Alishan Ancient Tree Ruins Introduction
In 1914, the Alishan Forest Railway was fully opened, and the towering Alishan Sacred Tree became one of the most representative landscapes of the railway. It harmonized beautifully with the small trains that traversed the woods, becoming an important symbol of Alishan and gaining international fame. This majestic red cypress tree, over three thousand years old, witnessed the history of Taiwan's forestry culture and nature. However, in 1953, the Sacred Tree was struck by lightning for the first time, severely damaging the trunk and considerably weakening it. On June 7, 1956, it was unfortunately struck by lightning again, causing a fire inside the trunk, which ultimately led to its decline and death. After decades of erosion from wind and rain, on the morning of July 1, 1997, due to continuous heavy rainfall that loosened the soil and added excessive moisture, one-third of the Sacred Tree's trunk collapsed. To ensure the safety of people and vehicles, on the morning of June 29, 1998, after a prayer ceremony, the Sacred Tree was laid down to return to nature, and a red cypress seedling was planted nearby, symbolizing the continuation of life. Today, the remnants of the Sacred Tree have become one of the new Eight Scenic Spots of Alishan. Although the Sacred Tree is no longer standing, the spirit and historical memories it carried are still deeply rooted in people's hearts, continuing to attract visitors to reminisce about the past and the magnificent nature of this land.
