Ali Mountain, located in the northeast part of the Jiayi County in Taiwan Province, is actually the general name of the eighteen hills including Zhu Hill and Tower Hill which is the highest peak of Ali Mountain with the height of 2,663 meters. The scenic area is famous for its "five rare sites" including the Sunrise, the Ali Mountain Forest Railway, the famous Alishan Sacred Tree, the Grand Sea of Clouds, and the Flamboyant Cherry Blossom. All of these wonders and beauties make the Ali Mountain a vital tourist destination for the tourists, and there is a saying that the one who does not visit the Ali Mount cannot experience and enjoy Taiwan Province really.
When the sun peeked out over the horizon, an hour after arrival, most observed it through the screens of their digital cameras or mobile phones, presumably also taking thousands of photos in the process. At least one group of students had come from Taipei to make a documentary of the scene for their film class.
While the sunrise is perhaps Ali Mountain’s most famous asset, it’s only one of many available tourist attractions. The sunrise emcee recommended two others: a stroll through the forest of the “divine trees,” and a look at the special species of plants unique to the area.
While the sunrise is perhaps Ali Mountain’s most famous asset, it’s only one of many available tourist attractions. The sunrise emcee recommended two others: a stroll through the forest of the “divine trees,” and a look at the special species of plants unique to the area.
The trees that referred to are thousands of years old, and many of their much, much older companions—said to be of such circumference that it would take 30 people linking arms to embrace one—were cut down and shipped out during the Japanese’s fateful rule.
One of the famous plants to view in bloom from March to May is the sakura, or cherry blossoms, which were actually brought to Taiwan by the Japanese. Though they are around Taiwan in other places, Mount Ali has the most impressive number of these beautiful specimens.
As the average tourist will experience it, the Alishan National Scenic Area (that is, the developed area) is a series of scenic spots like gardens, temples, ponds, forests, old buildings, museums, and such, separated by a network of paths with map signs regularly posted along them to indicate where you are. The distances are reasonable, and within the whole area, there are several discrete parts, like circuits, that are suited to walking in one go.
Old and noisy trains, not unlike the one that travels to the sunrise every morning, also shuttle passengers around for a small fee. The tourist material mentions that trains like these are found in two other countries, India and Chile, owing to the difficulty of building and operating trains in the mountains. Overall, Mount Ali is something like a relaxed and spread-out theme park of nature.
One of the famous plants to view in bloom from March to May is the sakura, or cherry blossoms, which were actually brought to Taiwan by the Japanese. Though they are around Taiwan in other places, Mount Ali has the most impressive number of these beautiful specimens.
As the average tourist will experience it, the Alishan National Scenic Area (that is, the developed area) is a series of scenic spots like gardens, temples, ponds, forests, old buildings, museums, and such, separated by a network of paths with map signs regularly posted along them to indicate where you are. The distances are reasonable, and within the whole area, there are several discrete parts, like circuits, that are suited to walking in one go.
Old and noisy trains, not unlike the one that travels to the sunrise every morning, also shuttle passengers around for a small fee. The tourist material mentions that trains like these are found in two other countries, India and Chile, owing to the difficulty of building and operating trains in the mountains. Overall, Mount Ali is something like a relaxed and spread-out theme park of nature.
Within the wider area of Mount Ali are also a few other hamlets worth a visit. Tourists will usually check out Fenqihu, for example—a slow, two-hour train ride away from the main tourist area—on their way in or out.
Fenqihu is famous for having, well, famous “lunchboxes.” (This is probably the best translation of the Chinese term used to refer to a meal, often taken away in a box to eat, consisting of rice, meat, and a couple of vegetable servings.)
