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<title>Alishan National Scenic Area Administration - News</title>
<link>http://www.ali-nsa.net/english/news/01main.php</link>
<description>Alishan National Scenic Area Administration - News</description>
<language>zh-tw</language>
<lastBuildDate>2010-7-30</lastBuildDate>
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<item><title>The damage caused by typhoon Morakot in 2009</title>
<description><![CDATA[Because of the damage caused by typhoon Morakot in 2009, all the small trains (Sunrise Watching train) from Jia-yi to Alisan National Forest Recreation Area kept halting. Chiayi Forestry Area Administration, The Minster of the Council of Agriculture indicated that the damaged section was still under construction and the exact open date was still unknown.]]></description>
<link>http://www.ali-nsa.net/english/news/01main_detail.php?bull_id=4982</link>
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<pubDate>2010-05-20</pubDate></item>
<item><title>Dance With the Fireflies in Alishan</title>
<description><![CDATA[We invite you to protect the fireflies with us. 

Typhoon Morakot caused severe damage to the National Alishan Scenic Area on August 8, 2009, and people everywhere have paid attention to the process of recovery construction. One of the most worrisome issues has been the protection and recovery of the isolated major firefly habitat. Tseng Han-chou, Director of the Alishan National Scenic Area Administration, told the press that fireflies had returned to the habitat; moreover, the number of fireflies had increased and their breeding season had come earlier than usual. Therefore he announced that the firefly season of Alishan had opened and he invited tourists to visit Alishan to take part in the firefly season activities. Tseng said that in order to provide different experiences for tourists, the organizers designed some firefly protection activities to remind people of the concepts of environmental protection and treasuring the natural environment. This will give new life to Alishan after the traumas caused by Typhoon Morakot. The campaign will start on March 29 and end on June 30. We invite you to visit Alishan to be a guardian angel of the fireflies. 
In order to deliver and communicate to the general public the concepts of sustainable development ecology and the harmonic coexistence of humans and nature, the event organizer invited the popular comedic duo Ken and Natto to perform as campaign advocates. During the press conference, Ken played an entomologist and Natto dressed as a firefly. Through a humorous skit, they highlighted the importance of the protection of fireflies. They also urged the general public to cooperate with the Alishan National Scenic Area Administration to support the action for sustainable environmental protection and to help the firefly breeding to light up the path to protect the environment of Alishan. 
 In order to provide more chances to observe fireflies for people who want to learn more about firefly protection, the Alishan National Scenic Area Administration has arranged firefly release activities and nighttime tours in Yuantan Ecology Park. These activities are both entertaining and educational and should offer considerable interesting environmental protection knowledge to the attendees. Hopefully, through these arrangements more and more people will join in the preservation of fireflies and take action to enhance the protection of the natural environment of Alishan. As a reward for these activities, tourists who register for the activities will get a “2010 Dance with Fireflies” limited edition i-Cash card. Any tourist who visits Alishan and lodges in any hotel in the Alishan neighborhood will get a free lucky draw ticket during the campaign. The organizer is offering 80 cards every 3 weeks as prizes for the lucky draw. Therefore there will be 400 winners in 5 draws. For detailed information, please visit the website at (http://2010ali-firefly.com.tw) or call the Alishan National Scenic Area Administration at 05-2593900.           
In order to encourage non-holiday travelers, tourists will get a free limited edition i-cash card (one room for one free i-cash card) if they lodge in boarding houses that are situated in the following neighborhoods: Rueili (E-Pin-Tea, Ye-jiang-hua Village, Rueili Kettle, Rey Lee Impress Coffee, A Ben’s House, Ruoh Lan Village, Ming Yuan, A-han’s House, Pine Tree), Rueifeng (Ya-fang), Fengchihu (Fengchihu Hotel, Sister Village) and Fengshan (Fengbin Village, Ming-yue Village, Maple Leaf Village, Feng-chi Hotel). Up to 1100 free i-cash cards will be available. 
Sustainable development of environmental protection is both our responsibility and honor, and we invite you to protect the fireflies and make them light up the night on Alishan for all time. Hopefully tourists will see their beautiful lights when they visit Alishan year after year.
]]></description>
<link>http://www.ali-nsa.net/english/news/01main_detail.php?bull_id=4973</link>
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<pubDate>2010-04-23</pubDate></item>
<item><title>Notice: Road Closure -Alishan Highway (Provincial Highway 18)</title>
<description><![CDATA[Due to repair work Chiayi Provincial Highway 18 at 71K (near Fushan) to 78k+500 (near the crossroad) will be closed most of the time and public traffic through this section is restricted to 30-minute scheduled windows during the construction period. Drivers are therefore advised to  exit the area in construction in 15 minutes or less to avoid being locked in the zone until the next window opens.
Construction duration: March 16th to April 20th 2010
Daily road closure time, Monday to Friday:
06：30~07：30、08：00~10：00、10：30~12：30、13：00~15：00、15：30~17：30、18：00~19：30。
Sponsor organization and contact:
Alishan Section, Fifth Maintenance Office, Directorate General of Highway, Ministry of Transportation and Communication.
Tel: 05-2592426
【Source: Fifth Maintenance Office, Directorate General of Highway, Ministry of Transportation and Communication】]]></description>
<link>http://www.ali-nsa.net/english/news/01main_detail.php?bull_id=4966</link>
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<pubDate>2010-03-19</pubDate></item>
<item><title>Alishan’s Cherry Blossom Season Opens on March 15th</title>
<description><![CDATA[Alishan’s Cheery Blossom season starts on the 15th of March and lasts for one month ending on the 15th of April. In addition to the already brilliant display of native Taiwanese Cherries and Japanese Alpine Cherries, the main attraction during the month will be the pristine white flowers of the Yoshino Cherry Tree that have captivated visitors’ imaginations year after year.

Due to the warm winter this year, according to Hong-zhi Young, District Director of the Chiayi Forest District Office, the Yoshino Cherry trees are expected to bloom one week earlier than usual. Mr. Young estimates that by the time the festivities start on March 15th, close to 50% of the Yoshino Cheery Trees will already be in full bloom, setting the stage for a spectacular show of pink for visitors.

At 2,200 meters above sea level, the Alishan Forest Recreation Area is home to a diverse collection of flora species. Besides the rare Formosan, Japanese Cypress and Formosan Redwoods giants, seasonal flowering plants and undergrowth shrubs are also widespread. For example, the brilliant blooms of the Taiwan Cherry, Japanese Alpine Cherry, Camellia and the beautiful flowering Quince are commonly seen in January and February. These displays are followed by an all-out burst of Yoshino Cheery, Weeping Cherry, Oshimasakura, Double-flowered Cherry, Prunus lannesiana cv. Albo-rosea, Taiwan Alpine Rhododendron, Hall Crabapple, Chinese Wisteria, Taiwan Pleiones, Daisy, Dandelion and ground Ivy from March to April. The summer to fall months between May and October feature a colorful variety of flowers like the Foxgloves, Hydrangea, Crocus Tritonia, Calla Lily, Aucuba chinense, Oldham Azalea, Rhododendron ellipticum Maxim, and Mahonia oiwakensis, etc. As the weather turns cold in November, in the blink of an eye, the landscapes’ foliage transforms to blazing red from various maple trees like the Formosan and Green Maples.

Temperatures vary significantly between day and night on Alishan. Visitors are advised to dress appropriately when visiting. Arranging lodging in advance is strongly recommended due to the high demand for accommodations during the Cherry Blossom season.
【Source: Chiayi Forest District Office】
]]></description>
<link>http://www.ali-nsa.net/english/news/01main_detail.php?bull_id=4959</link>
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<pubDate>2010-03-15</pubDate></item>
<item><title>Cherry Blossom Season –Free Shuttle Bus Service in locations between 86 and 95K on the Alishan Highway</title>
<description><![CDATA[In order to minimize traffic congestion on the Alishan Highway so visitors can fully enjoy the beauty of Alishan’s Cheery Blossoms, visitors visiting the area on March 20th, 21st, 27th, 28th, and April 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 11th are encouraged to take the free shuttle bus operated by the Chiayi Forest District Office that runs in opposite directions among the 10 stops between the 86 and 95K mileage marks in 20-minute intervals from 3:30AM to 5:00PM. More runs are added as necessary.  Visitors taking the shuttle bus to the park will receive a 25%- off coupon towards park entry fees.

With an elevation of 2,200 meters, the temperature differences on Alishan between day and night can be significant. Visitors are therefore advised to dress appropriately when visiting. Due to high occupancy demand during the cheery blossom season advanced lodging reservation is also highly recommended. Lastly, a friendly reminder to our guests: Alishan Forest Recreation Area is a natural reservoir, please cherish every tree and every flower, do not litter, and practice conservation when consuming water.
【Source: Chiayi Forest District Office】
]]></description>
<link>http://www.ali-nsa.net/english/news/01main_detail.php?bull_id=4960</link>
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<pubDate>2010-03-15</pubDate></item>
<item><title>Enjoy Taiwan’s 2010Lantern Festival and Alishan’s Cheery Blossoms with the Ali Pass</title>
<description><![CDATA[In efforts to promote tourism via public transportation, the Alishan National Scenic Area Administration has joined forces with the Tourism Bureau of the Transportation Department to offer the “Taiwan Easy Travel – Ali Pass.”  This one of a kind cost-saving package includes transportation by the Taiwan High Speed Rail, “Taiwan Easy Travel” connection shuttle services, lodging and park entry fees. This initial offer is limited to the first 2,000 tickets sold to those planning to visit the 2010 Lantern Festival and the Alishan Scenic Area.
The Ali Pass includes two coupons for 35% off Taiwan High Speed Rail ticket purchases (valid only when boarding and alighting at THSR’s Chiayi station); two free shuttle bus tickets from Chiayi to Fenqihu and the Alishan Scenic Area; one Alishan Scenic Area entry coupon worth NT$100; plus various specials offered by local establishments in the Alishan and Fenqihu areas (50% off in the areas’ 30+ lodging and eateries, and 20% off all local farm products). The Ali Pass, offers up to NT$3,500 in savings and is priced at only NT$399 per ticket! However availability is limited to the first 2,000 tickets sold. Those who wish to visit the 2010 Taiwan Lantern Festival and want to enjoy the Alishan Cheery Blossoms this spring, must not miss out on this cost-saving opportunity.
Ali Passes are available right now, online at www.ali-pass.com.tw. Once completing the payment process, you may choose to have the tickets delivered by post, or you can pick them up at one of our specified tourist information centers so you can start enjoying the plethora of benefits this package has to offer!

To best accommodate your travel needs, ticket holders are free to create their own schedules between the Taiwan High Speed Rail and the “Taiwan Easy Travel” shuttle buses operated by the city of Chiayi. The shuttle buses run between 16 to 20 times per day on weekdays and holidays, respectively (see www.ali-pass.com.tw for the latest schedule.) Additionally, the mid-sized “Alishan Easy Travel” paid shuttle van operated by the Alishan Scenic Area Administration departs the Chiayi High Speed Rail station daily at 10:10AM and makes its return trip at 15:00PM the next day; this can also be booked in advance to supplement your travel plans.]]></description>
<link>http://www.ali-nsa.net/english/news/01main_detail.php?bull_id=4954</link>
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<pubDate>2010-03-05</pubDate></item>
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