 0 km

Chiayi Station is the junction of Alishan Forest Railway and Taiwan Railway. Its altitude is 30 meters and it was also a union station including Taiwan Railway, sugar railway, and forest railway. Tourists can see the different widths of track gauge between Taiwan Railway (1,067 mm) and Forest Railway (762 mm) on the first platform. The north side of the first platform is the exact site to take forest railway.

Beimen

Beimen

Altitude: 31 m Mileage: 1.6 km

Beimen Station, made of red cypress, is located on the ride side of the railway. It was established at the beginning of the 1910s. However, a fire destroyed 40% of the station on May 16, 1998. Chiayi Branch rebuilt it with red cypress in November of the same year. Unfortunately, it was ruined again because of the 921 Earthquake, 2000. Beimen Station was recovered by the authority and shows the recent appearance to the public.

Lumachan

Lumachan

Altitude: 82 m Mileage: 10.84 km

Lumachan, also called Luman (literally "full of deer"), plays an important role between Beimen and Zhuqi. It was crowded with people due to economic development. However, no train stopped here from 1982 because Alishan Highway was opened to the public. With the growth of railway culture and tourism, the old train station caught the public's attention and won the community's support. At the end of 2004, the authority reconstructed the station and made its recovery.
From April 16, 2019, the train again stops at this station. Passengers can visit Japanese historic buildings at this station.

Zhuqi

Zhuqi

Altitude: 128 m Mileage: 14.2 km

The old name of Zhuqi is Zhutouchi. It is not only the last part of the plain section of Alishan railway but also the beginning of elevating. The station was established in 1910 and rebuilt in 1952. During the period of steam locomotives, water and coal was refilled, and locomotives were changed from 18-ton to 28-ton to continue slope-climbing.
Another feature of Zhuqi Station is the "triangular junction" which helps trains to change the direction.

Mululiao

Mululiao

Altitude: 324 m Mileage: 18.9 km

Mululiao got its name because of the reputation of clog. Although the distance from Zhuqi is 4.7 km, the train needs to elevate around 200 meters and the slope of 5%. The station building was abandoned in 1981.

Zhangnaoliao

Zhangnaoliao

Altitude: 543 m Mileage: 23.3 km

Zhangnaoliao, known for camphor trees and camphor oil, was a major place to export camphor during the Japanese colonial period. Although there is only a row of camphor trees standing beside the railway now, passengers can still overlook the spectacular mountain-view at this station.
Zhangnaoliao is a switchback station. The rail year is built in "x-shaped", so trains need to go back on the left trackto get into the station. The only two switchback stations in Taiwan are Zhangnaoliao and Pingzhena Station. After departing from this station, passengers will experience the loop line and the spiral route to make three circles around Dulishan.

Dulishan

Dulishan

Altitude: 743 m Mileage: 27.3 km

Dulishan Station is between tunnels. The standpipe, the facility for refilling water, also remained in the station. On the wall, the Dulishan mural drew by children in 1997 is a popular attraction for passengers.
At the altitude of 800 meters, there is a division sign of tropical forest and subtropical forest.

Liyuanliao

Liyuanliao

Altitude: 905 m Mileage: 31.4 km

Liyuanliao was known for pear and bamboo. From 1985, Liyuanliao Station becomes a stand on the railway.

Jiaoliping

Jiaoliping

Altitude: 997 m Mileage: 34.9 km

Jiaoliping is in the middle of Alishan Forest Railway. Besides, it was also a meet point of uphill-train and downhill-train because they once met each other at 15:13 beforehand. Many visitors like to stay here for a while because they can take pictures and visit the old grocery stores.

Shuisheliao

Shuisheliao

Altitude: 1186 m Mileage: 40.5 km

From Jiaoliping Station to Shuisheliao Station, there are 8 tunnels on the way. It is the section with the largest number of tunnels between two stations of Alishan Forest Railway. When a train passes through from No. 16 tunnel to No. 19 tunnel, it is winding around the Dubi Mountain.

Fenqihu

Fenqihu

Altitude: 1403 m Mileage: 45.52 km

Fenqihu, one of the important stations in Alishan Railway, got the name of "Dustpan Lake" because the landform resembles a basin. Although there is a "lake" within the name, no lake exists in Fenqihu actually. It was known for old-street, bamboo, waterfall, historical trail, and especially bento. The reason why bento got the reputation is that passengers could have bentos as their lunch when the train stopped at this station in the afternoon in earlier years.
The station building was a wooden structure initially, but it became Fenqihu Maintenance Section after the new station was opened. In 2004, the original one was demolished after the reconstruction. The authority later decided to reconstruct a new wooden one, similar to the historic one, to open to the public.

Duolin

Duolin

Altitude: 1516 m Mileage: 50.68 km

Duolin, also called Duoluoxian before, is a small Tsou tribe in Dadongshan. Passengers would see Dadongshan when the train turns right in this station. It became a stand from 1985.

Shizilu

Shizilu

Altitude: 1534 m Mileage: 55 km

Shizilu Station is located at the south ridge of Shizi-Road Mountain. The reason why it got the name of Shizilu is because of not only an essential midway toward Alishan, but also the entrance of Tabangu and Tfuya Tribes. Besides, it is also the nearest station to Alishan Highway.

Pingzhena

Pingzhena

Altitude: 1711 m Mileage: 60.18 km

Pingzhena is a switchback station. Train will start to climb the mountain followed by Z-shaped railway from this station. At the same time, it is also the boundary of subtropical and temperate zones.

Erwanping

Erwanping

Altitude: 2000 m Mileage: 67.16 km

Erwanping, which means "board terrain", was the terminal station of Alishan Railway in 1912 when it began its operation. The terminal station became Zhaoping in 1914 after the expansion of the railway.
Alishan Youth Activity Center is located in Erwanping. Magnificent mountain-view, sunset glow, and sea cloud are attractive to passengers.

Shenmu

Shenmu

Altitude: 2138 m Mileage: 69.94 km

Shenmu Station is the third switch of Alishan Forest Railway. This station was known for the sacred tree, a 3000-year-old red cypress. Unfortunately, the sacred tree was destroyed by thunder and destroyed by heavy rain. Therefore, the authority decided to lay it down as a heritage on July 1, 1997.

Alishan

Alishan

Altitude: 2216 m Mileage: 71.6 km

Nowadays, Alishan Sation is not only the terminal of Forest Railway, but also the starting points of Zhushan, Mianyue, and Shenmu Line. Originally, Alishan Station was the Fourth Switch of the forest railway. With the increase of tourists in the 1970s, the authority expanded Recreation Area from August, 1977 to November, 1981 and renamed the switch into New Alishan Station. However, it was closed because of the 921 Earthquake in 1999 and the terminal station was also changed to Zhaoping Station. In order to ease the burden of tourists, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency established the temporary station and started to rebuild the new one. In September of 2007, Alishan Station was reopened.

Zhaoping

Zhaoping

Altitude: 2274 m It's 1.3 km from Alishan station.

Zhaoping Station, also known as old Alishan Station, was the original terminal station of the forest railway. It was established in 1914 and started operation in the same year of March 14. The Zhaoping Station had been badly damaged by fire and then was rebuilt. The new station building was officially opened on April 21, 2013. All parts of the entire building of the Zhaoping Station were connected by butt laying, without any nails. In particular, the Japanese wood-making techniques was introduced into the construction of the station building, conveying the advantages of wood building materials and developing the feasibility of modern wood-making technique, as well as presenting the grace and glory of a nostalgia Japanese-style railway.
Besides transportation, Zhaoping is a multifunctional station providing passengers to experience railway culture, such as art exhibits and aboriginal culture. In addition, environmentally-friendly construction methods were introduced into the construction of Zhaoping Station for recycling water resources and utilizing daylight. The station also integrates the Zhaoping Park and surrounding terrain to fully present the open and intimate architectural appearance. This design was also awarded the "2006 Japan Architecture Society Design Excellence Award" in September 2006.

Zhushan

Zhushan

Altitude: 2451 m It's 6.25 km from Alishan station.

Zhushan Station is the best location to watch the sunrise. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency began to build Zhushan Line for delivering passengers who watch the sunrise in 1984 and operated on January 13, 1986. Zhushan Line (total length: 6.25km; altitude: 2000m above) is the first mountain-climbing railway built by Taiwanese and the highest point of Taiwanese railway.
Zhushan gets the reputation of sunrise throughout the world. The original path was not affordable anymore due to the open of Alishan Highway. With the increase of tourists, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency overcame a variety of challenges and commenced on the railway. Nowadays, tourists are able to watch amazing sunrise by taking Zhushan Line.

Duigaoyue

Duigaoyue

Altitude: 2405 m It's 4.9 km from Alishan station.

Duigaoyue is a station of Zhushan Line. Tourists can also watch the sunrise on the observation deck of Duigaoyue. Wooden path, maple leaf, cherry blossom, sea cloud, and snow-view are the features of this station. In 1986, the station was closed because of the operation of Zhushan Line, but it became a stop of the cruise-style train from 2017.

 

Chiayi Beimen Lumachan Zhuqi Mululiao Zhangnaoliao Dulishan Liyuanliao Jiaoliping Shuisheliao Fenqihu Duolin Shizilu Pingzhena Erwanping Shenmu Alishan Zhaoping

Duigaoyue

Zhushan

Chiayi

Altitude: 30 m Mileage: 0 km

Chiayi Station is the junction of Alishan Forest Railway and Taiwan Railway. Its altitude is 30 meters and it was also a union station including Taiwan Railway, sugar railway, and forest railway. Tourists can see the different widths of track gauge between Taiwan Railway (1067 mm) and Forest Railway (762 mm) on the first platform. The north side of the first platform is the exact site to take forest railway.

More

Beimen

Altitude: 31 m Mileage: 1.6 km

Beimen Station, made of red cypress, is located on the ride side of the railway. It was established at the beginning of the 1910s. However, a fire destroyed 40% of the station on May 16, 1998. Chiayi Branch rebuilt it with red cypress in November of the same year. Unfortunately, it was ruined again because of the 921 Earthquake, 2000. Beimen Station was recovered by the authority and shows the recent appearance to the public.

More

Lumachan

Altitude: 82 m Mileage: 10.84 km

Lumachan, also called Luman (literally "full of deer"), plays an important role between Beimen and Zhuqi. It was crowded with people due to economic development. However, no train stopped here from 1982 because Alishan Highway was opened to the public. With the growth of railway culture and tourism, the old train station caught the public's attention and won the community's support. At the end of 2004, the authority reconstructed the station and made its recovery.
From April 16, 2019, the train again stops at this station. Passengers can visit Japanese historic buildings at this station.

More

Zhuqi

Altitude: 128 m Mileage: 14.2 km

The old name of Zhuqi is Zhutouchi. It is not only the last part of the plain section of Alishan railway but also the beginning of elevating. The station was established in 1910 and rebuilt in 1952. During the period of steam locomotives, water and coal was refilled, and locomotives were changed from 18-ton to 28-ton to continue slope-climbing.
Another feature of Zhuqi Station is the "triangular junction" which helps trains to change the direction.

More

Mululiao

Altitude: 324 m Mileage: 18.9 km

Mululiao got its name because of the reputation of clog. Although the distance from Zhuqi is 4.7 km, the train needs to elevate around 200 meters and the slope of 5%. The station building was abandoned in 1981.

More

Zhangnaoliao

Altitude: 543 m Mileage: 23.3 km

Zhangnaoliao (distance from Chiayi: 23.3km; altitude: 543m), known for camphor trees and camphor oil, was a major place to export camphor during the Japanese colonial period. Although there is only a row of camphor trees standing beside the railway now, passengers can still overlook the spectacular mountain-view at this station.
Zhangnaoliao is a switchback station. The rail year is built in "x-shaped", so trains need to go back on the left trackto get into the station. The only two switchback stations in Taiwan are Zhangnaoliao and Pingzhena Station. After departing from this station, passengers will experience the loop line and the spiral route to make three circles around Dulishan.

More

Dulishan

Altitude: 743 m Mileage: 27.3 km

Dulishan Station is between tunnels. The standpipe, the facility for refilling water, also remained in the station. On the wall, the Dulishan mural drew by children in 1997 is a popular attraction for passengers.
At the altitude of 800 meters, there is a division sign of tropical forest and subtropical forest.

More

Liyuanliao

Altitude: 905 m Mileage: 31.4 km

Liyuanliao was known for pear and bamboo. From 1985, Liyuanliao Station becomes a stand on the railway.

More

Jiaoliping

Altitude: 997 m Mileage: 34.9 km

Jiaoliping is in the middle of Alishan Forest Railway. Besides, it was also a meet point of uphill-train and downhill-train because they once met each other at 15:13 beforehand. Many visitors like to stay here for a while because they can take pictures and visit the old grocery stores.

More

Shuisheliao

Altitude: 1186 m Mileage: 40.5 km

From Jiaoliping Station to Shuisheliao Station, there are 8 tunnels on the way. It is the section with the largest number of tunnels between two stations of Alishan Forest Railway. When a train passes through from No. 16 tunnel to No. 19 tunnel, it is winding around the Dubi Mountain.
Shuisheliao Station, 1,186 meters above sea level, is a small station under the peaks of the Dubi Mountain and the Sitianwang Mountain. The most interesting part of this station is that the track presents a U-shaped curve, and the train winds along exactly a 180-degree curve from pulling into the station to pulling out of the station. Along with the Erwanping Station, they are the two stations with a U-shaped track on the Alishan Forest Railway. Shuisheliao Station has already become a staffless station since the 1990s. Recently, due to the nearby bat cave, the abandoned station has been converted into a bat education center. The Shuisheliao Station is the first station for education in bat ecology in Taiwan.

More

Fenqihu

Altitude: 1403 m Mileage: 45.52 km

Fenqihu, one of the important stations in Alishan Railway, got the name of "Dustpan Lake" because the landform resembles a basin. Although there is a "lake" within the name, no lake exists in Fenqihu actually. It was known for old-street, bamboo, waterfall, historical trail, and especially bento. The reason why bento got the reputation is that passengers could have bentos as their lunch when the train stopped at this station in the afternoon in earlier years.
The station building was a wooden structure initially, but it became Fenqihu Maintenance Section after the new station was opened. In 2004, the original one was demolished after the reconstruction. The authority later decided to reconstruct a new wooden one, similar to the historic one, to open to the public.

More

Duolin

Altitude: 1516 m Mileage: 50.68 km

Duolin, also called Duoluoxian before, is a small Tsou tribe in Dadongshan. Passengers would see Dadongshan when the train turns right in this station. It became a stand from 1985.

More

Shizilu

Altitude: 1534 m Mileage: 55 km

Shizilu Station is located at the south ridge of Shizi-Road Mountain. The reason why it got the name of Shizilu is because of not only an essential midway toward Alishan, but also the entrance of Tabangu and Tfuya Tribes. Besides, it is also the nearest station to Alishan Highway.

More

Pingzhena

Altitude: 1711 m Mileage: 60.18 km

Pingzhena is a switchback station. Train will start to climb the mountain followed by Z-shaped railway from this station. At the same time, it is also the boundary of subtropical and temperate zones.

More

Erwanping

Altitude: 2000 m Mileage: 67.16 km

Erwanping, which means "board terrain", was the terminal station of Alishan Railway in 1912 when it began its operation. The terminal station became Zhaoping in 1914 after the expansion of the railway.
Alishan Youth Activity Center is located in Erwanping. Magnificent mountain-view, sunset glow, and sea cloud are attractive to passengers.

More

Shenmu

Altitude: 2138 m/ Mileage: 69.94 km

Shenmu Station is the third switch of Alishan Forest Railway. This station was known for the sacred tree, a 3000-year-old red cypress. Unfortunately, the sacred tree was destroyed by thunder and destroyed by heavy rain. Therefore, the authority decided to lay it down as a heritage on July 1, 1997.

More

Alishan

Altitude: 2216 m Mileage: 71.6 km

Nowadays, Alishan Sation is not only the terminal of Forest Railway, but also the starting points of Zhushan, Mianyue, and Shenmu Line. Originally, Alishan Station was the Fourth Switch of the forest railway. With the increase of tourists in the 1970s, the authority expanded Recreation Area from August, 1977 to November, 1981 and renamed the switch into New Alishan Station. However, it was closed because of the 921 Earthquake in 1999 and the terminal station was also changed to Zhaoping Station. In order to ease the burden of tourists, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency established the temporary station and started to rebuild the new one. In September of 2007, Alishan Station was reopened.

More

Zhaoping

Altitude: 2274 m It's 1.3 km from Alishan station.

Zhaoping Station, also known as old Alishan Station, was the original terminal station of the forest railway. It was established in 1914 and started operation in the same year of March 14. The Zhaoping Station had been badly damaged by fire and then was rebuilt. The new station building was officially opened on April 21, 2013. All parts of the entire building of the Zhaoping Station were connected by butt laying, without any nails. In particular, the Japanese wood-making techniques was introduced into the construction of the station building, conveying the advantages of wood building materials and developing the feasibility of modern wood-making technique, as well as presenting the grace and glory of a nostalgia Japanese-style railway. Besides transportation, Zhaoping is a multifunctional station providing passengers to experience railway culture, such as art exhibits and aboriginal culture. In addition, environmentally-friendly construction methods were introduced into the construction of Zhaoping Station for recycling water resources and utilizing daylight. The station also integrates the Zhaoping Park and surrounding terrain to fully present the open and intimate architectural appearance. This design was also awarded the "2006 Japan Architecture Society Design Excellence Award" in September 2006.

More

Duigaoyue

Altitude: 2405 m It's 4.9 km from Alishan station.

Duigaoyue is a station of Zhushan Line. Tourists can also watch the sunrise on the observation deck of Duigaoyue. Wooden path, maple leaf, cherry blossom, sea cloud, and snow-view are the features of this station. In 1986, the station was closed because of the operation of Zhushan Line, but it became a stop of the cruise-style train from 2017.

More

Zhushan

Altitude: 2451 m It's 6.25 km from Alishan station.

Zhushan Station (altitude: 2451m) is the best location to watch the sunrise. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency began to build Zhushan Line for delivering passengers who watch the sunrise in 1984 and operated on January 13, 1986. Zhushan Line (total length: 6.25km; altitude: 2000m above) is the first mountain-climbing railway built by Taiwanese and the highest point of Taiwanese railway.
Zhushan gets the reputation of sunrise throughout the world. The original path was not affordable anymore due to the open of Alishan Highway. With the increase of tourists, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency overcame a variety of challenges and commenced on the railway. Nowadays, tourists are able to watch amazing sunrise by taking Zhushan Line.

More