In its 2025 publication, Epic Train Trips of the World, the internationally acclaimed travel publisher Lonely Planet hailed the Alishan Forest Railway as one of the world’s 200 most amazing railways. In the chapter “Out of the Woods on the Alishan Forest Railway,” a full four pages are dedicated to introducing the history and wonders of this century-old forest railway. Chau-Jean Lin, the UK-based writer who personally carried out interviews and wrote the chapter, revisited Alishan on April 7-8 this year to witness the complete railway after the full restoration of the entire line. This journey was of great significance to both writer Chau-Jean Lin and the Alishan Forest Railway. When Lin visited in 2024, the railway was only open up to Shizilu Station due to the incomplete restoration work. She then took a bus to get up the mountain. This time, accompanied by staff from the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office, Lin set off from Chiayi Station to visit her destination, Alishan, bringing along her book. This allowed her to complete the last 16.6 kilometers of the railway journey between Shizilu and Alishan stations, and also enabled her and her family to personally experience the world-famous “zigzagging” loop route, where they witnessed the wonders of travelling across the entire century-old forest railway. Chau-Jean Lin currently resides in the UK and has long observed international railway culture and travel trends. She said that the Alishan Forest Railway has irreplaceable value due to its “Cultural Landscape,” which is reflected not only in the richness of the natural environment, but also in the lives of ordinary people around the small stations along the line. During her follow-up visit, Lin made a point of sharing this international recognition with the villagers of Shizilu and the forestry workers whose stories were documented in the book. She observed that after departing from Chiayi, the scenery outside the window gradually transitioned from farmland to mid-altitude bamboo forests, tea plantations, and Japanese cedar forests, showcasing extremely attractive biodiversity. The postman delivering mail at Jiaoliping Station, the railway workers at Fenqihu, and the local residents at Shizilu Station are core elements of this “living cultural heritage.” During her trip, Lin experienced firsthand the unique railway engineering design, which included the spiral and zigzag shapes. As the train traveled along the zigzag section of the railway, the discussion in the carriages on the interesting phenomenon known as “the train hitting the wall” added cultural depth to this otherwise technology-heavy journey. In addition, she was also deeply impressed by the murals created by Tsou artists at the entrance of Tunnel No. 42, considering the work a masterpiece that combines engineering with local indigenous culture. After arriving in Alishan, Lin visited the “Shuishan Healing Trail,” a natural path that embodies the concept of “Rail-side Trail” that preserves the original dirt road and the flourishing fern ecosystem. She stated that the Alishan Forest Railway has transformed from a simple means of transportation into a profound cultural route that brings together natural soundscapes (such as the calls of the collared bush robin) with high-altitude hiking. Wang Jau-Pao, Director of the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office, said that inviting writer Chau-Jean Lin to visit the railway after its full completion represents the most sincere response to international readers from the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office. Director Wang emphasized that after receiving recognition from international media, the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office will continue to dedicate itself to the protection of cultural heritage and the maintenance of the environment along the railway with even greater humility. This will also serve as motivation to optimize the experience of every journey, making this iconic railway a window for Taiwan to engage in warm dialogue with the world.
Home
Taiwan High Speed Rail