Alishan Station is situated on the upper part of the town center.  This station is being used by the trains going into the forest recreation area.  Cherry blossoms can also be seen here.

Alishan Station

Ground Floor of Alishan Station

Alishan Station

Alishan Station

Alishan Station

Map of Alishan Forest Railway

During the day, the ticket counter on the 2nd level is used.  One-way ticket, either going to Zhaoping/Chaoping or Sacred Tree/Shenmu station cost NTD50; a round-trip ticket cost NTD80.  The staff at the counter, though they do not know much English, told me to use the round trip ticket using Alishan-Zhaoping (since it's the next train out) then Sacred Tree-Alishan.  I could walk inside the forest recreation area to go from Zhaoping to Sacred Tree station.

2nd Level of Alishan Station
Tickets can be bought at the counter on the left

Forest Train Schedule

Artwork at the 2nd level of Alishan Station

I was able to hop on the 13:30 train.  It's a scenic 10-minute ride going to Zhaoping Station.

Alishan Station

Going to Zhaoping Station

Zhaoping Station

After getting out of the train, I followed the trail and made sure I'll end up in Sacred Tree Station before 4PM.  My next post contains the sights within the forest area.  I got to my destination just in time for the 3:30PM train back to Alishan Station.

Sacred Tree Station

It was a 10-minute train ride back to the town center.  When I got there, the fog is already starting to envelop the area.

Fog and cherry blossoms at Alishan Station

FYI: Before leaving the station, I bought a ticket for the next morning's sunrise trip.  They pre-sell these tickets from 2:00-5:00PM.  Round-trip ticket cost NTD150 (NTD100 for a single trip).  Check their board as they would also have there the time of the sunrise and the departure of the last train from Jhushan.  These information would most likely be available in the hotel's reception area as well.

The Road to Alishan

I started early today.  I was already out of the hotel and going to Taipei Main Station before 7AM.  I took Exit B3 going to HSR Taipei Station.  The HSR ticket vending machine can be seen right after the exit.  There are also ticket counters available on site.  I bought a ticket to Chiayi for NTD 1080 (reserved seat).  I could have taken the earlier train but I would have to run to the platform to be able catch the it so I just opted for the 7:36AM train.  While waiting to be allowed entry to the platform, I bought some food at the nearby 7-Eleven store. 

For train schedules, visit their site.  They sometimes have discounts for online purchase so it might be better to buy online if you're definite of the time.

HSR Taipei Station

HSR Ticket to Chiayi

Pay attention to the LED boards to know the platform of the train number.  Minutes before the departure time, passengers are allowed into the platform.  Make sure to be there early as the trains leave on time.

Seats on the train looks like those of an airplane.  There's a LED crawler that displays information like train number, destination, time of arrival at specific stops, train speed, next stop and even weather information.

Inside the train

My breakfast

While the train is on the move, I thought I was just seeing a white wall... apparently, it's not.  It's the dense fog affecting some counties.

Dense fog

I got off at Chiayi HSR Station by 9:00AM, as specified in the schedule.

Chiayi HSR Station

There are only 2 buses to Alishan from Chiayi HSR Station, the first one wouldn't be until 10:10AM.  However, there are vans outside the station offering shared ride for a slightly lower price (NTD250 instead of NTD255).  The drivers do not know English, I do not speak Mandarin.  Good thing there are 2 Malaysians (who are also going to Alishan) who did the translation.  These vans are faster than taking the bus, it took less than 2 hours to get there, but be prepared for the ride as the drivers would overtake the other cars most of the time even if the street (going up the mountain) has double yellow lines.

Alishan Bus Schedule

Passing by the city

There are also English signs on the road

Passed by this suspension bridge, which I think is called "Everlasting Bridge"

Cherry Blossoms by the road

Gloomy/Cloudy skies blanketing the mountain ranges

Tea Plantations

Here at last - entrance to Alishan Forest Recreation Area.  Tourists have to pay admission fees here.  Adults pay NTD200 on weekends and NTD150 on weekdays.

The entrance fee receipt looks like a credit card charge slip.  The fee comes with an isurance.  You have to fill it up and make sure to drop filled-up half of the stub at the drop box near the Visitor Center.  A map of the area could also be found at the back of the insurance stub.

Entrance fee receipt and insurance stub

Transportation Options:

• Take TRA to Chiayi Station, then bus to Alishan
• Take THSR to Chiayi HSR Station, then bus to Alishan

Notes: 
There's a free shuttle bus that you could take from Chiayi HSR Station and Chiayi TRA Station or vice-versa in case you want to take the Alishan bus from the other train station.  It's about a 30-minute bus ride in between the stations.
As of this writing, the forest railway from Chiayi Station to Alishan is still under going repair.

Yesterday was tiring so I started late today.  I took the MRT to Jiantan Station and hopped on the R5 bus to Yangmingshan.  From the Tourist Center Stop (the last stop of R5), you could ride Bus 108 to go on the areas within Yangmingshan National Park.  Although, this is my second time here, I'm still not sure where to go so I got off at the Visitor Center.  Please note that it's closed every last Monday of the month, as it is today, so I just need to figure out what to do.

Visitor Center

Yangmingshan Trail and Transportation Map

Around the Visitor Center

I saw a sign that has a clock on it and hoped that it would lead me to the Flower Clock.  I crossed the street going into the garden I've been to before.

Map of Yangming Park

Just passed by this garden (Azalea and Camellia Garden) as I've already explored this area before.

Azalea Garden

Good thing that the trail from the Visitor Center to the Flower Clock is mostly downhill, otherwise I might give up going there.

Signs to the Flower Clock

Path to the Flower Clock

Path to the Flower Clock

After about 20 minutes walk just following the signs to the Flower Clock, I finally reached it.

Flower Clock

Flower Clock

A Floral Expo/Festival at Yangmingshan

A Floral Expo/Festival at Yangmingshan

Bronze Statue of Chiang-Kai Shek

Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossoms

Fountain surrounded by Cherry Blossoms

Transportation:

• Bus R5 from Jiantan MRT Station
• Bus 260 from Taipei Main Station (outside exit M1)

Since I'm planning to go to Xinbeitou from here, I waited for this bus (Bus 129 to Beitou MRT Station).  However, after an hour of waiting, there's not a sign of this bus yet.  I've seen the locals waiting with me go back to the bus stops inside the park.  I followed their lead and just went for Bus 260 to Shilin MRT Station.

Bus 129 Route

Bus 260 Route