Fenqihu Old Street

奮起湖老街

A mountain town at a midway stop on the forest railway, known for its railway lunch boxes, old street snacks, and wooden houses in the mist.

Fenqihu sits at about 1,400 meters on the main line of the Alishan Forest Railway. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the valley resembles a dustpan, which gave the town its name. Its original name, Bengi Lake, is misleading, since there is no lake. In the past, trains stopped here to take on water and coal, and passengers got off to eat, which made Fenqihu's lunch boxes famous. They remain among Taiwan's best-known railway bentos, with pork ribs, braised egg, and dried tofu laid over rice and served in wooden or tin boxes. The old street beside the station winds along steps and narrow lanes, lined with two-story wooden shopfronts that sell aiyu jelly, wasabi, Chin-hsuan tea, and handmade 'old street cakes.' Outside the station, a steam locomotive shed displays vintage engines. Nearby trails include the Fenqihu Trail, the Gaozai Kam Old Trail, and the Misty Forest Trail, where cypress and bamboo groves offer fireflies in summer. Getting there: take the forest railway (about 2.5 hours from Chiayi), or drive along the Alishan Highway and turn onto County Route 169. You can also take a Chiayi County bus from Chiayi. Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours, eat a lunch box, and then wander the old street. Note: weekends are crowded, and popular lunch box shops may sell out at midday.

Fenqihu Old Street

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