Satellite map of Alishan Highway

Chiayi County · Taiwan

Alishan Highway

18Fanlu Township to Alishan Township

Distance36.0 mi58 km
Drive time1 h 19 minon the road
DifficultyModeratetightness 7 of 10
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Highway 18 climbs out of the Chiayi plain through tea slopes and cedar forest to Alishan above 2,000 metres, 200 corners with the fog drifting in and out of the trees. Half the time you can’t see a thing, and somehow that’s exactly the point.

Highway 18, the Alishan Highway, climbs from the Chiayi plain through tea slopes and cedar forest to the Alishan resort above 2000 metres, continuing toward Tatajia near Yushan. The paved road is long, winding and often wrapped in mountain fog. Mind the dense fog, tight switchbacks and tour-bus traffic.

Scenery

MountainForestValley

Best seasons

SpringAutumnWinter

In these collections

Where it runs36.0 mi · point to point

Fanlu TownshipStart · Chiayi County
Alishan TownshipEnd · Chiayi County

Character

Corners200bends
Tightness7of 10
Max gradient10%≈ 1-in-10
Hairpins15tight bends
Climb2,519 mtotal ascent
Summit2,196.8 mhighest point of the line · 7,207 ft

Corners

busiest around mile 13
91827 mi

Elevation

under 4%4–8%over 8%176.7 – 2,196.8 m
summit · 2,196.8 m 5001,0001,5002,000 m 01836 mi

From the road

Points of interest3 stops

  • Xiding Star Viewing Platform (隙頂之星觀景台)Viewpoint
    15 mi in
  • Highway 18 Viewpoint (65.8 km)Viewpoint
    22 mi in
  • Alishan ViewpointViewpoint
    36 mi in

Hazards

  • Persistent mountain fog
  • Tight switchbacks
  • Frequent tour buses

Sources

Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked

Driving the Alishan Highway: quick answers

How long does it take to drive the Alishan Highway?
Alishan Highway runs 36.0 miles (58 km) and takes about 1 h 19 min to drive without stops.
How difficult is the Alishan Highway to drive?
We rate it moderate: 200 corners including 15 hairpins, a maximum gradient of 10%, and a tightness of 7 out of 10.
When is the best time to drive the Alishan Highway?
Spring and Autumn and Winter are best.

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