Chiayi

It was as comfortable as Japan's Shinkansen bullet train. I was glad I could use it at half price for a one-way trip. Booking was also smooth.

It was really breathtaking to see the sunrise and the Alishan tour was amazing. The tour guide is so knowledgeable and interesting. Can really connect with the group. They also arrange transport to send us to High Speed Rail at the train station. Thumb up for the tour

The itinerary was well-planned, and the food and accommodations were of excellent quality. The shuttle bus was safe and comfortable, allowing the elderly to rest well on the bus.

I also participated in a tour in January, so this was my second time. I feel bad about the difficulty of communication on local tours because I don't speak Chinese (and my English is quite shaky), but when I participated in January, I was able to communicate fairly well using a translation app on my phone, so this time I also informed them in advance that I couldn't speak the language before signing up. I usually go alone wherever I can (I've been to Alishan once by Taiwan Tourist Shuttle bus), but tours are definitely more efficient for sightseeing. Our driver this time, Wang Wang, used LINE's translation function to communicate frequently in the group chat, and he also shared a lot of local information during the hike, which made it incredibly enjoyable. Thank you so much for your kindness. The group from Hong Kong who were in the same car were also very cheerful, and we had a wonderful day. Alishan truly has beautiful scenery, and walking there feels like a cleansing experience. It has become a precious memory.

Key Points: 1. Based on this experience, it's highly recommended to book your train in advance through the official website. Even if the train is crowded, this guarantees priority boarding and a seat. 2. Scanning QR codes along the way is incredibly convenient. Saving screenshots allows free access to the Alishan ticket office; this also means you can take a bus from the transfer station to Fenqihu, although the round trip takes time, so travelers only having one day should consider their time. Random Thoughts & Impressions: At the Chiayi Station bus stop, a man was constantly calling out to passengers waiting to take the bus up the mountain. It was easy to mistake him for an official staff member maintaining order. However, he kept using a threatening tone and exerting psychological pressure, saying there were only 26 seats on the bus and those arriving later wouldn't be able to get on, and that our family happened to be in the first row where no one could get on. This put a lot of pressure on the later arrivals. It wasn't until we negotiated prices with them that we realized he was actually running a private charter service. Actually, there were standing room and empty seats on the bus, it just depended on the location. Standing all the way up the mountain for about 2.5 hours was indeed very tiring, and it was especially uncomfortable for me and my child to sit in a seat made up of wheelchair space. But what surprised me this time was that someone in my family who gets carsick even on oxcarts, and someone like me who gets carsick on highways… didn't get carsick on the mountain road this time?! Even I found it incredible. Perhaps it was because the driver kept the accelerator steady, without flooring it or braking suddenly, and maintained a certain speed uphill.

Both the sweet and savory meals were delicious, and the train stopped twice to explore, listen to historical stories, and take photos of Turtle Island. The interior of the train was upscale and comfortable, and the service staff were very friendly.