Fenqihu tourism increases despite station openings

Fenqihu tourism increases despite station openings

2024-09-04

Apart from its stunning mountainous landscape, Fenqihu in Chiayi is known for its scenic railway and old street. Yet now that the entire Forest Railway line has reopened, the town is no longer the terminal station. As many foreign travelers like to visit Alishan at the end of the line, will Fenqihu no longer see as much tourism? To help the town, one train a day will still stop there for an hour.

A tomahawk pork steak and roasted chicken leg are placed into metal lunchboxes, ready for tourists to enjoy. These famous Fenqihu lunches are a must-have for anyone traveling through.

Traveler
It’s really delicious. Very tasty. I come here just to eat this.

Many tourists can also be seen with a box of freshly made donuts in hand. There are four or five vendors on Fenqihu’s old street alone.

There’s also a long line at this popular aiyu spot. Fenqihu in Chiayi’s Zhuqi Township is surrounded by peaceful mountains. It’s also known for its railway and old street. Yet now that the entire Forest Railway line has reopened, travelers can go straight from Chiayi to Alishan, only passing through Fenqihu. Now that the town is no longer the final destination, some are worried it will affect tourism.

Local vendor
The current plan is for the train to stop here for an hour. Seems like the change won’t affect things much.

Chan Yueh-han
Fenqihu station master
Here at Fenqihu we mostly see domestic tourists on day trips. Alishan is a common destination for many foreigner travelers to Taiwan. We don’t see as many foreign tourists as Alishan does.

Businesses don’t have to worry, because trains heading to Alishan will still stop at Fenqihu for an hour. Some people unable to get train tickets also stop here on their way up the mountain.

Traveler
I wanted to take the train and tried to buy a ticket today, but they were all sold out.

Traveler
It’s been hard to buy tickets. We tried our best, but weren’t able to get them.

Chuang Shu-ting
FTV reporter
This is Fenqihu Old Street, a popular tourist destination. Even after the reopening of the entire Forest Railway line, it’s gotten even busier here.

Whether they take a car here or stop by for a short while on the railway, visitors to Fenqihu are on the rise. Businesses are happy to see the increase in traffic.

Local vendor
It’s gotten busy, about 30% more people.

Local vendor
Business is doing well. A lot of people come on the train.

Fenqihu was already a famous destination, but with the reopening of the complete railway line, more itineraries are possible. Whether going on a two-day visit to see the sunrise at Alishan or taking a day trip, Fenqihu is the top choice for a scenic layaway.

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林鐵通車"奮起湖已非終點站" 人潮不減反增

2024-09-04

嘉義奮起湖除了有優美的山城景色，鐵道和老街更是打卡熱點，不過隨著林鐵全線通車，奮起湖已經不再是鐵路終點站了，而大部分的外籍旅客也都喜歡到阿里山玩，就不免讓人擔心奮起湖人潮會不會因此受到影響？不過還好每日一班開往阿里山的列車，會在奮起湖停留一小時。

鐵盒裡放上香噴噴的戰斧軟燒肉和燜燒烤雞腿，遊客一口接一口吃的好滿足，知名老店奮起湖便當，可以說是來到這裡遊玩，中午休息時的必吃美食。

[[遊客]]
“真的很好吃，很入味，我們是專程來這邊吃這個的”

現烤甜甜圈吃起來酥酥脆脆，不少遊客人手一盒，光是奮起湖老街甜甜圈店就開了四、五間。

大排長龍的愛玉冰也是當地人氣品項，位在嘉義縣竹崎鄉的奮起湖，有著優美療癒的山城景色，鐵道和老街更是打卡熱點，不過林鐵全線通車，旅客可以從嘉義搭車經過奮起湖再上山到阿里山，奮起湖已經不是鐵路終點站，不免讓人擔心人潮是否會出現變化？

[[當地攤商]]
“目前是規劃他們會在這邊停留一個小時，好像影響不會那麼大”

[[奮起湖車站站長詹岳翰]]
“奮起湖這邊的話，以本國籍旅客都屬一日遊的旅客性居多，外籍旅客大部分來到台灣，其實阿里山也是他們會去的一個地方之一，奮起湖是相對比阿里山(外籍旅客)比較少的”

攤商不擔心，因為開往阿里山的列車，會在奮起湖停留一個小時，也有些買不到車票的旅客，會選擇先來奮起湖踩踩點。

[[遊客]]
“會想搭，然後今天原本是想要買票，但今天的票全部都賣完了”

[[遊客]]
“目前票不好買，我們有很努力的搶但沒搶到”

[[民視記者莊舒婷]]
“這個地方就是知名的觀光景點奮起湖老街，在阿里山火車全線通車之後，更是為這個地方帶來更多的人潮”

不論是開車來的，還是搭乘列車短暫停留，奮起湖遊客不減反增，攤商各個樂開懷，業績直線上升。

[[當地攤商]]
“就變得人好多，多了三成有”

[[當地攤商]]
“業績生意比較好啊，搭火車來的客人很多”

奮起湖本就是知名熱點，有了林鐵全線通車加持，為當地再添話題，民眾不論是到阿里山兩天一夜看日出，還是搭乘列車來趟一日遊，相信奮起湖正是周邊景點的不二選擇。

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