Alishan Zhaoping Line: Where Do You Exchange the Combo Ticket QR?
The entry QR is scanned at the park gate and the train QR at Alishan Station — one combo, two places to use it.
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"I bought the Zhaoping Line ticket together with my park entry. Can I just show the QR and board?" The Zhaoping Line (沼平線) is a forest branch train that links Alishan Station and Zhaoping Station in about six minutes. A combo of park entry and train ticket isn't a single scan, though. Based on the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's Alishan Forest Railway pages and its official e-ticket site, here's how the exchange works, the timetable, and what to do after Zhaoping, as of October 2026.
01 · Alishan Zhaoping Line Tickets at a Glance
| Entry + Zhaoping combo | Buy separately on site | Branch-line day pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard fare | NT$300 (entry + one ride) | Entry NT$300 + train NT$100 | NT$400 (entry not included) |
| Where to buy | Official e-ticket site 森林好好玩 (Forest Pass) | Train: Alishan Station 2F window (08:30–16:30) or railway web booking | Alishan Station 2F (day before or same day) |
| How to use | Entry QR at the gate; train QR swapped for a paper ticket at Alishan Station | Paper ticket (no e-tickets on branch lines) | Unlimited rides on all three branch lines on the stamped date |
| Valid | Within two days of first use | Date of travel | One day; two-day pass NT$500 |
Fares are from official pages as of October 2026. The Forest Pass combo lists NT$400 (entry 300 + train 100) for NT$300, so the Zhaoping ride effectively comes with a standard entry ticket. Children aged 6–11 or 115–150 cm tall ride for half (NT$50); under 6 or under 115 cm ride free without their own seat. Entry drops to NT$150 if you arrive with a public bus or train ticket stub, so keep yours.
02 · Using the Combo QR: What Goes Where
Entry QR at the park gate Staff at the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area tollgate (收費站) scan the QR and you're in. The official site says e-ticket holders also skip the parking fee.
Train QR becomes a paper ticket at Alishan Station You don't tap the Zhaoping QR at the gate. Show it to staff at Alishan Station, get a paper ticket, then go through.
Use everything within two days Once you use any part, the rest must be used by 23:59 the next day. Entering on day one and riding the next morning works.
No refunds after exchange Once any part is used or exchanged, the combo can't be refunded. If the weather is uncertain, swap the train QR once your plan is set.
Bring your passport Railway staff may ask for ID matching your ticket type. For a child fare, carry the child's passport.
03 · Alishan Zhaoping Line Timetable and Day Pass
| From Alishan | From Zhaoping | |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 09:00 · 09:30 · 10:00 · 10:30 · 11:00 · 11:30 | 09:20 · 09:50 · 10:20 · 10:50 · 11:20 · 11:50 |
| Afternoon | 13:00 · 13:30 · 14:00 · 14:30 · 15:10 · 15:40 | 13:20 · 13:50 · 14:20 · 15:00 · 15:30 · 16:00 |
| Ride time | About 6 min | About 6 min |
This is the official timetable (in effect since July 6, 2024; as of October 2026). There's a 90-minute midday gap after 11:30, and the last train from Zhaoping back to Alishan leaves at 16:00. On Wednesdays a cypress-wood (檜木) carriage is attached.
When the day pass pays off The NT$400 day pass (NT$500 for two days) covers unlimited rides on the Zhaoping, Shenmu (神木) and Zhushan (祝山) lines. Zhaoping plus Shenmu one way each is only NT$200, but add a Zhushan round trip (NT$300) the same day and the pass saves NT$100. Park entry isn't included.
Web booking opens 14 days ahead Railway web booking runs from 14 days to one day before travel. Branch lines have no e-tickets, so collect paper tickets at a station window or a 7-Eleven ibon kiosk.
Zhushan sunrise train The sunrise departure time is posted at 16:30 the day before on the railway website, at Alishan Station and at the park gate. The day pass isn't valid for the New Year's Day sunrise train.
04 · Walking Down from Zhaoping Station
Zhaoping Station sits higher than Alishan Station, so ride up and walk down. From Zhaoping, head toward Sister Ponds (姊妹潭), pass Shouzhen Temple (受鎮宮) and the Giant Tree Trail (巨木群棧道), and loop back toward Alishan Station. The Shuishan (水山) trail is also reached on foot from Zhaoping Station.
If it rains, the electric park shuttle The park's electric shuttle (電動遊園車) Xianglin route stops at Xianglin stop next to Shouzhen Temple and links to the visitor center. It's priced separately from the railway and runs on demand rather than to a timetable, according to its sales page.
Riding back? Plan around 16:00 If you'd rather take the train down from Zhaoping, work your day backward from the 16:00 last train.
Check mountain weather The forest is above 2,000 m, cooler than the lowlands, and the weather changes fast. In typhoons or heavy rain the park may close fully or in part, so check railway and park notices before you go.
"持電子憑證(QR Code)至阿里山車站，給服務人員掃描QR code後，兌換實體票後入場." — The official ticket site's instruction for the Zhaoping combo: show the QR to staff at Alishan Station and exchange it for a paper ticket before entering.
If you eat in Chiayi (嘉義) before or after the mountain, start with the Alishan / Sun Moon Lake food map. It includes the turkey-rice spot 嘉義車頭火雞肉飯 near Chiayi Station and the hand-drip café 幸福原在咖啡 across from the Old Chiayi Prison.
Find Alishan and Chiayi food on the map
Pin a few Chiayi stops before or after the mountain so the day feels less rushed.