Chiayi Art & National Palace Museum South Branch Tour

Five stops across Chiayi's art, railway heritage, and imperial collections in one day

A full-day guided tour of Chiayi, Taiwan covers the Chiayi Art Museum, Alishan Forest Railway Garage Park, Hinoki Village, Chiayi Park's Sun-Shooting Tower, and the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum. A professional English-speaking guide leads the route and shares the history behind each stop, from Japanese-era wooden architecture to Taiwan's mountain railway and Asian imperial treasures. The tour runs 9 to 10 hours and requires a minimum group of four people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Chiayi's art and heritage

• Visit Chiayi Art Museum
• Explore Alishan Forest Railway Garage Park
• Discover Kuai Yi Forest Village
• See Sun-Shooting Tower in Chiayi Park
• Tour Southern Branch of National Palace Museum

The experience

Start at the Chiayi Art Museum, a restored historic building where contemporary Taiwanese art and rotating cultural exhibitions sit alongside the architecture itself. The museum anchors the morning and sets the tone for what follows: a day built around how Chiayi's past and present live in the same spaces. From there, the guide takes you to Alishan Forest Railway Garage Park, where vintage locomotives and railway relics stand as evidence of Taiwan's famous mountain railway and its role in opening up the Alishan region. The vintage equipment and the stories attached to it are the real draw here, not just the facts.

Hinoki Village, a former logging settlement in Alishan, sits in the middle of the day. The village has been preserved as a working destination with scenic trails, local crafts, and artisan shops selling regional products and food. It is the kind of place where you can walk at your own pace and feel the weight of what forestry life meant in Taiwan. Then comes Chiayi Park and the Sun-Shooting Tower, a 1935 landmark built during the Japanese colonial era for astronomical observation. The tower offers panoramic views of the city and the park around it, and the guide connects those views to the indigenous Tsou legends that inspired the tower's design.

The tour ends at the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum, one of Taiwan's premier cultural institutions. The collections span Asian art, imperial treasures, ceramics, jade, and calligraphy, all housed in an award-winning modern building. Because this is the final stop, you have time to move through the galleries without rushing, and the guide's earlier stories about Chiayi's multicultural influences give context to what you see inside.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• entry to the Chiayi Art Museum.
• visit to Alishan Forest Railway Garage Park with its vintage locomotives and railway relics.
• time in Hinoki Village to explore the preserved wooden architecture and local artisan shops.
• access to Chiayi Park and the Sun-Shooting Tower with panoramic city views.
• admission to the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum with its Asian art and imperial collections.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TREVOPEDIA

Is this one for you?The tour moves through five separate locations over a full day, so you'll spend time traveling between stops as well as at each site. This pace suits travelers who want to see Chiayi's major cultural landmarks in one outing without arranging their own transport or guide.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4).

What is the Alishan Forest Railway Garage Park and why does it matter to Chiayi's history?

Alishan Forest Railway Garage Park holds vintage locomotives and railway relics from Taiwan's famous mountain railway, which played a crucial role in developing the Alishan region. The park preserves that railway heritage and offers photo opportunities of the historic equipment.

Can I walk around Hinoki Village on my own, or does the guide control the pace?

Hinoki Village has scenic trails and a peaceful layout designed for exploration. The guide brings you there and shares its history as a former logging village, but you can walk at your own pace through the restored wooden architecture, artisan shops, and local food stalls.

What will I see at the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum?

The Southern Branch houses world-class exhibitions of Asian art, imperial treasures, ceramics, jade, calligraphy, and cultural artifacts. The collections are displayed in an award-winning modern building and represent some of Taiwan's most significant cultural holdings.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour covers five stops across Chiayi over 9 to 10 hours, including time at each location. Hinoki Village has scenic trails you can explore, and the Sun-Shooting Tower involves climbing to reach the panoramic views. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide conducts the tour in English and provides commentary on Chiayi's history, railway heritage, and multicultural influences at each stop.

Is there a minimum group size for this tour?

Yes, the tour requires a minimum of four people in the group. If the minimum is not reached, you will be rescheduled to a later departure or given a full refund.