A concierge that already knows Alishan
NUM holds 825 places in and around Alishan. Text it what you want, in any language. It finds three real places that fit, open now, and books the one you pick.
Staying up at Alishan tonight. Somewhere warm for dinner near the station?
Three places near Alishan Station that fit. Want me to book one?
What is in the Alishan directory
Built from open map data, kept current, and never ranked by who paid, because nobody can pay. Placement is not for sale on NUM. Counted October 10, 2026.
Alishan at a glance
Alishan is a range of forested mountains east of Chiayi and the homeland of the Tsou. Under Japanese rule it was logged for its cypress, and the forest railway was built to bring the timber down. The recreation area sits at 2,200 to 2,700 m. People come for the old-growth red cypress, sunrise and the sea of clouds over the Yushan range, the railway itself, and high-mountain tea.
Known for
Zhushan sunrise 祝山日出
A pre-dawn train climbs to Zhushan Station (2,451 m), the highest railway station in Taiwan. Departure moves with the sunrise and is announced the afternoon before.
Giant Tree Trail 巨木群棧道
Boardwalk past nearly 40 giant red cypresses in the recreation area.
Fenqihu and its railway lunchbox 奮起湖便當
Old railway village at about 1,400 m, roughly halfway up the line, known across Taiwan for its boxed lunches.
High-mountain tea 阿里山高山茶
Oolong grown on the slopes; wasabi is the other mountain crop.
Tsou villages of Dabang and Tefuye 達邦 · 特富野
The two main Tsou communities, where the Mayasvi ceremony is held in the men's houses, usually between February and April.
Cherry blossom season 阿里山花季
The recreation area's flower season runs from about 10 March to 10 April, with different cherry varieties blooming in turn.
Getting there
Take the HSR to THSR Chiayi Station (about 1 h 30 min from Taipei), then Taiwan Tourist Shuttle bus 7329 to Alishan (about 2 h; 7329A goes via Fenqihu, about 2 h 30 min). From TRA Chiayi Station, bus 7322C takes about 2 h 20 min (7322D, via Fenqihu, about 2 h 50 min). The Alishan Forest Railway has run the full line from Chiayi again since 6 July 2024; the through train takes about five hours uphill, including a stop of about an hour at Fenqihu.
Getting around
Inside the recreation area you walk the trails and use the short branch trains: Shenmu (Sacred Tree), Zhaoping, and the Zhushan sunrise train. Buses link Alishan with Fenqihu and the villages; the Mianyue line no longer runs trains.
When to go
The recreation area averages about 10 °C over the year (around 6 °C in winter, 14 °C in summer), so it is cold at dawn in any month. The flower season, from about 10 March to 10 April, brings crowds. Heavy rain from late spring through the typhoon season (roughly July to October) often suspends the railway, sometimes for days.
Local tip
Check the railway's status on the morning you travel; heavy rain often suspends it at short notice. If your train is cancelled, an unused ticket can be refunded in full within a year at railway stations or 7-Eleven ibon kiosks. Online booking opens 15 days ahead.
Facts checked October 3, 2026. Transport and openings change, so NUM checks them again.
Where NUM looks in Alishan
Districts NUM covers here.
- Zhuqi Township 竹崎鄉
- Alishan Township 阿里山鄉
- Meishan Township 梅山鄉
- Fanlu Township 番路鄉
How NUM works in Alishan
- 1
Text NUM what you want
A table, a massage, a driver, a pharmacy. In your words, in your language.
- 2
Get three real places
Checked, open now, and close to where you are. Nobody paid to be on the list.
- 3
It books the one you pick
The confirmation stays in your thread. A real person is one message away.
Questions about NUM in Alishan
How many restaurants does NUM know in Alishan?
71 in and around Alishan, from the open map data NUM builds its directory on. NUM does not list all of them at you. It picks three that fit what you asked for, and says why.
Can NUM help me find a hotel in Alishan?
NUM knows 33 places to stay here. It finds the one that fits and hands you to the licensed partner who books it, so you always know who you are booking with.
Is the Alishan Forest Railway running all the way from Chiayi?
Yes. The full line from Chiayi reopened on 6 July 2024, 15 years after Typhoon Morakot cut it in 2009. As of early October 2026 the operator listed the main line and the branch lines as running normally. Heavy rain often suspends it, sometimes for several days, so check before you go. Tickets open online 15 days ahead.
How cold is it, and what should I bring?
The recreation area is at 2,200 to 2,700 m and averages about 10 °C over the year, far colder than Chiayi. Bring a warm layer and a rain jacket, especially for the Zhushan sunrise train, which leaves before dawn.
What language can I message NUM in for Alishan?
Whatever you write in. NUM answers in the language of your message, and in the script you used, which for Chinese means Traditional stays Traditional.
Does it cost anything?
Not for travelers. Booking through NUM is free and nothing is added to your bill. NUM Plus and NUM Pro are optional and only add room.
For businesses in Alishan
If you run somewhere here, list it free. No account needed: add your place or update its details, and NUM checks them before they go live. Taking bookings through NUM is a separate, optional sign-up.
- Free to list, no account needed
- NUM checks every listing before it goes live
- Nobody can pay to be recommended