SUN MOON LAKE ULTIMATE CITY GUIDE

I have always been intrigued by new destinations and new cultures. Recently, my love for travel has brought me to Taiwan. My friend and I were only there for one week so we had to decide which part of the country we wanted to visit. After some last-minute research, we narrowed it down to Sun Moon Lake. This incredible lake is approximately 3 hours away from Taipei, which made it the perfect destination for us. We spent 2 days there and we both absolutely loved it. The blue water, the mountains, the many temples and pagodas, and the breathtaking views make this place so unique and special to visit.

How to get there

Sun Moon Lake is located right in the middle of Taiwan, which makes it very accessible. From Taipei, it is approximately a 4 bus hour ride and costs 470 NT$ each way (about 20 CAD$ or 16 US$).  The bus leaves from Taipei Main Station and goes directly to Sun Moon Lake Shuishe Visitor Center Station. There are also direct buses from Taichung and Alishan and many other cities. The buses in Taiwan are very comfortable and they have air conditioning and wifi.

Once you get to the lake, there are 2 major ways of getting around: shuttle boat or around-the-lake bus. Both run pretty frequently and are very inexpensive (between 80 and 100 NT$ for a day pass). If you choose to take the boat, there are 3 ferry piers around the lake: Shuishe Pier, Xuanguang Pier, and Ita Thao Pier. These allow you to easily move around all the major tourist spots while enjoying the scenic views from the lake. The bus is also very convenient as it goes all around the lake and has many stops.

It is very important to know that both the bus and the shuttle boat stop around 6 pm… so plan accordingly!!

Where to stay 

There are 2 areas where you can stay around Sun Moon Lake: Shuishe Pier and Ita Thao. Both have hotels, restaurants, and shops and are accessible by boat or bus. Some people even choose to stay in a nearby town instead (but I definitely recommend staying at Sun Moon Lake).

We stayed in Ita Thao at a hotel called Tan Hsiang Yu B&B and we loved it. We only paid 1500 NT$ a night! The room was beautiful and clean and the hosts were extremely helpful and friendly. They even have a beautiful rooftop terrace where you can enjoy a drink and watch the sunset and the sunrise. I highly recommend it!!

What to do

Sun Moon Lake is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Although we only stayed there for 2 days, I think we managed to see and do almost everything.

Sun Moon Lake Ropeway

Going up a cable car is always one of the best ways to appreciate the beautiful scenery. The cable car in Sun Moon Lake is located close to Ita Thao (about a 10-minute walk). It costs 300 NT$ (you can also buy a special day pass with access to the cable car and the shuttle boat for 390 NT$ like we did). It takes close to 10 minutes to get to the top. Once you are at the top, you can visit the Formosa Aboriginal Village or simply go back down.

Tip: there are 2 different cable cars (crystal floor and normal floor)! If you are afraid of heights I suggest taking the normal floor!! We took the crystal floor and were terrified haha!

Butterfly Garden

On our way back from the cable car, we stumbled upon a butterfly garden. We walked through it and saw many butterflies and other bugs (like giant spiders!!!). It started raining while we were there and it was truly magical. It is not a popular or advertised activity but I absolutely recommend checking it out since it’s so close to the Ropeway.

Ci’en Pagoda and Xuanzang Temple

The Ci’en Pagoda and Xuanzang Temple were by far our favorite things in all of Taiwan.

Ci’en Pagoda was built by former President Chiang Kai-shek in memory of his mother and sits on top of Shabalan Mountain. To get there, you have to take the around-the-lake bus and get off at Xuanzang Temple. You then have to hike Tsen Pagoda Hiking Trail which is about 700 meters long. The pagoda is 46 meters tall. Visitors can go inside and climb to the top (which is at exactly 1000 meters above sea level). It is truly the most breathtaking thing I have seen in my life!!

Xuanzang Temple is definitely easier to access than the Pagoda as you don’t need to hike (the bus stops right in front of it). This beautiful Buddhist temple was built in 1965 and is divided into 2 levels. One of them houses a tiny piece of the monk Xuanzang’s skull and the other one worships the golden Sakyamuni Buddha. Although not as high as the Pagoda, this Temple has an incredible view of the lake.

Wenwu Temple

Wenwu Temple is probably the biggest and most famous temple in Sun Moon Lake. Originally, there used to be 2 temples. However, in 1919, they were both relocated by the Japanese colonizers and eventually merged into one temple which was named Wenwu. The temple is divided into 3 different halls that all worship different gods. This is a very popular tourist attraction (and definitely a must-see when in the Sun Moon Lake area).

Before the construction of the around-the-lake road, the only way to the temple was by taking the steps (which were called Stairway to Heaven). Although nobody uses the steps to get to the temple anymore, they are still popular amongst tourists. They are now known as Years of Steps because there are 366 steps, which represent the days of the year (including February 29th).

Other activities

– Another popular temple in Sun Moon Lake is Xuanguang Temple. We did not have enough time to see it but it looks beautiful and worth the visit.

– If you like cycling, you will love Sun Moon Lake as it is said to have one of the top 10 best cycling trails in the world. Although we decided not to go cycling, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone visiting the area. Close to Shuishe Pier, you can rent bikes for a few NT$.

– Sun Moon Lake is the host of many festivals each year. If you are planning to visit the area, try to coordinate the dates with a cool festival!

This area has so many activities to offer… you will never run out of options!

Our time in Sun Moon Lake was definitely something we will never forget. I have to mention that they do not speak English at all in the area (so be ready to communicate through google translate with everyone). We had an amazing time nonetheless and I would go back any day! If you are looking for a truly unique and special place to visit, Sun Moon Lake is for you!!

Asia, Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake