Taiping Sky Ladder Visitor Center in Chiayi County Inaugurated, Magistrate Zhang Huaguan Attends

Located at the top of the mountain at an elevation of 1,000 m, the Taiping Sky Ladder in Meishan Township, Chiayi County, held the inauguration of its visitor center and the launch of classic itineraries on August 20. County Magistrate Zhang Huaguan described the Taiping Sky Ladder as having a god's-eye view, an extension of the depth and breadth of the Alishan National Scenic Area, saying, "Chiayi does not lack beauty; what it lacks is being discovered." After the Taiping Sky Ladder opens on September 23, the surrounding areas of Meishan will all share in the tourism benefits and prosperity brought by the sky ladder.

The Taiping Sky Ladder Visitor Center was inaugurated on the morning of the 20th by County Magistrate Zhang Huaguan, Tourism Bureau Deputy Director-General Zhang Xicong, Alishan National Scenic Area Administration Director Ma Huida and guests from various local sectors, who jointly presided over the unveiling. The Alishan National Scenic Area Administration also simultaneously launched classic itineraries for surrounding attractions including Taixing, Longyan, Bihu, Ruili and Ruifeng, so that visitors to the sky ladder can not only stop in Taiping, but also experience the rich cultural atmosphere and authentic local specialties of the surrounding settlements.

Deputy Director-General Zhang Xicong pointed out that the Taiping Sky Ladder is located at the entrance to the North Tea Road of Greater Alishan, and the opening of the visitor center is an important prelude, providing not only tourism information and regional guided interpretation, but also meeting the needs of various tourism services. In the future, it is hoped that through the Taiping Sky Ladder, all itinerary packages along the North Tea Road can achieve maximum tourism benefits, and that travelers can also feel the abundant warmth of local hospitality.

County Magistrate Zhang Huaguan stated that the Taiping Sky Ladder has a total length of 281 m, and the latter half is a stepped suspension bridge with a slight upward rise, with a total of 160 steps. From the 36 bends of the 162 Taiping Highway all the way up to the sky ladder, the 1st bend is at an elevation of 362 m, and the 36th bend is at an elevation of 1,000 m. She expressed the hope that next year, when the 2018 Taiwan Lantern Festival is held in Chiayi, visitors from home and abroad will no longer merely seek heavily made-up spectacle, but will be moved by Chiayi's natural and unadorned bare face, and fall in love with Chiayi.