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By Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNA
Taiwan’s Alishan was included in the New York Times’ “2025 Travel Destinations: 52 Places to Go This Year,” a collection of 52 idyllic places to visit around the world.
As the only Taiwan destination that made the list, Alishan ranked 19th.
This inclusion on the Times’ list is an important international recognition of Alishan’s rich natural beauty and cultural heritage, Chiayi County Commissioner Weng Chang-liang (翁章梁) said.
Photo: Thomas Bird, Taipei Times
In recent years, the Alishan National Scenic Area Headquarters, Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office and Chiayi County Government have worked together to improve Alishan, enhance its environment and create an international tourist destination, the county government said in a press release today.
With 112 years of history, the 71.4km-long Alishan Forest Railway was finally reopened in July last year after 15 years of repair work.
The railway’s reopening has attracted domestic and international media attention, bringing Alishan once again onto the global stage and introducing Chiayi to the world, Weng said.
Alishan was included in the Tourism Administration’s list of Taiwan’s top 100 highlights as well as the New York Times’ 2025 list of 52 top tourist destinations, receiving both domestic and international recognition, Weng said.
Alishan not only has enchanting natural scenery, but is also famous for its high-quality tea and coffee, Weng said.
Local tea and coffee farmers have won awards at international competitions in recent years, showing their products’ quality and competitiveness, he said.
Chiayi is also home to an indigenous group with a unique culture, the Tsou people, whose distinctive villages are worth visiting, he added.
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