Alishan Railway wins soundscape award on 24 September
Published on 10/04/2026 at 05:06 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Alishan Railway won the Soundscapes & Ambient Sound category at the International Sound Awards 2026 on 24 September 2026. The railway, known locally as Alishan Railway, runs from Chiayi into Taiwan's mountain forests, and the award gives travellers a new way to understand its cultural landscape.
Alishan Railway receives the soundscape award on 24 September
The winning work was produced through a project led by the railway's heritage office, with creative production by Ho Fang Creative and sound recording and composition by artist Wu Tsan-cheng. The project was recognised as a Winner in the Soundscapes & Ambient Sound category at the International Sound Awards 2026.
The recordings were made over one year at 45 sound locations around eight stations. The documented material covers natural sounds across different elevations, village life, railway maintenance and oral histories connected with communities along the route. The official operator listed the award on 24 September 2026, while regional coverage reported the same result.
The operator's award notice identifies the railway office as the project organiser. A regional report on the award names the international competition and its category.
Alishan Railway links Chiayi with a high mountain landscape
The line extends for 71.34 km through Chiayi City, Chiayi County and Nantou County, according to Taiwan's heritage authorities. It rises from Chiayi Station at 30 metres to Zhushan Station at 2,451 metres, crossing changing forest zones and settlements.
Chiayi Station connects the mountain railway with Taiwan Railway services. Beimen Station has a wooden Japanese-style building estimated to date from 1910 to 1912, while Zhuqi marks the end of the level section and the beginning of the climb. Fenqihu stands at 1,403 metres and is one of the principal stations on the route.
The soundscape award is closely tied to this geography. Its recordings move from rail work and station activity to birds, insects, wind and village voices, so the recognised project follows the same changes in altitude and settlement that passengers encounter by train. The railway is also listed as a potential World Heritage site in Taiwan, with a selection date of 2003.
Why the 24 September award matters for railway heritage
The project treats the railway as more than a transport route. It records working practices, local memories and environmental sounds as parts of a living cultural landscape. The award therefore concerns the railway itself and the communities connected with it, rather than a separate exhibition held in Chiayi.
The operator says the sound archive will support further cultural and educational work. Plans described in the award coverage include a sound book for families and five listening routes, although no opening date for those routes has been announced. Travellers visiting during October and November 2026 should therefore regard the award as a current cultural development, not as a confirmed public audio programme.
Visiting Alishan Railway: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The recognised award was announced on 24 September 2026, and the soundscape project covers the railway and its surrounding settlements rather than one single station.
- The operator's current notice lists normal operation for the main line and branch lines, but the award itself does not create a new entrance, timetable or visitor facility.
- Chiayi Station is the lower starting point and connects with Taiwan Railway services. The route continues through Beimen, Zhuqi, Fenqihu and Alishan before the Zhushan branch reaches 2,451 metres.
- The route includes steep mountain terrain, elevated stations and walking areas. The operator records stations at elevations from 30 metres in Chiayi to 2,451 metres at Zhushan.
- Mandarin Chinese is Taiwan's official language for practical travel, and the national currency is the New Taiwan dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Alishan Railway on social platforms
These links open searches for Alishan Railway on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Alishan Railway
When was the Alishan Railway soundscape award announced?
The award was announced on 24 September 2026. The project won the Soundscapes & Ambient Sound category at the International Sound Awards 2026.
What is Alishan Railway?
It is a mountain railway linking Chiayi with stations and branches in the Alishan area. The route extends for 71.34 km and reaches Zhushan at 2,451 metres.
Where is Alishan Railway and how do you get there?
The lower station is in Chiayi, Taiwan, where the railway connects with Taiwan Railway services. The route then climbs through stations including Beimen, Zhuqi, Fenqihu and Alishan.
