A limited number of scenic train tours in the mountainous Alishan National Forest Recreation Area will be offered in December for visitors to view the changing colors of the maple trees, the organizers said Tuesday.

With COVID-19 cases on the decline in Taiwan, the century-old steam-powered train on the Alishan Forest Railway will resume special service for six days in December, taking passengers to the picturesque forest area when the maple leaves are turning red, the organizers said.

The tours on the SL-31 train will be offered on Dec. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28, with amateur photographer Huang Yuan-ming (???) serving as tour guide, according to the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office.

Huang will provide information not only about the luxuriant red maple trees along the 1.1-kilometer route but also the history of the Alishan steam train, which was used to transport timber decades ago, the organizers said.

The best spots in the area for viewing the maple trees are near Duigaoyue and Chaoping stations on the train line and also at Xiaoliyuanshan and Alishan Botanical Garden, the organizers said.

Tickets sales for the Alishan railway tours will open online Nov. 29 at 10 a.m., and each tour will be limited to 60 tourists, according to the organizers.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel