Alishan

Alishan, high in the central mountains of Taiwan, is a beautiful and atmospheric forest area famous for its misty, ethereal scenery. Its ancient forests of towering, thousand-year-old giant cypress and pine trees are explored on boardwalk trails and by a charming historic narrow-gauge forest railway that winds up through the mountains. Above all, it is renowned for the spectacle of the sunrise, when crowds gather at a viewpoint to watch the sun rise over a vast, rolling sea of clouds filling the valleys below, and for its prized high-mountain oolong tea.

What you actually see

• The sunrise - the dawn over a sea of clouds from the viewpoint.
• The forest railway - the historic narrow-gauge mountain train.
• The giant trees - the ancient cypress and pine forests and trails.
• The high-mountain tea - the prized oolong tea plantations.

When to go

October to April, the cooler, drier season, for the clearest weather and the best chance of a good sunrise over the clouds; the mountain is often misty and can be cold, so bring warm layers. The famous sunrise means a very early, chilly start, joining the crowds at the viewpoint.

Honest expectations

The famous sea-of-clouds sunrise depends on the weather and is not guaranteed, and it means a very early, cold start and a crowded viewpoint, sometimes reached by a special early train. The mountain is often misty, atmospheric but grey. It is high and cool, so pack layers. The ancient forests, the historic railway and, on a good day, the sunrise, though, are genuinely magical.

Nearby

The city of Chiayi and the central mountain tea country are the gateway.