Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office

The Office Overview

The Alishan Forest Railway carries over a century of historical memory and reflects Alishan’s transformation from a timber-based landscape into a culturally rich tourism region. It embodies the enduring spirit of human–land interaction. In 2018, the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office was established as a dedicated institution to preserve, interpret, and revitalize this heritage. Through research, interpretation, and educational outreach, the Office conveys the railway’s cultural richness from diverse and inclusive perspectives.

The construction of the Alishan Forest Railway began during the Japanese colonial period. In 1903, the Governor-General of Taiwan launched plans to develop the forests of Alishan. To support timber transport, survey and design work commenced, and in 1906 construction began under the Fujita-gumi company. Due to financial challenges, the project was later taken over and operated by the government.

The construction of the Alishan Forest Railway began during the Japanese colonial period. In 1903, the Governor-General of Taiwan launched plans to develop the forests of Alishan. To support timber transport, survey and design work commenced, and in 1906 construction began under the Fujita-gumi company. Due to financial challenges, the project was later taken over and operated by the government.

In 2019, the “Alishan Forest Railway and Forestry Industry” was designated by the Ministry of Culture as Taiwan’s first national Important Cultural Landscape. The designation affirms the cultural significance of the railway and its surrounding historical environment across five dimensions: natural ecology, forestry development, railway engineering, settlement life, and collective memory—together shaping the distinctive historical and cultural character of Alishan.