Alishan’s cherry blossom season is to begin on March 10, with the number of weekend visitors being capped at 16,000 per day, the Chiayi Forest District Office said.
The monthlong festival is to run until April 10, with the Yoshino cherry tree in front of the Forestry Bureau Work Station expected to bloom first, the office said.
The Jushan hiking trail (祝山步道), which has cherry blossom trees on both sides of the trail, is the best place to view Yoshino cherry trees, it said.
Alishan House, an upscale hotel at the Alishan National Scenic Area, is another popular spot to view cherry blossoms, it added.
Lee Chung-chang (李忠璋), director of the Directorate-General of Highways’ (DGH) planning division, said that visitors parking their vehicles on both sides of Highway No. 18 — the main gateway to Alishan — often caused traffic congestion.
To avoid traffic jams, the Alishan Forest Park administration has decided to limit the number of visitors on weekends to 16,000 per day, Lee said.
The figure includes 10,000 group visitors, 2,000 visitors staying at Alishan House, 2,000 independent visitors and 2,000 for those visiting after 11am.
The restrictions are to apply on March 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27, Lee said.
The section from Hudi (湖底) on Highway No. 18 to Tatajia (塔塔加) on Highway No. 21 will be closed to traffic from 6am to 11am during those three weekends, he said.
Group tours must purchase tickets for entry to the park in advance through the Chiayi Forest District Office Web site.
For independent travelers planning to arrive between 6am and 11am, they can park their vehicles at the parking lot at the 61km mark on Highway No. 18 and take the bus to the park. Bus tickets can be purchased in advance at the 7-Eleven, Hi-Life and Family Mart convenience stores.
Independent visitors can also take Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport’s bus services leaving from Taipei, Taichung and Kaohisung. They can enter Alishan Forest Park at a discounted ticket price NT$150.
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