Giant Trees Trail

The Giant Trees Trail (also called the Sacred Trees area or Shenmu zone) winds through a section of the ancient cypress forest near Shenmu station, passing some of Alishan's most impressive surviving old-growth trees. Many of the trees are hundreds of years old — the forest was already ancient when Japanese foresters began logging it in 1906 — and the survivors are enormous: trunk circumferences of five to eight metres are not unusual.

The trail is accessible on foot from the resort village (about 40 minutes) or by the Shenmu branch railway. The boardwalk paths are well-maintained and accessible. Early morning visits avoid the worst of the crowds, and in the mist the ancient trees have a particular atmosphere. Plan 1.5–2 hours for a relaxed walk through the main circuit.

things to do sight
A story
The original Sacred Tree — a single cypress believed to be over 3,000 years old — was toppled by a typhoon in 1997 and struck by lightning again in 1998, destroying the upper portion. What remains is a vast stump that visitors still come to see, and nearby you can find the "Tree Spirit Pagoda," a small shrine built on the stump of another fallen ancient cypress to placate the spirits of the forest that were disturbed by the Japanese-era logging.