Sun Moon Lake 日月潭
One of Taiwan’s most popular tourist attractions, Sun Moon Lake is a scenic 90-minute drive from Taichung 台中 city, the closest major city. The area is perfect for short-day trips from Taichung.
How did Sun Moon Lake get its name? Well, Sun Moon Lake surrounds a tiny island called Lalu. On the eastern side of the Island Lalu, the lake is shaped like a round sun, and on the western side, the lake is shaped like a crescent moon. That was how it was called Sun Moon Lake.
Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan’s largest lake and is located 748 m above sea level. Surrounded by mountains of the Central Mountain Range, this 7.93km2, 27m deep high-altitude lake is stunningly beautiful, especially in the early morning and early evening.
The area surrounding the lake has many trails for walking and hiking. The 8-storey Sun Moon Lake landmark Ci-En Pagoda 慈恩塔, Wen-Wu Temple文武廟, Xuang-Guang Temple 玄光寺, and Xuang-Zang Temple 玄奘寺 are popular Sun Moon Lake sights.
The Sun Moon Lake Ropeway 日月潭缆车, located near Ita Thao 伊達邵 village, connects to the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village 九族文化村 and Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Observation Tower 九族文化村观山楼. These are other popular Sun Moon Lake attractions.
Shuishe 水社, on the northwest shore of the lake, is the main tourist village where most people arrive. Its ferry pier Shuishe Pier 水社码头, is one of the three ferry piers on the lake to serve regular ferries on the lake. The other two piers are Xuang-Guang Pier 玄光码头, which provides access to Xuang-Guang Temple 玄光寺, and Ita Thao Pier 伊達邵码头, which is the pier of Ita Thao 伊達邵 village on the southeast shore of the lake. Taking a ferry across Sun Moon Lake to the three piers is a popular thing to do at Sun Moon Lake.
The Walk – Shuishe Pier 水社码头
Shuishe 水社 village is a transportation hub where you may arrive on a bus. The village has many restaurants, resort hotels, car parks, shops, and other facilities. Shuishe Pier and Meihe Park 梅荷园, on a small hilltop connected to Shuishe Pier by a short walking trail with stairs, are good locations to appreciate the extraordinary beauty of Sun Moon Lake.
Feeling energised? Walk the 1.5km Hanbi Hiking Trail 涵碧步道 starting near the Sun Moon Lake Christian church 日月潭耶穌堂.
Want to discover more great walking locations around Perth? Check out the “By the Waters” blogs.
Shuishe 水社, on the northwest shore of the lake, is the main tourist village where most people arrive.