
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.
Where it runs36.0 mi · point to point
Fanlu TownshipStart · Chiayi County
Alishan TownshipEnd · Chiayi County
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
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 13Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%176.7 – 2,196.8 mFrom the road
Points of interest3 stops
- Xiding Star Viewing Platform (隙頂之星觀景台)Viewpoint15 mi in
- Highway 18 Viewpoint (65.8 km)Viewpoint22 mi in
- Alishan ViewpointViewpoint36 mi in
Hazards
- Persistent mountain fog
- Tight switchbacks
- Frequent tour buses
Sources
“Multiple hairpin turns of 10%+ gradients have to be negotiated.”
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.
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Alishan Highway.
Alishan Highway
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