By Leo R. Maliksi/ Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Provincial Hwy 18 sets out from Chukou and snakes up the Alishan Mountain Range. Along the way are scenic tea plantations, valleys and forests, as well as roadside vendors selling a variety of seasonal produce. The view along the road changes with the year: cherry blossoms in spring, bamboo in summer, red maples in fall, and plum blossoms in winter. Chukou This area is best known for its landmark Tianchang and Dijiou suspension bridges

Visitors enjoy the cherry blossoms at the Forest Recreation Area./Photo provided by Alishan National Scenic Area Administration

Siding
Perched 1,200m above sea level, Siding offers stunning sunrise views. It is also a good place to see banks of clouds as they cascade like waterfalls over the mountain peaks.

Longtou
A good way to enjoy the scenic sites and mountain mists of the greater Alishan area is to take an afternoon drive along the highway near Longtou Village.

Shihjhuo
Shihjhuo is located at a major intersection on the Alishan Hwy. The main products of this area are tea, fig jelly, and persimmons.

Northwest Corridor
Getting there: Take Prov. Hwy 8 to Shihjhuo, turn onto Hwy 169 and connect with Hwy 162A to reach Wenfong, Taiping and Taising - known collectively as the Northwest Corridor.

The scope of the Alishan National Scenic Area was recently expanded to include the villages of Taiping, Taising, Longyan and Bihu in Meishan Township and the villages of Wenfong, Jinshih, Renshou, and Guanghua in Jhuci Township. This area has been divided into three recreation areas: the Taiping-Taising area, known for its bamboo groves, tea plantations, and rivers; the Wenfong-Jinshan area, popular for the Guanyin Waterfall and traditional paper mills; and the Renshou-Guanghua area, where recreation farms and railway tours are the main attractions.

For more information and guide services please call the Wenfong Community Development Association: (05) 256-6069; Taiping Scenic Area Promotion Committee: (05) 257-1288.

Driving
The main road to the Alishan National Scenic Area is Prov. Hwy 18. You can follow the highway for about 36km to Longmei and turn right onto County Hwy 129 to reach Shanmei, Sinmei and Chashan; continue about 50km to Shihjhuo and turn right onto County Hwy 169 to reach Dabang, Tefuye and Lijia; or turn left on County Hwy 169 to reach Fencihu, Rueili, Rueifong, and Taihe. Link with County Hwy 155 to continue on to Laiji and Fongshan.

Bus/Train
Bus: The Chiayi County Bus offers daily service from Chiayi City to Alishan, Dabang, Fencihu and Rueili, and from Fencihu to Laiji.
Train: Two trains leave once daily from the Beimen Station in Chiayi City to the Alishan Forest Recreation Area, with additional departures on weekends and holidays (See http://railway. forest.gov.tw/index-eng.asp). Shuttle service to hotels from the stations along the way can be separately arranged.

Text and Photos provided by
Alishan National Scenic Area Administration
Tel: (05) 259-3900
Website: http://www.ali.org.tw
Tourism Bureau, MOTC: http://www.taiwan.net.tw