Alishan Hotel
Alishan Hotel is a mountain resort in the Alishan Forest Recreation Area at about 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) elevation, featuring two main buildings with modern rooms in both contemporary and historic structures. The property includes a Chinese restaurant serving traditional dishes, an outdoor coffee shop surrounded by pine trees, and direct access to walking trails leading to nearby attractions such as the forest railway, temple, and scenic viewing areas.
The hotel began as the Alishan Forest Farm Club built in 1913 using local cypress wood, serving as a guesthouse for workers and officials during Japanese rule in the late colonial period. After 1949 it was renamed Alishan Hotel, and in 1965 underwent major renovation to preserve the original wooden structure while adding new guest rooms including traditional Japanese-style tatami rooms.
The hotel's name reflects its location in the Alishan region, and visitors can see century-old Japanese cherry trees planted on the grounds. The traditional wooden architecture and the blend of different cultural influences visible in the buildings tell the story of how this place has been shaped by the people who lived and worked here.
The hotel sits on a high mountain location with walking paths and nearby attractions within easy reach of the property, most accessible on foot from the main building. Visitors should bring their own toiletries as the hotel no longer provides single-use items, and note that pets are not allowed in the forest recreation area.
The original 1913 building was constructed without metal nails using only traditional wooden joinery, a rare carpentry technique that survives to this day. The structure has hosted important political leaders and heads of state, and the century-old Japanese cherry trees on the grounds were planted during this early period of the hotel's history.
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