2020 Year of Mountain Tourism

Wulai Log Cart

Wulai Trolley was meant for log transportation in the early times. Owing to the visitors demand from Wulai Waterfall tourism development, it was converted to passenger transportation purpose in 1963 driven by personnel manually. To meet the increasing demand of visitors, it was motorized in 1974 with a diesel locomotive to drive the trolley. In 1987, a tunnel was constructed at Waterfall Stop in spite of all difficulties to replace the original turntable for the locomotive to turn around, which is still operational today. The 1.6km line between Wulai and Waterfall Stops operates from 8:00 to 17:00 on a daily basis. Also, the timetable will be adjusted to accommodate the peak season in the summer to serve tourists on demand.

Alishan Forest Railway

Alishan Forest Railway is an industrial railway built to exploit the forest resources in Japanese colonial period. It is divided into the Main Line and Branch Line, totally 85 kilometers. The railway passes by three forest forms, tropical forest zone, warm forest zone, and temperate forest zone, climbing its way from Chiayi Station at an elevation of 30 meters up to Alishan Station at an elevation of 2,216 meters. Also, travelers may take Chushan Lineat dawn to the station at the highest altitude, Chushan Station at an elevation of 2,451 meters, to witness the famous Alishan Sunrise. In order to overcome the rough terrain, Alishan Forest Railway employs brilliant engineering designs like 180-degree U-turn, spiral route, and zigzag switchback, along with a specially-designed hill-climbing locomotive. It is the incarnation of high elevation mountain railway, forest railway, and mountain railway altogether with the most complex diversity a railway can offer. Now that Alishan Forest Railway utilizes four out of the five construction methods seen in the mountain railways worldwide, it is a testimony of it being one of the mountain railways in the world with the potential as a world heritage from Taiwan.

Taipingshan Bong Bong Train

Taipingshan Bong Bong Train is formerly Maosing Line of Taipingshan Forest Railway, departing from Taipingshan Villa bound for Maosing Station. It takes approximately 20 minutes with a total length of 3 kilometers. Under the shades of giant trees, the sunshine seeps in a little bit as the railway winds amidst the forest. Sitting in the open-air carriage of Bon Bon Train, visitors can appreciate the splendid sceneries of mountains and forests at a close distance. A self-guided forest trail, a primitive fern garden, and Maosing National Forest Trail are established at the terminal station, Maosing Station. The Bureau shall continue improving the rails, trails and software as well as the standard operating procedures for the crew members and conducting in-service trainings on a regular basis, so as to elevate the service quality and ensure the travel safety.