Yushan National Park & Western Taiwan - Taiwan - page 408

Logging continued into the 1970s, when the first steps towards creating a forest park
were taken. In the 1980s Hwy 18 opened, and the fast connection between Alishan and
Chiayi caused an explosion in tourism. In 2001 the Alishan National Scenic Area (which
covers far more than just this recreation area) opened with the mandate to regulate and
limit development. These days the administration's hands are filled repairing typhoon
damage and getting things back to how they were.
WORTH A TRIP
A HIKING & HOT-SPRING COMBO
The old Central Cross-Island Hwy 8 has yet to be fully restored after typhoon and
landslide damage in 2004, but you can travel east as far as the hot-spring town of
Guguan (Gǔguān) and the Bashianshan Forest Recreation Area (Bāxiānshān Guójiā Sēnlín
Yóulè Qū; www.forest.gov.tw ; admission NT$150; 8am-5pm) .
Guguan was devastated by the 921 earthquake in 1999 and subsequently by
typhoon, but is getting back on its feet. E-Daw Hot Spring (Yīdòu Wēnquán; www.e-
daw.com.tw ; NT$350; 8am-midnight) is a gorgeous Japanese-style hot spring with in-
door and outdoor pools, and the mist-shrouded mountains of Baishianshan as the
backdrop. Bring your own towel. To get there, take the alley beside the 7-Eleven and
walk uphill for about five minutes.
Baishianshan Forest Recreation Area is located 7km west of Guguan. The area
was closed at the time of writing, but you can expect beautiful day-hike options
there when it reopens.
Fengyuan Bus Company MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 2222 3454) has buses to Gu-
guan (NT$197; 1½ hours) departing from Taichung HSR station five times a day on
weekdays and roughly hourly on weekends between 7am and 6pm. For Bashian-
shan, alight at Duming Bridge (Dǔmíng Qiáo), just 2km before the bus reaches Gu-
guan; from there it's a 5km walk to the Baishianshan visitor centre.
Sights & Activities
Alishan Forest Train OLD TRAIN
The train used to run on narrow-gauge track (762mm), ascending to 2216m from a start-
ing altitude of 30m in just 3½ hours. The total length of track is 86km, spanning three
climatic zones. At the time of writing, however, the line was operating only from Chiayi
to its outskirts, and from Alishan village to the Chushan sunrise area. There's no guaran-
tee when the whole line will be restored.