Travel Guide: Fenqihu Station Yang Yang Homestay, Chiayi County

Introduction

Nestled in the heart of mountainous Alishan, just steps from the iconic Fenqihu Old Street, Fenqihu Station Yang Yang Homestay (奮起湖車站 揚揚民宿) is a cozy, family-run base for travelers exploring one of Taiwan’s most beloved highland destinations. Blending warm, down-to-earth hospitality with unbeatable proximity to Fenqihu’s top sights, this small homestay is ideal for hikers, culture lovers, and anyone craving a quiet escape from the bustle of Taiwan’s lowland cities. Whether you’re catching the early Alishan Forest Railway to the peaks or lingering over Fenqihu’s famous railway bento, Yang Yang Homestay puts you right where the action is.

Hotel Overview

Yang Yang Homestay is located at No. 109 Fenqihu, a two-minute walk from Fenqihu Station. All rooms are soundproofed and non-smoking, with options fitted to suit solo travelers, couples, and families. Each room comes with a private bathroom stocked with free toiletries, a hair dryer, towels, and slippers, plus bed linens, bedside outlets, and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. Many rooms open onto views of surrounding mountains, neighboring village rooftops, or the homestay’s own leafy garden. Shared facilities include a fully equipped communal kitchen with an electric kettle and cleaning supplies, a shared lounge, a sunny terrace, picnic area, and barbecue facilities for guest use. Free Wi-Fi is available across the property, and daily housekeeping keeps rooms tidy. Security features include on-site CCTV and fire extinguishers, with key-only access for added peace of mind. Note that the homestay does not offer on-site parking, and upper floors are only accessible via stairs, with some rooms located on the ground floor for guests with limited mobility. The homestay’s hosts speak Mandarin Chinese.

Nearby Attractions

Three unmissable local sights are all within easy walking distance of the homestay:

• Fenqihu Old Street: A 1-minute walk from the homestay, this winding century-old street was built to serve passengers of the Alishan Forest Railway. Today it’s lined with wooden shopfronts selling Fenqihu’s famous railway bento, aboriginal millet cakes, handcrafted bamboo souvenirs, and wild mushroom preserves. Don’t miss the chance to watch street vendors steam the iconic square bento boxes that made Fenqihu famous.
• Fenqihu Forest Railway Station: A 2-minute walk away, this charming wooden station is the last stop before Alishan’s highland peaks. Wander the heritage platforms, photograph the vintage steam locomotive displayed out front, and board a scenic train ride to Zhaoping or Alishan Main Station for sunrise over the sea of clouds.
• Fenqihu Waterfall Trail: A 15-minute walk from the homestay, this gentle 1.2-kilometer hike winds through a lush cypress forest to a 50-meter cascading waterfall. The trail is well-maintained, making it accessible for casual hikers, and the cool mountain air offers a refreshing escape on warm afternoons.

Travel Tips

If you’re driving to Fenqihu, leave your car at the public paid parking lot at the entrance to the village, a 10-minute walk from the homestay—private vehicles are not permitted in the central village area anyway, so the walk is a small price to pay for the homestay’s central location. Pack layers: even in summer, mountain temperatures drop 5-10°C in the evenings, so bring a light jacket for early morning train rides to Alishan