Take in the Alishan Sunrise

Catching the sunrise at Alishan is considered by many to be a ‘must-see’ on a tour of Taiwan. Every morning before dawn, visitors make their way to one of the viewing spots around Alishan and wait for the bright orange sun to emerge from the dark blue screen of mountains. Along with Alishan’s famous ‘sea of clouds’ and a ride on the forest railway, taking in the sunrise is one of the key reasons for visiting this mountainous part of Taiwan.

There are a few different spots that are good to watch it from but all involve a very early start (around 4am).  The most popular place to see the sunrise is on the nearby Zhu Mountain (Zhushan), which can be reached by a 25 minute train ride from Alishan station or a 40 minute hike. Nearby Dadong Mountain is also a popular place to view the sunrise, while those seeking more of a challenge can set off even earlier for a longer hike up Tianhuang Mountain. Don’t forget your camera!