Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake is located in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan Province, the People's Republic of China. It lies roughly in the central part of Nantou County, nestled on the hills between Yushan Mountain and Alishan Mountain, and is the largest natural freshwater lake in Taiwan Province. As early as the Qing Dynasty, Sun Moon Lake was selected as one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Taiwan" and was known as "A Unique Fairyland Beyond the Sea". Within the scenic area, there are six theme parks planned by feature, covering themes of landscape, nature, peacock & butterfly, waterfowl, and religion. Additionally, the area boasts eight special scenic spots, as well as two major service areas: Shuishe and Dehua She.

Highlights of Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake

Taiwan has a famous scenic spot—Sun Moon Lake, which is also its largest natural lake. Lying between Yushan Mountain and Nenggaoshan Mountain in central Taiwan, it covers around 1 square kilometer. A small island in the lake splits its surface into two parts. One part looks like the sun, and the other like the moon—that's why it's called “Sun Moon Lake”. The lake is about 23 kilometers around. Its water is deep and clear, making the surface shine like a mirror. Rolling mountains surround the lake. Lush trees and tall pavilions stand beside it, and each season has its own special scenery. When autumn comes, the moon is high in the clear sky. Its light falls on the lake, and its reflection glows in the water—this makes a very charming scene. To see the whole lake, visitors can take a boat to Zhuzi Islet (the small island in the lake).

Sun Moon Lake Circular Bike Path

Sun Moon Lake Circular Bike Path

The Sun Moon Lake Circular Highway has been selected as one of the world's top 10 most beautiful bike paths. Among its sections, the approximately 400-meter-long "Water Bike Path" – connecting Shuishe and Xiangshan Visitor Center – gives cyclists the feeling of "sailing on water" as they ride their bikes along it. During the ride, visitors can enjoy the natural beauty of Sun Moon Lake (with its combination of lake views and mountain scenery) as well as the surrounding landscapes. Attractions such as Wenwu Temple, Longfeng Temple, Ci'en Pagoda, and Yongjie Tongxin Bridge are all located near the circular highway. Riding while sightseeing brings a unique sense of pleasure.

Wenwu Temple

Wenwu Temple

Adjacent to the lake, Wenwu Temple mainly enshrines Confucius (the Sage of Literature) and Guan Yu (the Sage of Martial Arts), hence its name "Wenwu Temple" (Temple of Literature and Martial Arts). Built along the mountain slope, the temple has red walls and upturned eaves, exuding a solemn aura. Climbing up to the temple, visitors can overlook the entire view of Sun Moon Lake, taking in all the lake and mountain scenery. With exquisite carvings inside, it also enshrines deities like Wenchang Jun (God of Culture and Examinations) and Kuixing (God of Literature). It is a great place for praying for academic success and experiencing traditional culture, and one of the iconic cultural attractions around Sun Moon Lake.

Ci'en Pagoda

Built in 1971, Ci'en Pagoda was constructed by Chiang Kai-shek to honor his mother's great kindness. The plaque inscribed with "Ci'en Pagoda" at the entrance was written by Chiang himself, and the spirit tablet of his mother, Wang Tsai-yu, is enshrined in the palace-style building in front of the pagoda. Standing by the lake at an altitude of 954 meters, the nine-story Ci'en Pagoda reaches a total height of exactly 1,000 meters. Climbing to the top, visitors can overlook Yue Tan (Moon Lake) on the left and Ri Tan (Sun Lake) on the right, taking in the entire scenery of the lake. It has long been one of the landmark buildings of Sun Moon Lake. When Ci'en Pagoda was first built, all construction materials were transported by boat and then lifted to Shabalan Mountain via a cable car—making the project extremely difficult. In front of the pagoda, there are lush flowers and trees as well as a vast lawn, creating a quite serene environment. Nearby, there is also a roughly 700-meter-long hiking trail, which is an ideal place for forest bathing and stargazing.

Educational Value

Sun Moon Lake is a "tectonic lake" in terms of geomorphology. Tens of thousands of years ago, tectonic movements happened in the land on the western side of Taiwan's Central Range. These movements formed a series of lakes. Later, the land rose a little. Streams took over many of these lakes, and the water in them dried up slowly. Sun Moon Lake, Toushe, Yuchi and Puli were all lakes at first. This area is part of a fault zone. The zone is made of Tertiary slate rock. Crustal movements caused non-stop folding and sinking. This created basins, some big and some small. Then water collected in these basins, and that's how these mountain lakes formed.

Activities to do at Sun Moon Lake

SUP Activity: Lots of people love the SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboarding) experience at Sun Moon Lake. Professional instructors guide visitors to stand on a paddleboard and glide across the lake. From this unique view, they can enjoy Sun Moon Lake's scenery—both the lake and the mountains around it. You don't need experience to join this activity; even beginners can take part, and so can people who've done it before. Some companies also take photos for visitors. This helps them make and keep great memories.

Boat Tour Sightseeing：As one of the most classic ways to experience Sun Moon Lake, boat tours allow visitors to get up close to the lake's emerald waters and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Visitors can purchase a one-day cruise pass, which permits unlimited rides on the lake's official boats for the day—these boats operate between major piers, including Shuishe Pier, Xuanguang Pier, and Ita Thao Pier.

Cycling Around the Lake： The Sun Moon Lake Circular Bike Path stretches approximately 30 kilometers and has been named one of the world's top 10 most beautiful bike paths by CNN. Visitors can rent bicycles to ride along this path, which is equipped with multiple viewing platforms and rest areas. This allows them to stop at any time to admire the beautiful scenery, feel the comfort of the spring breeze brushing their faces, and get up close to the natural beauty of Sun Moon Lake.