Alishan Sisters Ponds

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Mimi

Photo:Mimi

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:三個井

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍

Photo:Eva隨手拍
Photo:Eva隨手拍
Photo:Eva隨手拍
Photo:Eva隨手拍
Photo:Eva隨手拍
Photo:Eva隨手拍
Photo:Mimi
Photo:三個井
Photo:三個井
Photo:三個井
Photo:三個井
Photo:三個井
Photo:三個井
Photo:三個井
Photo:三個井
Photo:Eva隨手拍
Photo:Eva隨手拍
Located within the Alishan Forest Recreation Area, the Alishan Sisters’ Ponds are two of the most popular tourist spots of the area. The ponds are two different sized high mountain ponds connecting to each other. They are renowned for the picturesque natural surrounding sceneries and a sad yet beautiful story.  The story is about a couple of Tsou sisters fell in love with the same man. Not wanting to hurt the sisterhood and not able to have the man for themselves, they jumped into separate ponds to end their lives, which are now known as the Elder Sister Pond and Younger Sister Pond. Two cypress pavilions known as the “Missing Pavilions” with wooden bridges connecting the shore were later built on the Elder Sister’s pond with a 180-meter plank surrounding the ponds.

The two Sisters’ Ponds are sized differently. The Elder Sister Pond shapes a bit rectangular with a size of approximate 530 sq. m and the Younger Sister Pond is rounder and smaller with a size of 120 sq. m.  The pond water is rather clean and peaceful without disturbance, just like a mirror reflecting the surrounded sceneries. The ponds are usually high on water level during summer and rather dry during winter.  The Alishan Sisters’ Ponds had a hard time in 2002.  The ponds were drought and the bottoms were seen for the first time.  The nearby ecological areas might have sudden changes with the sky clear and bright in any moment, and mist covering the ponds in the next second.

Words are not enough to describe the loveliness of the Sisters’ Ponds, visit the site and appreciate the natural sceneries!  Along the forest plank near the Sisters’ Pond, the Three Brothers, Four Sisters, Golden Pig Lookalike Tree, Hearted Shaped Tree and many others are waiting for your explorations.
 
Mimi H.

Directions:

From Chiayi Train Station (嘉義火車站) to Alishan Forest Recreation Area(阿里山國家森林遊樂區):
Take train to Chiayi Train Station (嘉義火車站) and take Chiayi Bus (Alishan route) 嘉義客運(嘉義-阿里山)to the Alishan Forest Recreation Area(阿里山國家森林遊樂區). It takes about 2.5 hours from the Train station to get to Alishan. Chiayi Bus runs at the following times: 06:10 08:10 10:10 12:10 14:10.

From HSR Chiayi Station (嘉義高鐵站) to Alishan Forest Recreation Area (阿里山國家森林遊樂區):
Take HSR to HSR Chiayi Station (嘉義高鐵站) and take BRT to Chiayi Train Station. From there, take Chiayi Bus (Alishan route) to the Alishan Forest Recreation Area (阿里山國家森林遊樂區). It takes about 2.5 hours from the Train station to get to Alishan. Chiayi Bus (嘉義縣公車) runs at the following times: 06:10 08:10 10:10 12:10 14:10.

Today, visitors may visit the Alishan Sacred Tree, Zhaoping and Zhushan by Alishan train at the Alishan Train Station.
Sacred Tree Route 神木線 :
Train runs every 15minutes from 09:30 through 16:30.
(Travel time about 10 minutes)

Zhaoping Route 沼平線:
Train runs every 15 minutes from 09:15 through 16:15.
(Travel time about 10 minutes)

Zhushan Route 祝山線:
Train runs once a day at 06:00. (Travel time about 30 minutes)
Time will be adjusted according to the estimated sunrise time of the day (Visitors may contact the Alishan Train Station at +886-5-267-9833 for more information).

Note:
Time may be adjusted slightly without advance notices.
Drive on your own:
No. 1 National Highway (國道一號): exit from Chiayi Interchange (嘉義交流道) -> 159 County Road (159縣道) -> Chiayi City (嘉義市) -> Wufeng South (North) Road (吳鳳南(北)路) or Mituo road (彌陀路) -> 18 Provincial Highway (18號省道) -> Tsukou (觸口) -> Laitou (瀨頭) -> Shizhuo (石卓) -> Alishan Forest Recreation Area(阿里山國家森林遊樂區)

Near Hotels

Gau Shan Ching Hotel

1.3 km
No.43, Zhongzheng Village, Alishan Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan
TWD2,700+

Ho Fong Villa Hotel

1.4 km
No.51, Zhongzheng Village, Alishan Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan
TWD2,200+

Near Attractions

Alishan Sacred Tree

Alishan Forest Recreation Area

Alishan National Scenic Area