Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights & Activities
The
train station
platform is an obvious place to begin your exploration of Fenqihu, es-
pecially the garage, which accommodates two old engines. Across the tracks and up a
small set of stairs to the left is a fenced-in strand of the curious
square bamboo
(
sìfāng
zhú
).
You can hike the 7km
Fenqihu-Rueili Historic Trail
(Fèn-Ruì Gǔdào) from Fenqihu
all the way to Rueili in about three to four hours. Much of the trail runs through bamboo
forests that look like something out of a
wushu
(martial arts) film. In Rueili the trail ends
(or begins) on the main road into town, close to hotels, restaurants and the visitor centre.
The trail is mapped and signed in English.
Sleeping
Catholic Hostel
HOSTEL $
(Tiānzhǔtáng; 256 1134;
http://aj-centersvd.myweb.hinet.net
;
dm/d with shared bathroom
NT$300/500)
Run by a sweet Swiss sister, the hostel (on the grounds of the Arnold
Janssen Activity Centre) is a cosy, quiet place to stay. The hostel is a few minutes' walk
downhill from the train station.
Eating
Restaurant hours in Fenqihu are not fixed but expect places to close early (or not open at
all) on weekdays. Some local specialities to look for include fresh Alishan wasabi and
'tree tomatoes' (
shù fānqié;Cyphomandra betacea
), which tastes like a combination of
tomato and passionfruit.
Fancylake Hotel
TAIWANESE $
(Fènqǐhú Dàfàndiàn; lunchbox NT$100)
Just behind the train station at the start of the 'old
street', Fancylake is famous for its lunchboxes (
tǐelù biàndāng
) of rice, veggies and
meat, served in special wooden souvenir containers.
Getting There & Away
At the time of writing the railway line between Chiayi and Fenqihu had not yet been re-
stored after being struck by Typhoon Morakot in 2009. There are two buses going to
Fenqihu (NT$181, two hours) from Chiayi train station at 7am and 3.10pm daily.
