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Getting to Alishan: forest railway, buses and where to stay

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With a night to spare, ride the forest railway up and sleep inside the recreation area, so you can catch the Zhushan sunrise. With only a day, take the bus from Chiayi both ways.

How long have you got?

  • A day, from Chiayi station: take bus 7322. The first leaves at 06:10 and arrives at 08:40; the last back leaves Alishan at 17:10. NT$254.
  • A day, from Chiayi high-speed rail station: take bus 7329. It leaves five times a day, 08:40 to 13:10; the last back leaves at 16:40. NT$283.
  • A night or more: take the 10:00 forest railway from Chiayi (arrives 14:56, NT$600). Sleep inside the recreation area for the Zhushan sunrise, and come down by bus or the 11:50 train.

Bus times are from Taiwan Tourist Shuttle’s 7322 (opens in a new tab) and 7329 (opens in a new tab) timetables; train times from the Alishan Forest Railway timetable (opens in a new tab) and the fare from its fares page (opens in a new tab).

When are you going?

Whatever you choose

  1. Book early: the train 14 days ahead from 06:00 Taiwan time, or a bus seat up to 29 days ahead.
  2. Keep your bus ticket. It halves the NT$300 entry fee to NT$150 that day.Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (opens in a new tab)forest.gov.tw

If it doesn’t go to plan

  • Train sold out? Take bus 7322 or 7329 instead. Or try for a Fenqihu to Alishan seat, which goes on sale three days before.
  • Missed the last bus down? Stay the night. The recreation area’s 13 hotels are listed with phone numbers by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (opens in a new tab).
  • Sunrise train sold out online? Buy a ticket at Alishan station, up to 30 minutes before departure.

Booking the forest railway

Only one train a day runs the full line in each direction.

  • Book online on the railway’s booking site (opens in a new tab), 14 days ahead, between 06:00 and midnight. Stations sell tickets 12 days ahead.booking rules (opens in a new tab)afrch.forest.gov.tw
  • Six tickets per passport per day.
  • Boarding at Fenqihu? Seats from Fenqihu to Alishan go on sale only three days before. Other intermediate stations sell standing tickets only.FAQ (opens in a new tab)afrch.forest.gov.tw
  • The train up stops for 65 minutes at Fenqihu, the old railway town halfway up.
  • Don’t try it as a day trip. The only train up arrives after the only train down has left.

Taking the bus

  • Reserve a seat up to 29 days ahead, through Alishan easy go or at a FamilyMart FamiPort machine. Reserved seats only apply from the first stop.7322 route page (opens in a new tab)taiwantrip.com.tw
  • Pay by EasyCard, iPASS or icash on board.
  • Some trips go via Fenqihu, adding about half an hour. On holidays and in cherry-blossom season these trips end at Fenqihu’s First Parking Lot.

If you want the Zhushan sunrise

Stay inside the recreation area: the sunrise train leaves before the first bus arrives.

  • Check the time at 16:30 the day before. It’s set by sunrise and posted on the railway’s site (opens in a new tab), at Alishan station and at the park gate. On 1 November 2026 it left at 05:20.
  • Buy online until noon the day before, or at Alishan station up to 30 minutes before departure.booking rules (opens in a new tab)afrch.forest.gov.tw NT$150 one way.

Where to stay