• Understand
• Get in
• When to Visit
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Get Out

Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake (National Scenic Area) (日月潭 (國家風景區); rìyuètán) [1]) is in Nantou County of Taiwan.

[edit] Understand

Nestled at 760 meters, this lake is famous for its clear, sparkling blue water set against a picturesque mountain backdrop. This is the largest lake in Taiwan and a traditional spot for newlywed couples to take their honeymoon. It has also been a center of aboriginal life for thousands of years, with aborignal people involved in its tourist industry since the 1930's.

[edit] Get in

No trains go to Sun Moon Lake. You can drive your own car, or take a bus, or a combination of train and bus. Some direct busses are available from Taichung or Taipei. Often it is more convenient to take a bus from Taichung to Puli, then transfer busses for the half hour ride to Sun Moon Lake.

Departing from Sun Moon Lake, there is a company with hourly bus service that stops directly at the Taichung high speed rail station - great if you're in a hurry to get back to Taipei. Tickets for this and most other busses are sold at the Sun Moon Lake Visitor's Center in Yuchich.

Those in a hurry can also take a taxi from either Sun Moon Lake or Puli to Taizhong. Cost is around NT$1500 from Puli or NT$2000 from Sun Moon Lake.

[edit] When to Visit

Tourists descend on Sun Moon Lake over the weekends, and hotel room rates zoom up on Friday and Saturday nights. Visit during a weekday if you want to avoid crowds and get the best deals.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Sun Moon Lake is the site of a massive swim -- more than ten thousand swimmers plunge into the lake to swim 3KM across. Join the fun if you wish.

[edit] Get around

You can get around by bus, car, scooter, bike or boat. A loop road more or less circles around the lake, more or less, although you'll need to get off the road to view the lake. The most direct way from one side of the lake to another is by boat.

[edit] See

• Wenwu Temple (文武廟) - The biggest temple on the Northern bank of the lake.

• Ita Thao (伊娜達)- The village of the Thao Aborigines, and also called Dehua village (德化社).

• Lalu Island (拉魯島) - In the middle of the lake. Lalu (lit. "Lake Island") is the name the Thao tribe, the original inhabitants of the area, gave to this sacred land, though it was changed to Guanghua (光華 or "Glorious China") during Chiang Kai-shek's rule of Taiwan. After 1999's September 21st earthquake the Taiwanese government, attempting to show greater respect and political awareness towards the Thao, reverted the island's name back to its original Lalu.

• Ci-en Pagoda (慈恩塔) - The Chinese style pagoda is 46 meters tall. It was built by the Chiang Kai-shek in memory of his mother. It was completed in 1971 and sits on the hill southeast of the lake.

[edit] Do

• Take a boat tour around the lake. Most tours are a couple hours long and visit the above locations. Cost is about NT$300 per person.
• Paddle a rowboat. Strong rowers can get to the island in the middle of the lake. Rent boat and lifejackets from the piers at Yuchuch for NT$200 per hour, plus NT$200 security deposit.

[edit] Buy

Aboriginal Handicrafts - mostly made out of wood or bamboo - are sold. In the Ita Thao village, many shops are aboriginal owned.

[edit] Eat

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Mid Range

• Sun Moon Lake Hotel (水沙連大飯店), 5 Mingsheng St, Yuchih Township, Tel:+886 49 2855 855, [2]
• Harbor Resort Hotel Yuchich Township, Tel +886 49 2855 143, [3] 42 room hotel, on lake, with restaurant and sauna. Rooms are decent and location is good.
• Sun Moon Lake Teacher's Hostel[4] This is a very nice hostel, intended for credentialed teachers. Non teachers can also book rooms on a space available basis. Well located in Yuchuch. Rooms start at NT$2200 midweek.

[edit] Splurge

• Del Lago Hotel (大淶閣大飯店), 101, Jhongshan Rd, Yuchih Township, Tel:+886 49 2856 688, [5]

• The Lalu Hotel (涵碧樓), 142 Jungshing Road, Yuchih Township, Tel:+886 49 2856 888, [6], a five star hotel in Sun Moon Lake Scenic Area.

[edit] Get Out

The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village[7] is a full out amusement park with rides and shows, all with an aboriginal theme. You can see elaborate cultural shows and enjoy the thrill rides. Located just north of the lake itself. Allow a full day to visit.