{"schema_version":"v1","type":"trip_article","slug":"alishan-sunrise-railway","locale":"en","canonical_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/trips/alishan-sunrise-railway","updated_at":"2026-10-14T00:00:00+00:00","headline":"Alishan sunrise and Forest Railway: visible year-round, reached by the pre-dawn Zhushan Line train","one_sentence_summary":"The Alishan sunrise can be seen all year round. The Zhushan Line timetable shifts with it every day. The usual plan is to stay on the mountain and take the train up to the viewpoint before dawn.","facts":[{"label":"Where","value":"Alishan is in Chiayi County.","source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alishan_Forest_Railway","sourceLabel":"en.wikipedia.org"},{"label":"When to go","value":"The sunrise can be seen all year round. There is no fixed date.","source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alishan_Forest_Railway","sourceLabel":"en.wikipedia.org"},{"label":"Highlights","value":"The sunrise and the sea of clouds, which depends on the day's weather.","source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alishan_Forest_Railway","sourceLabel":"en.wikipedia.org"},{"label":"Transport","value":"Most people change at Chiayi to the Alishan Forest Railway or a highway coach. The ride up is long.","source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alishan_Forest_Railway","sourceLabel":"en.wikipedia.org"},{"label":"Zhushan Station","value":"The highest railway station in Taiwan. After a rebuild, sunrise trains have stopped there again since 21 November 2023.","source":"https://www.ctee.com.tw/news/20231120701634-431401","sourceLabel":"ctee.com.tw"},{"label":"Walking instead","value":"The walk from Alishan Station to the Zhushan viewing platform takes about 40 to 60 minutes.","source":"https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/3008071","sourceLabel":"news.ltn.com.tw"},{"label":"Station ticket sales","value":"Station counters sell Zhushan Line tickets up to 12 days ahead, counting the travel day. Same-day tickets go on sale at Alishan Station 1F 30 minutes before departure.","source":"https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/0000270","sourceLabel":"afrch.forest.gov.tw"}],"city_tabs":{"alishan":{"title":"Chiayi · Alishan","bullets":["From Chiayi, take the Alishan Forest Railway or a highway coach up. The ride is long","Mornings are cold and you stand still at the viewpoint, so bring a thick coat, a woollen hat and gloves","Pair it with the giant-tree groves, the boardwalk and spring cherry blossom"],"source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alishan_Forest_Railway","sourceLabel":"Wikipedia"}},"faq":[{"q":"When can you see the Alishan sunrise?","a":"All year round. Sunrise moves earlier or later with the seasons and the Zhushan Line timetable moves with it. The next morning's departure time is posted the afternoon before.","sources":["https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/0000270"]},{"q":"Where do you watch the sunrise at Alishan?","a":"Alishan is in Chiayi County. The sunrise train runs from Alishan Station to Zhushan Station, and from there you walk to the Zhushan viewing platform. On foot from Alishan Station it takes about 40 to 60 minutes.","sources":["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alishan_Forest_Railway","https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/3008071"]},{"q":"What is the history of the Alishan Forest Railway?","a":"The Alishan Forest Railway opened in 1912. It was built in the Japanese era to haul cypress down the mountain and did not carry passengers at first. After logging stopped, the line switched to passengers. The Zhushan Line used for sunrise trips opened in 1986.","sources":["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alishan_Forest_Railway","https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/"]},{"q":"How do you book Zhushan Line tickets?","a":"Online booking opens 14 days before travel and closes at noon the day before. On a Monday, for example, you can book up to the Monday two weeks later. Each ID can book up to 6 tickets per travel day. Stations sell tickets up to 12 days ahead, counting the travel day, and same-day tickets go on sale at Alishan Station 1F 30 minutes before departure.","sources":["https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/0000270"]},{"q":"What should you know before going up?","a":"Mountain mornings are very cold, so bring a thick coat, a woollen hat and gloves. It is usually still dark at the viewpoint. Keep your voice down while waiting and don't shine strong torches at other people.","sources":["https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/0000270"]},{"q":"What else is there to see after the sunrise?","a":"The giant-tree groves and boardwalk are close to Alishan Station, and in spring there is cherry blossom.","sources":["https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/0000270"]}],"sources":["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alishan_Forest_Railway","https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/","https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/0000270","https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/3008071","https://www.ctee.com.tw/news/20231120701634-431401","https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/zh/news/6258907"],"key_takeaways":[{"text":"Zhushan Line tickets can be booked online from 14 days before travel until noon the day before. The booking system is open 06:00–24:00.","date":"2026-10-14","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/0000270","source_label":"afrch.forest.gov.tw"},{"text":"Branch lines don't issue e-tickets. Collect paper tickets at a forest railway station or a 7-ELEVEN ibon kiosk, with the ID used to book and the booking number.","date":"2026-10-14","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/0000270","source_label":"afrch.forest.gov.tw"},{"text":"Online, each ID can book up to 6 tickets per travel day, or 12 when booking outbound and return together.","date":"2026-10-14","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/0000270","source_label":"afrch.forest.gov.tw"}],"reading_outline":[{"id":"executive-summary","label":"Summary"},{"id":"city-routes","label":"Places and routes"},{"id":"rules","label":"Before you go"},{"id":"faq","label":"FAQ"},{"id":"sources","label":"Sources"}],"topic":{"chain":["trips","taiwan-festivals","alishan-sunrise-railway"]},"status":"published","hero_image":{"src":"/hero/alishan-sunrise-railway.webp","alt":"Alishan sunrise and Forest Railway: visible year-round, reached by the pre-dawn Zhushan Line train"},"editorial":{"tagline":"Alishan's Zhushan Line runs on sunrise time","paragraphs":["The Zhushan Line sunrise train has no fixed timetable. The first departure is set from the next morning's sunrise and only posted at 16:30 the day before, on the railway's booking site, at Alishan Station, at the park entrance and at the visitor centre. If you sleep on the mountain, you find out what time to get up that evening.","The Alishan Forest Railway opened in 1912 to bring timber down the mountain and did not carry passengers at first. Logging has stopped, the line now carries visitors, and the Zhushan branch to the viewpoint opened in 1986.","New Year's Day has the earliest departure of the year. On 1 January 2026 the first Zhushan sunrise train left Alishan Station at 02:50. Tickets were released in three rounds, for groups, online and at the station, and leftovers went on sale at Alishan Station from 02:20 that morning, up to 10 per person.","While Zhushan Station was being rebuilt, sunrise trains stopped elsewhere; they have called there again since 21 November 2023. The end of the line, Zhushan, is the highest railway station in Taiwan."]},"guide":{"lede":"The first sunrise train's departure time changes daily and is only posted at 16:30 the day before, so you need to spend the night on Alishan. Online tickets open 14 days before the travel date.","sections":[{"heading":"Checking departure times","body":"The first Zhushan Line train is timed to each day's sunrise and **posted at 16:30 the day before** on the railway's booking site, at Alishan Station, at the park entrance and at the visitor centre.\n\nOnce you have the time, work back to when you need to get up and walk to the station."},{"heading":"The viewpoint, and walking up","body":"The sunrise train runs from Alishan Station to **Zhushan Station**, and you walk from there to the Zhushan viewing platform.\n\nIf you skip the train, **the walk from Alishan Station to the platform takes about 40 to 60 minutes**. The trail is dark before dawn, so bring a headlamp."},{"heading":"History of the forest railway","body":"**The Alishan Forest Railway opened in 1912**. It was built in the Japanese era to bring cypress down the mountain and did not carry passengers at first.\n\nAfter logging stopped, the line stayed and now carries visitors. **The Zhushan Line opened in 1986**. The Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office runs the trains and publishes timetables and ticket rules."},{"heading":"Early start, low temperatures","body":"You leave before dawn and stand at the viewpoint until the sun is up, and early mornings on the mountain are cold. With older relatives or children, factor in the early start and the cold, and pack an extra layer."},{"heading":"Booking online and at stations","body":"**Online booking** opens 14 days before travel and closes at noon the day before, and the system is open 06:00–24:00. On a Monday you can book up to the Monday two weeks later, and on a Friday up to the Friday, Saturday and Sunday two weeks later. Each ID can book up to 6 tickets per travel day, or 12 when booking outbound and return together.\n\n**Station counters** sell tickets up to 12 days ahead, counting the travel day, and Alishan Station 2F sells from 08:30 to 16:30. **Same-day tickets** go on sale at Alishan Station 1F 30 minutes before departure, with a per-person cap on long weekends and busy days. Catching the sunrise means **staying on the mountain the night before**, and rooms are limited in peak season."},{"heading":"Staying warm and viewpoint etiquette","body":"**Mountain mornings are very cold.** A thick coat, a woollen hat and gloves all help, and standing still while you wait makes it feel colder.\n\nIt is usually still dark when you reach the viewpoint. Keep your voice down, don't shine strong torches at people, and avoid blocking those behind you when taking photos."},{"heading":"Nearby sights","body":"After coming down you can carry on to the nearby **giant-tree groves and boardwalk**, and in **spring** there is **cherry blossom**. If you are not in a hurry, give half a day to the trails in this area."},{"heading":"Collecting, changing and refunding tickets","body":"Branch lines **don't issue e-tickets**. After paying online, collect paper tickets at a forest railway station or a **7-ELEVEN ibon** kiosk, with the original ID used to book and your booking number.\n\nBefore collection you can change the date, train or ticket type online or at a station. The first change is free and later changes cost 10% of the fare. Refunds close 30 minutes before the day's last train, with a 10% fee per ticket."}]},"kind":"destination","available_locales":["zh-TW","en","th","id"],"event_start_date":null,"event_end_date":null,"dates_estimated":false,"next_edition":null,"offers":[{"id":"alishan-bus-roundtrip","title":{"zh-TW":"台灣好行阿里山線來回車票","en":"Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Alishan line: round-trip ticket","th":"ตั๋วไปกลับรถบัส Taiwan Tourist Shuttle สายอาลีซาน","id":"Tiket pulang-pergi Taiwan Tourist Shuttle jalur Alishan"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"transport","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/alishan-sunrise-railway?o=alishan-bus-roundtrip&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"alishan-sunrise-tour","title":{"zh-TW":"阿里山一日／多日遊：小火車・祝山觀日","en":"Alishan day or multi-day tour: forest railway & Zhushan sunrise","th":"ทัวร์อาลีซาน 1 วันหรือหลายวัน: รถไฟป่าและชมพระอาทิตย์ขึ้นจู้ซาน","id":"Tur Alishan sehari atau beberapa hari: kereta hutan & matahari terbit Zhushan"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"experience","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/alishan-sunrise-railway?o=alishan-sunrise-tour&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"alishan-day-tour-3city","title":{"zh-TW":"阿里山一日遊（台中／嘉義／高雄出發）","en":"Alishan day tour from Taichung, Chiayi or Kaohsiung","th":"ทัวร์อาลีซานหนึ่งวัน ออกจากไถจง เจียอี้ หรือเกาสง","id":"Tur sehari Alishan dari Taichung, Chiayi, atau Kaohsiung"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"experience","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/alishan-sunrise-railway?o=alishan-day-tour-3city&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"ao-tea-tianxia","title":{"zh-TW":"天下第一好茶｜台灣高山茶禮","en":"Taiwan high-mountain tea gifts","th":"ชาอู่หลงภูเขาสูงไต้หวัน (ชุดของขวัญ)","id":"Teh pegunungan tinggi Taiwan (set hadiah)"},"merchant":"affiliates-one","utility":"dining","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/alishan-sunrise-railway?o=ao-tea-tianxia&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"ao-tea-yulu","title":{"zh-TW":"玉露茶園｜台灣茶葉","en":"Yulu Tea Garden Taiwanese tea","th":"ชาไต้หวัน Yulu Tea Garden","id":"Teh Taiwan Yulu Tea Garden"},"merchant":"affiliates-one","utility":"dining","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/alishan-sunrise-railway?o=ao-tea-yulu&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"}]}