Most visitors to Fenqihu come for the old street and the lunchboxes. This pleasant trail climbing to one of Chiayi's lesser-visited Taiwan 100 Minor Peaks is a short scooter ride out of town, and rewards those who venture a little further with bamboo groves, fine forest, monkey sightings, and a summit view from nearly 2,000 metres up.
CHIAYI COUNTY EASY HIKES
TEFUYE GIANT CAMPHOR TREES and BAMBOO TRAIL (特富樟樹巨木群/特富野竹林步道)
The Tefuye Trail is a short, easy hike circling the Tsou tribal village of Tefuye in Chiayi's Alishan Township. The trail takes hikers through a small-scale coffee plantation, past a giant camphor grove, and back down along a bamboo-lined trail. Along the way, visitors can also take a look at this aboriginal village's tribal architecture and enjoy the local coffee.
MOUNT DULI (獨立山)
Mount Duli National Trail takes hikers up from Zhangnaoliao Station to Dulishan Station, crossing paths with Alishan Forestry Railway at several points, with a possible detour to a huge hikers’ kitchen in a temple.
ERYANPING TEA TRAIL (二延平步道)
This beautiful trail in the hills of Chiayi's Fanlu Township has been voted one of the top 100 trails in Taiwan and it's not hard to see why. Wisps of mist weave through bamboo and a sea of clouds laps at tea-covered slopes — it is a quintessentially Taiwan trail.
ZHUKENG STREAM TRAIL (竹坑溪步道)
This pleasant walk in Chiayi County takes in several waterfals, including one which cascades dramatically over a rock face.
SHUISHAN GIANT TREE TRAIL (水山神木步道)
The Shuishan Giant Tree Trail is an easy walk in the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area that is suitable for hikers of all levels of experience. The trail takes you through old forests and along old railway tracks.
TEFUYE HISTORIC TRAIL (特富野古道)
Tefuye Historic Trail has been reinvented several times over the years. It started off as a hunting and trading route for the Tsou aboriginals who live in the region. Later, the Japanese turned it into a logging railway, and now it has a third life as a much-loved hiking trail.
LIJIA ROMANTIC CAVE TRAIL (里佳風流洞步道)
The small village of Lijia—known as Niae’ucna to its 300-odd Tsou inhabitants—sits deep in the hills of Chiayi County. The Romantic Cave Trail takes you on a brief wander past a couple of spots that hold spiritual or cultural significance to the tribesfolk, and as such, it is a great way to simultaneously enjoy nature and learn more about the village.
TAIXINGYAN TRAIL (太興岩步道)
This short walk in Chiayi's Meishan Township offers pretty mountain scenery and a gentle way to stretch your legs on the drive up to Ruitan or Fenqihu.
CHASHAN FIRE and WATER SPRING (茶山水火同源)
Deep in the lush green hills of Chiayi's Alishan Township, this short trail on the edge of Chashan Village hides a bizarre natural phenomenon. Here, gas and water bubble up through the earth's surface at the same spot, giving rise to a perpetual flame surrounded by a spring.
LITTLE SOUTH CHINA SEA LOOP (小南海O型)
This short loop in the flatlands of Chiayi is a gentle way to stretch your legs on a lazy afternoon.
ALISHAN GIANT TREE BOARDWALK TRAILS (阿里山巨木群棧道)
If you're planning a trip to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area and only have time to do one walk, make sure it is this one.
BIRD DIVINATION PAVILION TRAIL (鳥占亭步道)
This trail on the fringes of Dabang tribal village is a short walk that climbs to a pavilion with cultural significance for the local Tsou population.
FENQIHU CEDAR BOARDWALK TRAIL (奮起湖杉林步道)
This short and pretty loop in the hills near Fenqihu will get you away from the crowds of the historic railway town and onto quiet and beautiful forest trails.
FENQI TRAIL (奮起步道)
This short and well-kept walk skirts around the historic town of Fenqihu in Chiayi's Zhuqi Township. Along the way, you can enjoy majestic bamboo forests and hear the melodic sounds of so much bird life.