▓ The History of Alishan Forestry Railway and Roads： ‧In 1897, Japanese explorers started investigating forestry resources. ‧In 1907, the government started constructing the railway between Chiayi and Jhuci. ‧In 1912, the railway between Chiayi and Erwanping was official operational. ‧In 1913, the railway advanced and reached Jhaoping and Alishan. ‧In 1915, the Mianyue sub-line was completed. ‧In 1982, the Alishan roads were operational. ‧In 1986, the Zhushan sub-line was operational. ‧In 1991, the New Central Cross-Island Highway was fully operational.

Alishan Map

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area Map

▓ Alishan Forestry Railway Tips： ‧Starting Chiyai and passing through 47 tunnels and 72 bridges, the Alishan forestry railway stops at a total of 17 stations along the way, and the total travel time is three hours and 20 minutes. ‧Alishan Station> Altitude: 2216m, Total Length: 71.4 km ‧ShangPing Station> Altitude: 2274m, Total Length: 72.7km ‧The gauge of Alishan railway track: 762mm ( The gauge of the Western Line track: 1067mm )

▓ Locomotive of the Alishan railway trains：

‧The modern diesel locomotive

‧The cordwood transporting train of the early days

▓ Alishan Forestry Railway Stations Altitude and Distance：

▓ Dulishan -> Spiral Route Railway：
As the Chinese name implies, Dulishan is an independent mountain. Joining with the surrounding mountains, they together look like a letter C from above. The alameda starts from the Jhangnaoliao station. It is well maintained and very suitable for most tourists. There are lots of observatory spots for viewing the spiral route railway. The railway spirals Dulishan in three rounds. Two rounds are clockwise and the one other counterclockwise. Then the railway leaves Dulishan in a number eight shaped fashion.

▓ The zigzag mountaineering railway ->Switch Back Railway：
Due to terrain restrictions, the train has to move backward and then forward as it reaches Diyifendao, Dierfendao, and the Shenmu station. It would have to repeat this proceeding or moving method four times before it reaches the Jhaoping station.
This special way of train movements looks as if the train will be crashing into the Alishan walls and so it becomes a tourist attractions and is named “Alishan Train Crashes Walls.”