Yesterday, I've seen the shared-ride vans parked in front of 7-eleven and already accepting reservations for the next day's trip back to the city (Chiayi).  Their trips are just up to Chiayi TRA station and they see to it that they leave before the bus leaves.  I asked (or rather asked the help of someone to translate) if they do a Alishan-Fenchihu-Chiayi trip.  They actually do but they only do that for the 11AM trip (in case they were able to gather a group of people who wanted to go the same route) just in time for lunch, for the famous Fenchihu lunch box.  They could only confirm if the trip would proceed before 11AM.  Too bad I don't have the luxury of time.  Maybe if you're a group of 5 or more, you could persuade the driver to go that route.

Discounting the idea of going to Fenchihu, I've planned to take the 9:10AM bus.  I took a back-ride on a staff's scooter going to the bus station and took the shared ride instead for NTD200 (normal bus fare is NTD221 plus this would take me faster to Chiayi).

Scooter Back-ride

The sun is already up on the way to Chiayi

Thank you for visiting Alishan National Forest Recreation Area.  Please come again!

Downtown Chiayi

Chiayi TRA Station

I was already at Chiayi Station before 11AM.  With the time saved on the trip, it allowed me to go to one more destination... Chung Cheng University.  Left my bag at the baggage service station at the left side of the main station.

It was already past 1PM when I got back to Chiayi station.  I claimed my bags and proceeded to the rear of the station to take the bus to Chiayi HSR Station.  The bus ride is about 30 minutes and is free for those going between TRA and HSR stations.  I just missed the HSR train so I need to take the next one at 2:36PM to Taoyuan Station.

To TRA Rear Station Hall

Chiayi TRA to HSR Station

Bus from Chiayi

Chiayi HSR Station

HSR Train

I'm running late, I have a 5:25PM flight to catch.  Normally, I'm at the airport 2-3 hours before the flight... not today.

From Taoyuan HSR Station, I took the U-bus to the airport.  Whew! I made it! I got there more than an hour before the flight!  It was only when I got to the boarding gate that I looked around a bit and took some pictures, at least while waiting for the boarding announcement.

Aboard the U-bus to the airport

TPE Airport

While waiting to board

And that concludes my Taiwan adventure.

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.

I was already at Shifen before 12 noon.  It was still early so I went to Jingtong first, which is the end of the Pingxi line.  One-way train ticket between Shifen and Jingtong costs NTD15.  One thing I noticed though is that they have made Shifen Station (at least for the day) a transfer station.  Either you ride the train that is Jingtong-bound or Ruifang-bound.  This scheme is much better than having the train go the full route of Ruifang to Jingtong.  The trains are most likely stuck in "traffic" when it comes to Shifen because a lot of people are on the tracks.

During this time of the day, the train is not yet that crowded

It was about a 15-20 minute train ride from Shifen to Jingtong.  I've actually passed this town on the bus ride but since it's a non-stop bus, I can just get off at Shifen.  Jingtong was, as they say, the location of TW drama's "The Poor Prince" which stars Vic Chou.  Some scenes from Meteor Garden 2 were also shot here (it's the town where Shan Cai and Lei went into "hiding").

 

There are signs telling people not to walk on the tracks but people still do so, including me.

Train on the Pingxi Line

Jingtong Station

Jingtong Station

Jingtong Railway Story House

Upon exiting the station, I turned left.  This is the way to Lover Bridge (Zhongpu Bridge). 

One needs to go down some steps to get to the bridge.  If you are a fan of Meteor Garden (part 2), the bridge might seem familiar.  This is the bridge where Dao Ming Si got the meteor ring thrown by Shan Cai towards the latter part of the series.

Zhongpu Bridge

Wishes on bamboo tubes hanging by a tree near Zhongpu Bridge

Zhongpu Bridge

I went past the bridge onto the other side and walked the path to the main road but there's nothing to see here so I just went back and continued to the other side of the railway station, walking the length (it's just short anyway) of the most popular street in Jingtong -- Jingtong Old Street.  The stores here sell street foods, souvenirs, guitars among others.

Stores at Jingtong Old Street

Carton King in Jingtong Old Street

Had lunch at this place that's just beside the railroad tracks

Miner's Lunch (pork chop with tofu, seaweeds and other veggies) -- with a view

The path leads to the main road.  Across it is the Tai Young Club and the Japanese Dormitory District.

Path to the main road

Tai Young Club

Tai Young Club

Tai Young Club

Japanese Dormitory District

View from the bridge on the main road

Jingtong landmarks on the main road

While waiting for the train, I went to the other side of the tracks, up the steps to get a view of what's there.  I just got to the area near the station and didn't go for the trail.  I might do that next time.  For now, I just wanted to get back to Shifen.

Up the steps on the other side of the tracks at Jingtong station