Getting to Yushan Nat. Park / Dongpu

Am trying to figure out the multiple stages needed to get from Tainan to Dongpu near Yushan NP. I do not have my own transport. One of my guides says I need to take a train to Erhui, switch to the Ji Ji line (Chi-chi on the Taiwan Railway Website), get off at Shuili, then take a bus to Dongpu. However, the only thing I can find schedules for on the Taiwan Railway website is for Tainan to Erhui. I can%26#39;t seem to get any schedule from there (or anywhere) to Shuili. I know there are regularly scheduled busses from Shuili to Dongpu, but also would like to see how those schedules fit the rest of it. Any help?

Not dying to see Dongpu. Started looking at Yushan, thought a few days in the mountains (and maybe even some snow) would be nice. Dongpu came up while looking for hotels near Yushan. Open to alternatives that get me fairly high up, and far(ther) from bigger cities for a few days at the end of this month. Thanks in advance for any pointers or hints about how to make sure that one leg of the journey fits the others so I end up in Dongpu in one day, not stranded somewhere in between Tainan and Dongpu. Or a good alternative???

Getting to Yushan Nat. Park / Dongpu

Board a TRA train from Ershuei 二水 to Shueili 水里 (on the Ji-ji 集集 railway branch line).

Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA): new.twtraffic.com.tw/TWRail_EN/index.aspx

To list the train schedule on the Ji-ji railway branch line.

From: Select “Other”, “NanTou / Ershuei”

To: Select “Other”, “Chi-chi Line / Shueili”

Train types: All Types

Fare: NT$41 Travel time: 41 mins

Train ticket prices: service.tra.gov.tw/tw/ticketprice/excel.aspx

The railway ticket fares can be found in the Chinese version of website, not the English version.

TRA station distances: …tra.gov.tw/tw/CP/11366/mileages-1.aspx

Another wonderful and popular place in Taiwan with snow in the mountains during winter is Ho Huan Shan. Travel eastwards 22.1 km from Cingjing Farm to Wuling (3275m AMSL), the highest point of any highway in Taiwan. Ho Huan Shan is 2.1 km farther down the highway.

Nantou bus serve the link between Taichung and Tsuei-fong 翠峰: http://www.ntbus.com.tw/5-24.htm

At Tsuei-fong, board a taxi to Wuling and Ho Huan Shan.

Getting to Yushan Nat. Park / Dongpu

Thanks DIYtaiwan. I%26#39;ve seen your posts on a LOT of threads here. You must live to give directions to folks.

I found the problem with your help regarding searching trains to Shuili. Hadn%26#39;t clicked ';any train'; or ';all trains'; and so since the default is ';express trains'; and the Chi Chi line is not an express line, couldn%26#39;t find anything before. Sorted out now.

I booked tickets for most of our journey. I still could not get tix for any of the Shuili legs of the journey. There is no Shuili station code on the list of station codes. This is strange, because it will let me search for trains from Tiachung to Shuili, and site doesn%26#39;t have a problem delivering several options daily... but can%26#39;t figure out how to book train to and from Shuili without a station code. I will not worry about it for now. Will try to sort it out when I pick up tix on Sunday in Taipei. Just an odd problem I don%26#39;t see a way around. Tried calling the reservation numbers from the website, but got hooked through to the Telecom services somehow. Skyping from Hong Kong, so perhaps something wrong with my number entry... again, just going to deal with it in country when we arrive. Thanks again for the help. DKR

Hi dreiley2,

Just to for your info, Dongpu is a little village within the Yushan national park. It altitude is not high. I can say it belongs to the low range, say less than 1000m. If i remember correctly, it is about maybe 800m only. The buses from Shuili to Dongpu are limited. And if your timing is unable to fit the schedule, be prepared to pay alot more for taxis to Dongpu. If you have make arrangements for lodging at Dongpu, you can ask if the hotel/inns there are willing to provide pickup from Shuili for a fee. Some hotel owners are friendly and can help you to make arrangements. DongPu, i dont think you can see snow at that altitude. If you want to go for high altittude within the civilization of hotels, Chingjing would be a better choice. Being a favourite weekend getaways for locals from the cities, you can have many choices for accomodations. And at the correct season, you may actually see snow at HeHuanshan which is near Chingjing.

Hi dreiley2,

The reason why you are unable to find Shueili station code in the booking website is because reservation / booking of Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) train tickets is only for rides on Tze Chiang (Taroko), Tze Chiang, Chu Kuang or Fu Hsing trains. As the train ride from Taichung to Shueili is only served by DRC trains, there is no booking of train tickets.

DRC (Diesel Rail Car) = 區间車 or sometimes referred to as Electric Multiple Unit are also known as Local trains. These are commuter trains that stop at almost every station.

There are still nice buses that you can take from Taichung to Shuili. Since those trains from Taichung to Shuiling are local trains, dont think you need to book in advance. But do check the bus schedules from Shuili to Dongpu. Unless you are planning to stay a night at Shuili. Accomodations can Shuili can be shabby.