Chiayi to Alishan: How to Get There by Forest Railway or Bus (and Store Your Bags First) — 2026
Bottom line: Chiayi is the gateway to Alishan, and there are two ways up from the city — the Alishan Forest Railway (the classic scenic ride; book ahead) or the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Alishan bus (more frequent, cheaper). Both leave from Chiayi and take several hours, and Alishan sits above 2,000 m where it’s cool and involves a lot of sitting on transport. You really don’t need to drag a suitcase up the mountain and back — store the big bag at Chiayi Station and ride up light (there are real storage points right by the station; more below).
Two ways up — which suits you?
| Alishan Forest Railway (train) | Taiwan Tourist Shuttle (bus) | |
|---|---|---|
| Departs from | Chiayi Station (TRA — start of the main line) | A-Line from HSR Chiayi; B-Line from TRA Chiayi Station |
| The appeal | A century-old forest railway; the ride itself is the attraction | More departures, flexible, good for a same-day decision |
| Booking | Reserve online in advance (limited seats) | Board on the spot or buy a package ticket |
| Journey time | ~5 hours (incl. Fenqihu stop) | ~2.5–3 hours |
In short: if the train ride itself is the highlight and you can book ahead, take the Forest Railway; if you want it cheaper, more frequent and decided on the day, take the shuttle bus.
Option 1: Alishan Forest Railway (the little train)
After a 15-year interruption, the Forest Railway main line fully reopened on 6 July 2024, so you can now ride directly from Chiayi Station all the way up to Alishan Station (source: Forestry Agency news; Alishan Forest Railway announcement).
- Fare: Chiayi ↔ Alishan, air-conditioned reserved seat, NT$600 one-way (full fare) (as of 2026-07; source: Alishan Forest Railway timetable & fares — the reopening notice also states the Chiayi–Alishan full fare “remains NT$600”). Child, senior and accessibility fares are discounted — see the official site.
- Departures: the main line runs only a few scheduled trains a day, and uphill services all leave in the morning (the official schedule has trains departing Chiayi around 09:00–10:00); the through service reaches Alishan in about 5 hours (source: main-line timetable).
- ⚠️ The easy mistake: not every train goes all the way. On the official timetable the 09:00 departure terminates at Fenqihu — only the 10:00 departure runs through to Alishan (arriving around 14:56). Check the destination of your specific train when booking so you don’t get turned out at Fenqihu. Exact departure and return times change, so confirm on the official site before you go — we deliberately don’t pin a return time here.
- Booking: seats are limited and often sell out, so reserve ahead on the official system (pay online, or collect at railway stations / 7-Eleven ibon): Alishan Forest Railway online booking. If the train’s full, the shuttle bus below is your backup.
The train’s carriages are small and the route is popular — hauling a big suitcase aboard is awkward and unsafe. Store the large bag at Chiayi Station (below) and bring only a day pack; the ride is far nicer that way.
Option 2: Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Alishan Line (bus)
If the train is sold out, or you want it cheaper and more flexible, the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Alishan line runs straight up the mountain:
- A-Line departs HSR Chiayi Station, NT$283 one-way (as of 2026-07, distance-based; source: Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Alishan A-Line).
- B-Line departs TRA Chiayi Station, NT$254 one-way (as of 2026-07; source: Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Alishan B-Line).
- Departure times vary by season and holidays, and some services route via Fenqihu — check the official live timetable: Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Alishan schedule.
If you arrive by high-speed rail, the A-Line from HSR Chiayi is most direct; if you arrive by regular train, or want to drop your luggage at Chiayi Station first, use the B-Line.
What about the big bag? Store it at Chiayi Station and go up light
Alishan is high, cold, and hours away in each direction — there’s no reason to wheel a suitcase up and back down. The practical move: leave the big bag at Chiayi Station and take only a day pack up, then collect it on the way back.
The good news: lalalocker has verified partner storage points right around Chiayi Station. We checked lalalocker’s Chiayi Station storage page this run — it lists 6 real points spanning the front station, rear station and the Wenhua Night Market area, with locations, hours and live prices online:
→ Luggage storage at Chiayi Station (lalalocker) (large bags TWD 150/day, small TWD 70/day, as of 2026-07; varies by point).
Whether you take the Forest Railway or the shuttle bus, leaving the big bag in Chiayi makes the trip up much easier.
Once you’re up: what’s at Alishan
Alishan National Forest Recreation Area is famous for its sunrises, seas of cloud, giant sacred trees, and the forest-railway branch lines (Zhushan / Zhaoping / Sacred Tree lines), while Fenqihu partway up is known for its old-street lunchboxes and mountain-town charm. Entry fees, branch-line train times and attraction hours change with the season, so check the official source: Alishan National Scenic Area. To catch the sunrise you’ll usually need to stay overnight on the mountain and take the early Zhushan train — plan lodging and tickets ahead.
FAQ
Q: How long does Chiayi to Alishan take? A: The Forest Railway is about 5 hours (including the Fenqihu stop; source: main-line timetable); the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle bus is about 2.5–3 hours (per the official B-Line timetable — e.g. 07:10 departure, 09:40 arrival; source: Alishan shuttle timetable). A same-day round trip is tight — most people stay overnight on the mountain or in Fenqihu.
Q: How much is the Alishan train, and do I need to book? A: Chiayi ↔ Alishan, air-conditioned reserved seat, NT$600 one-way (full fare) (as of 2026-07; source: fares). Seats are limited and often sell out — book ahead on the official system.
Q: What if the train is sold out? A: Take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle bus instead — A-Line (HSR) NT$283 one-way, B-Line (TRA) NT$254 one-way (as of 2026-07; sources: A-Line / B-Line); times per the official schedule.
Q: Is the train running again? Can it reach Alishan directly? A: Yes. The Forest Railway main line fully reopened on 6 July 2024, running directly from Chiayi Station to Alishan (source: Forestry Agency news).
Q: Can I store luggage at Chiayi Station? A: Yes. lalalocker lists 6 partner storage points around Chiayi Station (large TWD 150/day, small TWD 70/day, as of 2026-07) — store the big bag before heading up and travel light.
Q: I’m arriving by high-speed rail — how do I get to Alishan? A: From HSR Chiayi take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle A-Line straight up (NT$283 one-way, as of 2026-07). To ride the train or drop luggage first, transfer to TRA Chiayi Station — the two stations are linked by the BRT (routes 7211 / 7212), which runs to the rear entrance of TRA Chiayi Station (source: Chiayi City tourism — BRT) — then take the Forest Railway or the shuttle B-Line.