DAY1: Alishan National Scenic Area, Xiaoliyuan Hiking Trail
Chukou Visitor Center at Alishan National Scenic Area
Basing on the construction goals of preserving natural environment and incorporating the original terrains and surrounding mountains, designing methods such as “intertwining landscapes”, “floating”, and “interchanging movements” were implemented. And the end result is a naturally harmonical landscape architecture. Between the Management Center and the rear mountain, a tourists’ backyard was set up with the elements of mini trains, cherry blossoms, Cou tribe gazebo, sacred tree, and tea garden. In front of the Management Center, rows of trees penetrated through the “Plaza of Wind and Rain”, extending the symbolic image of sacred trees all the way to the backyard. Mini railways in the shapes of “之” and “8” have been arranged as the tourists’ main path of movements. Wandering amidst the cherry blossom woods and circling up to the hilltop, tourists would experience the fun similar to climbing up to Alishan. Various kinds of trees also bring biodiversity and changing sceneries and colors of four seasons for the Scenic Area.
Laiji Village
Laiji Village is located at Tashan foothill in Alishan at an elevation of 700-1000m. In the past, the Laiji Village was known as Lalachi and has been the settlement area for Cou indigenous people; and it is further divided into Inner Laiji and Outer Laiji settlements. As the Village is by the mountains, it has also frequently experienced landslide and even avalanche. Cou people believe that these disasters were all due to Tashan Goddess feeling enraged, and that a male symbol is necessary to eliminate these incidents. As a result, they erected a large-scale wooden phallus pillar in order to oust the calamities, which at the same time became an extraordinarily distinctive spiritual symbol for the Village. Entering Laiji Village is equivalent to stepping into Cou’s culture and art village. Large amounts of chisel carved stone slabs were used as construction materials, and this architecture element was applied in the building of hiking trail, garden, plaza, gutter, wall, etc. Laiji has also been known as the “Eternal Village at Tashan Foothill”, which symbolizes continuance and inheritance and would definitely worth a visit.
Laiji Village Guided Tour (Legend Hiking Trail)
Wild Boar fuzz DIY, Archery Experience
DAY2: Tashan Hiking Trail
Laiji Village
Laiji Village is located at Tashan foothill in Alishan at an elevation of 700-1000m. In the past, the Laiji Village was known as Lalachi and has been the settlement area for Cou indigenous people; and it is further divided into Inner Laiji and Outer Laiji settlements. As the Village is by the mountains, it has also frequently experienced landslide and even avalanche. Cou people believe that these disasters were all due to Tashan Goddess feeling enraged, and that a male symbol is necessary to eliminate these incidents. As a result, they erected a large-scale wooden phallus pillar in order to oust the calamities, which at the same time became an extraordinarily distinctive spiritual symbol for the Village. Entering Laiji Village is equivalent to stepping into Cou’s culture and art village. Large amounts of chisel carved stone slabs were used as construction materials, and this architecture element was applied in the building of hiking trail, garden, plaza, gutter, wall, etc. Laiji has also been known as the “Eternal Village at Tashan Foothill”, which symbolizes continuance and inheritance and would definitely worth a visit.
Fenqihu
Fenqihu is located at Zhonghe Village of Zhuqi Township, Chiayi County. As it is surrounded by mountains at its east, west, and north, its shape resembles a dustpan, and it was therefore given the name “Ben Qi (Dustpan) Hu”; later, the name was modified to a more graceful “Fenqihu”. Fenqihu, due to its natural scenery, has gradually developed into a formal scenic area. And as the area is a key traffic hub, it has become not only a place where Alishan Forest Railways must pass through, it is also the meeting point of Alishan Highway, Dahua Highway, and County Highway. Over the recent years, Fenqihu has become Alishan area’s new tourist destination with high development potential.
Alishan National Scenic Area
Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, with its forest railways, Sacred Trees, sea of clouds, sunrise, and cherry blossoms, is the most famous and popular forest recreational area in Taiwan. It is a brilliant jadeite shinning on the Alishan Mountain Range.
Walk amidst Alishan Forest Recreation Area
Giant Trees
After the Alishan Divine Tree collapsed, efforts were made to prevent trampling on the soil by visitors and protect other giant red cypress trees and the roots in the area. Work was done in two stages to open a trail through the cluster of 36 thousand-year old red cypress trees to allow visitors to appreciate the most ancient and strongest red cypress trees in Ali Mountain. Guangwu Red Cypress (Xianglin Divide Tree), Qiansui Red Cypress, Shulingta and the Shenmu Station are important attractions.
DAY3: Cou Tribe Culture, Laiji Village
Leyeh Village
Compared with other Alishan’s tourist destinations at high altitudes, Leyeh is at merely a bit more than 1,200m. For many tourists who cannot bear high-altitude mountains, Leyeh is an excellent choice. Cou people call Leyeh “Lalauya”, which means the maple woods; Leyeh used to have mountains of maple trees, and a maple decorated image is even shown on the entrance sign of the Leyeh Community. Over the past few years, Leyeh, where is suitable for high-altitude and cold-climate agriculture, has begun focusing on exporting its high-mountain teas and wasabi, which have then replaced the maple woods sceneries in the past. Leyeh is also Taiwan’s largest production site of moth orchids, possessing substantially large-scale orchid cultivating techniques and environment.