When most people think of Taiwan, they picture the bustling city of Taipei with its many monuments, museums, and endless food options. But Taiwan is much more than that: just outside its busy city streets lies a natural world with unique features that set Taiwan apart from the rest of the world as a natural paradise.
Alishan, or Mount Ali, is a famed mountain for its Five Wonders: the Railway, the Forest, the Sunrise, the Sunset, and the Sea of Clouds. Each of these Five Wonders could merit their own posts, but I’ll speak briefly on them.
The Alishan Railway has three routes with carefully maintained steam-powered engines taking tourists on a scenic journey around the area. The Forest is a beautiful site with an array of tropical trees and incredible blooms during cherry blossom season. The Sunrise and Sunset are both renowned attractions that see trains full of people daily. Some days are better than others for these incredible views, but they are well worth it for the breathtaking vision of color beyond the mountaintops. The Sea of Clouds is a precipitation phenomenon which occurs in the mountains due to Taiwan’s high levels of humidity and cool air atop the mountain in contrast with the sea-level’s sub-tropic climate.
All of these are incredible to see, but bear in mind that Alishan’s scenic views come with high altitudes and a very different climate that the cities. Bring warmer clothes and prepare for thinner air.
