Tea was originally planted in mid-elevation areas, such as the Dong Ding and Wenshan regions. Alishan was one of the early experimental sites for cultivating high-mountain tea in Taiwan. The name Alishan can be traced back to the Chiayi County Annals (Volume 1) on land, published in June 1967, which contains a description of Alishan dating back to 245 years before its publication, or 1717 in the Gregorian calendar, during the 56th year of Emperor Kangxi`s reign.
The township of Wufeng, with its bamboo and green clouds, notes that Alishan was originally a hunting area. According to legend, the leader of the indigenous people at that time was named Alishan, hence the hunting area was called Alishan. A mountain railway was built from Chiayi City to Alishan, cutting through mountains and featuring steep and rugged terrain, creating a distinct style. This shows that the name Alishan has been in use for 300 years and was originally an indigenous hunting ground. Tea planted on Alishan benefits from distinct seasons, humid air, and mild temperature variations between spring (20-30 degrees Celsius) and winter (10-20 degrees Celsius), although there are still seasonal temperature differences. The tea leaves receive balanced sunlight and fog, resulting in a rich and layered flavor with a slight initial stimulation followed by a strong, sweet aftertaste, which is characteristic of Alishan tea.
The Alishan Forest Railway, besides the sunrise, is another geographical symbol of Alishan and also the origin of the Alishan tea packaging design. The Alishan Forest Railway is one of the three major mountain railways in the world, alongside the Central Andes Railway in Peru and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in India. Furthermore, the Fenqihu bento is another famous product; its fame comes from the tradition of travelers eating lunch at Fenqihu during their midday stop on the journey from the Chiayi Beimen Station to Alishan. Due to the unpredictable weather in the mountains, special attention must be paid to railway traffic to avoid being stranded on the mountain
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