Zhaoping Park

Zhaoping Park, with an elevation of 2274 meters, offers the most expansive views among Alishan's cherry blossom viewing spots. After disembarking from the Alishan Forest Railway's Chushan Line at Zhaoping Station, visitors are immediately greeted by Zhaoping Nature Park. From the highest point in the park, one can even enjoy distant views of the Alishan mountain range. This place was originally a logging village established by residents of Zhongzheng Village in Alishan. Later, with the increase in tourists, it became the liveliest shopping and hotel street of its time. However, a large fire in the winter of 1976 destroyed over a hundred homes and the entire Zhaoping commercial district. It was only then that the Forestry Bureau renovated and planned the current Zhaoping Park. Consequently, most of the cherry trees in the park were planted after this fire. Although they are not as old as the 70 to 80-year-old Yoshino cherry trees in other viewing spots, this area boasts the highest density of cherry trees in all of Alishan, with approximately 600 cherry trees throughout the park, making it the most crowded place for flower viewing. Zhaoping Park covers a vast area and is home to a wide variety of alpine plants, serving as a major hub for diverse floral species in Alishan, making it possible to enjoy flowers almost all year round. Besides the common wild cherry and Yoshino cherry blossoms in spring, there are also numerous camellias, hydrangeas, Rhododendron morii, winter jasmines, and weeping crabapples, among others. Even when most of the mountain cherry blossoms have faded, late-blooming mountain cherries often make a quiet appearance here. In addition to flower viewing, Zhaoping Park is also an excellent spot for birdwatching. Furthermore, the park's landscaping is quite picturesque, with trails and small bridges for visitors to enjoy. Coupled with the Alishan trains that frequently pass by Zhaoping Station, the overall environmental reconstruction has been remarkably successful, making it well worth a visit.