A day trip to Tianchangdiijiu Bridge, Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, and a tea-picking experience

hassle free tour at alishan with a side trip for tea picking. this is a great experience that will make you fall in love with nature. our chinese driver is very accommodating and do his best to speak to us in english. the van is also spacious and has enough leg room for you to stretch your legs after a long walk.

The Alishan trip was incredibly interesting, and a special thanks to our driver and guide, Brother Xun! For me, even though the journey was quite long, the car ride was very comfortable, and I took many photos along the way. In the morning, we first visited the Tianchang and Dijiu Bridges. The morning air was slightly cool and very peaceful, with occasional bird calls. Walking up the stone path, the Tianchang Bridge gradually came into view, surrounded by lush vegetation on both sides, creating a very pleasant scene. Walking down, we saw the gurgling stream, creating emerald ripples. Then, we drove up the mountain to a tea plantation for a tea picking and tasting experience. As we ascended to higher altitudes, we saw faint white mist caressing the mountaintops at the turns of the mountain road, which was particularly charming on a rainy day. Upon arriving at the tea plantation, the hosts gave us a warm welcome. Their house was filled with potted flowers and plants, adding a lively touch to the tranquility. The tea fields stretched layer upon layer, with new buds beginning to emerge. The hosts shared a lot of knowledge about tea, and we learned about the unique flavor characteristics of Alishan tea. During our conversation, we moved to the workshop to see the tea production machinery. It was then that I realized how much effort goes into making tea, as even small leaves require a long time to roast before becoming a brewable drink. We tasted high-mountain Oolong and Jin Xuan teas, which left a lingering fragrance in our mouths. Paired with preserved plums and tea jelly, it was a perfect combination. I love Oolong tea, so I bought some tea leaves, feeling like it was a direct purchase from the origin, which was excellent. After leaving the tea plantation, our guide, Brother Xun, took us to the Alishan National Scenic Area. Brother Xun's timing was perfect. After lunch in the scenic area, we entered from Zhaoping Station. The wood inside had a lovely fragrance, and we then walked along the wooden boardwalk. We then saw naturally formed tree hollows and passed by attractions like Sister Ponds, Three Brothers, and Four Sisters, beginning to feel the unique charm of the Alishan forest. The pond water was crystal clear, and the fir trees seemed to reach for the sky, a magnificent sight that even a phone camera struggles to capture proportionally. There were also many exotic flowers. When Brother Xun helped us find the best photo spots, he also meticulously introduced us to the names of these plants. It was my first time seeing cherry blossoms' fruit, tiny dark purple drops hanging like water droplets on the branches. Broken logs were covered in moss, and even though it was early summer, it still felt like spring. There were also some monkeys playing and running among the trees, indicating excellent ecological preservation. There was even a school at such a high altitude. While walking, I faintly heard the school bell, adding a hazy beauty to the misty forest. It was then that I realized the inconvenience of the rainy day was smoothed over by this gentle atmosphere; there was no earthy smell, only the fresh scent of plants. Further along, we saw the Three Generations Tree, where new trees grew from a fallen one, embodying a vibrant life force of growing freely against time. Further still, we saw even larger trees, defying the elements, leaving only traces of passing time. We followed Brother Xun to take the train from Shenmu Station. While waiting for the train, the warm lights of the station in the dim rain transformed into blurry specks, stretching in a line, like stepping into a fairy tale world. Escaping the rain into the train, sitting on the soft sofa seats, drowsiness set in. Breathing in the misty air, we unknowingly arrived at Alishan Station. I bought Alishan Forest Railway themed postcards at the souvenir counter, returning joyfully. Descending the mountain with a light drizzle, I recalled everything from the day in the car and still felt it was incredibly beautiful. I am very grateful to Brother Xun and for this trip. Alishan is truly worth visiting, even on a rainy day, it feels warm.

Honestly, I was hesitant about choosing this tour because there weren't many reviews from Koreans, but to cut to the chase, it was an excellent choice. I wanted to share my positive experience, so even though the guide didn't ask, I'm writing this review on the way back! First, for someone like me who loves to sleep in, the hotel pickup was a huge plus, and the car, which we had to sit in for quite a while, was very comfortable. Our guide was simply wonderful. He was cheerful, provided a lot of information, and allowed us to explore freely. His attentiveness to each guest was very impressive. I've traveled to many places, and he was one of the best guides I've ever met. Also, if you have even a slight interest in tea, I highly recommend this tour! The owner of the tea farm personally taught us how to pick tea leaves and shared various stories, and we also got to taste the tea. There was no pressure to buy anything, so it was a comfortable atmosphere where you could just enjoy and leave if you wished! However, the owner isn't perfectly fluent in English, so if you speak a little Chinese, you might enjoy the experience even more deeply! (Even if you don't speak Chinese, I think he'll still take good care of you.) Although I'm a bit tired on the way back, I have absolutely no regrets. In fact, I'd even want to come back with my family next time. I hope this helps others who are having similar thoughts.

We had so much fun 🥳! Our tour guide, Dunken Gege, was incredibly enthusiastic ❤️ and provided such great emotional support 🥰🥰🥰! When our throats felt a bit sore at night, he even took us all over Taichung to find a pharmacy! He was so patient ❤️❤️❤️ and the experience was fantastic!!

Even though it rained in the morning, it didn't affect our plans and actually added a unique charm to the experience. The weather started to improve in the afternoon, and we were lucky enough to see a cloud waterfall on our way back, along with a sunset that looked like a salted duck egg yolk.

Transport arrangements was great with pick-up and drop-off at our hotel. Clean and comfortable vehicle, spacious for the entire trip as the drives were pretty long. We could only look at Eternal Bridge from the bottom as it was closed and couldn't cross the bridge. Alishan was so beautiful. Quiet and serene. We were lucky that it was not crowded day based on the guide's experience. Tea-picking experience and tea-tasting was interesting too. We learnt a lot from the local tea farmer and had great variety of tea to sample.

Our trip was very smooth under the guidance of Brother Dunken. His driving skills are excellent 👍, and his explanations were thorough, reminding us of many important details. He managed the time perfectly and even shared many tips for taking great photos. The scenery at Alishan is fantastic and it's a great place for a shared car tour.

This was a wonderfully arranged experience. Our guide and driver, Dunken Ge, provided excellent introductions to Taichung's attractions and points of interest. He was also incredibly thoughtful, helping us take photos and clearly outlining meeting times and routes, which allowed us to plan our time effectively while visiting Alishan. We are grateful for his humorous and warm guidance, which made our Alishan trip full of laughter and wonderful memories. His professional tour advice also put our minds at ease! The hands-on experience of picking and tasting tea was truly special and delightful. I'd also like to recommend to everyone that the weather in Alishan after the Qingming Festival is even more comfortable, making it a great time to visit.

Overall, I really enjoyed the Alishan tour with Wilson. We started with Alishan, enjoying the nature and stunning views, which were totally worth the long journey. As we finished the itinerary early, Wilson even brought us to an extra Alishan viewpoint that wasn’t in the plan, which was a great bonus. After that, we did the tea-picking experience. The tea garden owner was very friendly, and we were lucky enough to catch the sunset from the tea garden, such a special experience. The group was small (8 pax), making it feel like an exclusive private tour. Wilson is helpful, chill, and patient. He always waited for us to take photos, helped take pictures, and followed us along the Alishan trail while sharing stories and explanations.

The tour guide was awesome!! Super patient!!! With the guide's professional companionship, the experience far exceeded expectations! Throughout the entire trip, they not only planned a reasonable route in advance, informed us of various safety precautions, but also patiently explained things and paid attention to everyone's needs at all times, being careful and responsible. A professional and considerate guide like this is highly recommended!! Most importantly, Alishan is really beautiful!!! The air is super fresh and comfortable!!!