Transport in Chiayi - Lonely Planet Travel Information

Getting there & away

Chiayi is the gateway to the Alishan National Scenic Area. To get there you can take a train, bus or (our favourite) hired scooter.

Contents

Land
Boat

Land

Train

If you are taking the small train to Alishan, note that you can board at Beimen station, northeast of the main station. This station is less crowded and has a few sights nearby, such as the Cochin Ceramic Museum and a Japanese-era station just across the tracks, to help you pass the time while waiting for the train.

There are two trains a day to Alishan (NT399, 3½ hours, 9am and 1.30pm). The earlier train is recommended as afternoon fog in the mountains can obscure views. If you catch the train at Beimen station the schedule is slightly later. During Chinese New Year and other holidays there are more trains scheduled each day. It is advisable to reserve tickets (276 8094, up to two months in advance) beforehand as travel agents and hotels tend to buy them up. You can make online reservations in Chinese only (forestrailway.forest.gov.tw).

Trains to/from Taipei (fast/slow NT600/462, three/4½ hours) and Kaohsiung (fast/slow NT248/160, one/two hours) run from morning till late at night.

High-speed rail

The HSR station is pretty far from downtown Chiayi but there is a shuttle bus (NT42, 40 minutes, every 20 min) between the two. The stop in Chiayi is behind the train station. Look for the BRT (bus rapid transit) signpost. At the time of writing there were trains (NT1080, 90 minutes) about every hour to/from Taipei.

Bus

Buses to Alishan (NT214, 2½ hours) usually leave every two hours from early morning to late afternoon from the Chiayi County Bus Company (224 3140) station to the right of the train station as you exit. The full schedule (in English) is available at the visitor centre or at the bus station itself.

There are Kuo Kuang Hao buses (NT368, three hours) to/from Taipei every hour.

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