Chiayi - Alishan National Park ⛰️

After I was thankfully out of the big city, I continued on to Chiayi. A small town at the foot of Alishan National Park, my main goal there. After checking into the hostel, I walked through the town and got a snack at the night market. Today, however, I decided not to eat there, but just to walk through, because a day without a night market in Taiwan is not a real day. But this time I ate at a real Taiwanese BBQ. But then I went to bed early, because my alarm went off at 5. I wanted to take the first bus to the national park at 6. After I arrived after a 2-hour bus ride, I was amazed at how cold it was there - a full 15 degrees. At 2400m above sea level, the temperature was different, which I hadn't expected. But it felt so good to finally be out of this constant heat. Unfortunately, it was raining and quite foggy, but Alisha is also known for the fact that the clouds always get stuck there. So I put on my rain jacket and hood and off I went. First I hiked a bit through the forest and walked along the hiking trails, crossing the train tracks every now and then. I looked at the largest cedars in Taiwan and one or two temples along the way. The whole national park is equipped with wooden walkways that you walk along. This national park is very well known for its train line, among other things; it is the highest mountain range in the world. It used to be used to deliver wood, but nowadays it is only open to tourists. With the fog and rain, the whole thing was really mystical and idyllic, even if the wooden walkways were quite slippery. I really wanted to hike the highest mountain in this national park, so I set off. Here too, it rained the whole way up. Thankfully, the rain stopped at the summit, but the fog stayed and unfortunately blocked what was sure to be a breathtaking view. Nevertheless, it was really beautiful up there and I enjoyed my time up there all by myself. It felt so good to finally be above 2000m again and to go hiking up a "real" mountain. But then I had to go back down again because it was pretty windy at the summit and a bit chilly with my thin clothes. In the afternoon I took the bus back through endless tea plantations and a view of endless mountain peaks. The trip up there alone would really be worth it! The evening was then spent relaxing in the hostel. Then it was time to pack my backpack again and move on. 🫶🏼