Cingjing, Hehuanshan, Sun Moon Lake & Alishan
Charter a car to connect the central highlands: Cingjing Farm, Wuling, Sun Moon Lake, the New Central Cross-Island Highway, and Alishan sunrise.
The mainstream chartered car route for central Taiwan's mountains and lakes, linking the highest point of Taiwan's highways, scenic lakes, and the forest railway. Stay two consecutive nights in Cingjing to allow time for climbing Hehuanshan; travel via the New Central Cross-Island Highway to Alishan, and take the forest railway down the mountain on the final day. Due to the large elevation changes and long daily drives, public transportation is difficult to connect.
Snow may accumulate on Hehuanshan from January to March, and Provincial Highway 14A may be closed as a precaution starting in the afternoon.
Day by day
Day 1 · Puli to Cingjing Farm
Sun Moon Lake（Puli Brewery） → Cingjing & Hehuanshan（Cingjing Farm、Cingjing Skywalk）
Take a chartered car from THSR Taichung Station via National Highway 6 to Puli, then take Provincial Highway 14A to Cingjing (approx. 2.5 hours).
Stay: Qingqing Grassland & Renhe Road Area
Day 2 · Wuling and Hehuanshan
Cingjing & Hehuanshan（Wuling Pass、Hehuanshan、Shimen Mountain、Cingjing Little Swiss Garden）
Drive from Cingjing to Wuling (approx. 40 minutes to 1 hour), and head down the mountain back to Cingjing in the afternoon to avoid driving on mountain roads at night.
The altitude exceeds 3,000 meters; watch out for altitude sickness and bring warm clothing.
Stay: Qingqing Grassland & Renhe Road Area
Day 3 · Down the Mountain to Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake（Paper Dome、Shuishe Pier & Village、Xuanguang Temple、Ita Thao）
Drive from Cingjing via Puli to Sun Moon Lake (approx. 1.5 hours), and take an afternoon boat cruise connecting Shuishe, Xuanguang Temple, and Ita Thao.
Stay: Ita Thao
Day 4 · Checheng to Alishan via the New Central Cross-Island Highway
Sun Moon Lake（Sun Moon Lake Bikeway、Checheng） → Alishan & Chiayi（Tataka Recreation Area）
Drive from Sun Moon Lake through Checheng along Provincial Highway 21 (New Central Cross-Island Highway) to Alishan (approx. 3.5 hours).
The New Central Cross-Island Highway often has falling rocks after rain, and thunderstorms are common in summer afternoons.
Stay: Alishan Hotel Area
Day 5 · Sunrise, Sacred Trees, and Forest Railway Down the Mountain
Alishan & Chiayi（Zhushan Sunrise Viewing Platform、Giant Tree Trail、Sister Ponds、Alishan Forest Railway、Wenhua Road Night Market）
Watch the sunrise on the Zhushan Line in the early morning, visit the Giant Tree Grove in the morning, and take the main line down the mountain to Chiayi at 11:50 (approx. 4 hours).
The main line has few direct daily trains, so book tickets in advance and confirm the current schedule.