2025 Sun Moon Lake Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in August)

If you're in Taichung and looking for a short trip that combines natural beauty with cultural charm, Sun Moon Lake is a must-visit destination. Nestled in Nantou, this alpine lake is renowned for its crystal-clear waters and stunning mountain surroundings. With convenient transportation and a variety of local delicacies, it's the perfect spot for a relaxing one-day trip. --- 🚍 How to Get to Sun Moon Lake? There are three main departure points from Taichung: - Taichung High-Speed Rail Station - Taichung Train Station (Minzu Road Intersection) - Gancheng Bus Terminal Take Bus 6670 or its various route branches (A/B/C/D/E/F), as well as P2/P3 lines, which all go directly to Sun Moon Lake Station. - Using an EasyCard: NT$80 per trip - Paying in cash: NT$160 per trip 🚎 Travel times vary depending on the route: Some buses pass through Puli Bus Terminal, Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, or National Chi Nan University. Others offer direct routes. ⏱️ Travel time ranges from 1 to 2 hours. ⚠️ For the return trip, wait at the bus stop across from where you got off. Crowds may be larger in the evening, so plan for extra waiting time. ⛴️ How to Explore Sun Moon Lake? 📱 It's recommended to purchase lake cruise tickets in advance on platforms like Trip.com, priced at around ¥40 per person (on-site tickets cost NT$300). After purchasing, exchange for physical tickets at the "Zhan'an Shalian Ticket Office." 🌊 The standard three-stop cruise route includes: - Shuishe Pier (starting point) → Xuanguang Temple → Ita Thao → Return to Shuishe 📅 Check the official timetable for cruise schedules. Frequent departures make it easy to plan flexibly. 🏯 Xuanguang Temple Stop: A Journey of Tea Eggs and Steps 🚶♀️ After disembarking, walk about 1 minute to try the famous Grandma's Tea Eggs (NT$15 each)—super fragrant! Then, walk another 5 minutes to reach Xuanguang Temple, which offers free drinking water and restrooms, as well as the iconic Sun Moon Lake scenic sign for photo ops. 📍 If you're up for a challenge, hike the Xuanzang Temple Trail, an 850-meter staircase that takes about 20 minutes. At the top, you'll find Xuanzang's relics and Chiang Kai-shek's calligraphy. The views and atmosphere are worth the effort. Return by walking about 15 minutes back to Xuanguang Temple Pier to catch the boat. 🛍️ Ita Thao Stop: Old Street Food and Shopping Recommendations This is the liveliest shopping district at Sun Moon Lake. Must-try foods include: 🥢 Dong Dong Gua Bao: Flavorful tofu and meat buns, NT$70 each 🥬 Nianji Cabbage Bun: Limited daily supply, freshly steamed, NT$60 each 🧋 Assam Milk Tea: The birthplace of this tea, priced under NT$50 for a great deal 🚶 After eating, walk about 15 minutes along the lake to the cable car station for stunning views. 🚡 Cable Car & Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Bonus Experience 📌 Round-trip tickets cost NT$380 and can be purchased on Trip.com for instant use. 🚠 The endpoint is Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village. If you buy park tickets, the cable car ride is free. However, exploring the park requires a full day, making it ideal for a two-day trip. ⏰ Cable Car Operating Hours: - Weekdays: Until 4:00 PM - Weekends: Until 4:30 PM ☀️ Best Time to Visit Weekdays (Monday to Friday) are highly recommended to avoid crowds and take better photos! On sunny days, the lake appears a dreamy blue-green; on cloudy days, it turns deep blue, offering a different scenic vibe. ✅ Summary Sun Moon Lake is perfect for leisurely strolls, food exploration, and boat rides, blending nature, culture, and cuisine into a complete experience. It's a therapeutic trip that satisfies both the eyes and the taste buds, making it an effortless one-day getaway that's absolutely worth visiting!

#Nantou Sakura Friends who love cherry blossoms must not miss it. The largest in Central Taiwan - Formosan Aboriginal Cherry Blossom Festival🌸 There is a large cherry blossom forest, including Yoshino cherry and Yaezakura. There are 4-5 thousand cherry trees, which are so beautiful. It is recommended to take a cable car from the lakeside of Yidashao to the Guanshan Tower of the Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village. The total length is more than 1,800 meters and the one-way trip takes about 7 minutes. Overlooking the entire Sun Moon Lake and the Formosan Aboriginal Cherry Blossom Forest from a high altitude 🌳 is so beautiful👍, Just having a picnic 🧺 or reading 📕 under the cherry trees is worth it. After leaving the park, you can go to Sun Moon Lake's Sun Moon Restaurant for dinner. It is recommended to book a table in advance, as it is hard to get a table during meal time. Because the food is delicious, the price is reasonable, and the dining environment is comfortable. It is the best choice for those who love delicious food 👍 📍Address: Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village: No. 45, Jintian Lane, Yuchi Township, Nantou County 📍Address: Sun Moon Restaurant: No. 211-1, Zhongshan Road, Yuchi Township, Nantou County 💰Average Consumption: Formosan Aboriginal Culture Tour Ticket: 980 💰Average consumption per person: Sun Moon Restaurant: 400-600 #Aboriginal Culture Village Cherry Blossom Viewing #SunMoonCafé

#SunMoonLake #SunMoonLakeQueensFort Hotel #FantasticFort Store #Formosan Culture Village 💞Recommended reasons: Does anyone have the same impression of Sun Moon Lake as I do, which is taking a boat tour around the lake and then going to Xuanguang Pier to eat grandma's tea eggs? This time, I will take you to ride an electric bike around the lake to experience the different beauty of Sun Moon Lake. 🗓️Itinerary: Day 1 Depart from Taoyuan➡️Send luggage at Queen's Castle CI to pick up entertainment tickets➡️Make pottery by yourself➡️Lunch at Zhonghua Thirteen Beef Noodles (large parking lot, friendly lady boss, delicious dumplings)➡️Rest at the hotel➡️Dinner at Lulu Zaza Parent-Child Cafe (there is a large game room on B1 diagonally opposite the hotel, the fried rice is delicious)➡️Walk and shop at Yida Shao Pier Day 2 Delicious hotel breakfast➡️Apply for CO to send luggage➡️Traveler bike additional charge to rent electric bike➡️Ride along the wooden plank road for about 3 minutes to the cable car station to take pictures➡️Canoeing for about 1 hour➡️Shuiwatou Trail to see the nine frogs➡️Eat lunch near Shezi Pier (7-11 is a good choice in hot weather😀)➡️Xiangshan Visitor Center➡️Xiangshan 270-degree viewing platform➡️See the Lalu Observation Deck➡️Enjoy the scenery along the way back to the hotel➡️Fantastic Castle CI➡️Dinner (take-out Penghu seafood porridge and house-style dumplings) Day 3 Breakfast at the hotel➡️CO luggage delivery➡️Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village (take the cable car directly to the highest point, transfer to Sun Moon Lake Cable Car to Ita Thao Cable Car Station to eat snacks, drink coffee and enjoy the beautiful scenery, then return to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village to watch the performance and walk down the mountain➡️Warm home

For a one-night stay with two meals at Sun Moon Lake, we chose the Fleur de Chine Hotel, which offers an excellent lake view. The hotel's location is superb, with no other buildings around to obstruct the view. You can overlook the entire Sun Moon Lake and the lush forest. No wonder the hotel is always busy despite its high price. The hardware, software, and service quality are impeccable. We stayed in a 46-square-meter classic mountain view room, but we were lucky enough to be upgraded to a deluxe Japanese-style mountain and lake view room, probably because it was a weekday. Although the area is about the same, the layout and view are much more open. The Japanese tatami mats make the resting space larger and more leisurely. The room is a corner room, offering a panoramic view of the mountains and lake. It's fantastic! The main purpose of visiting Sun Moon Lake is to relax and vacation, so the comfort of the hotel is very important. Besides the great view, there is also a large bathtub for hot springs, as well as a balcony and lounge chairs. It's so comfortable that you don't want to leave the room. However, we still went cycling around the lake trail to get closer to nature. As for the room rates, the classic mountain view room with one night and two meals costs about 13,000 TWD. Considering the upgrade to the 17,000 TWD deluxe Japanese-style mountain and lake view room, the money spent is worth it. After all, it's a five-star hot spring hotel with a first-row lake view. Even in Japan, the price is about the same.

#November2024 🌊 Sun Moon Lake is the largest lake in Taiwan and one of the most representative natural attractions. This lake, located in Nantou County, attracts many tourists with its magnificent landscape and rich cultural heritage. ✨ 💞Recommended reasons: ⭐️ Magnificent lake view The surface of Sun Moon Lake is like a mirror, surrounded by green mountains. The lake water appears particularly clear under the sunlight. The white clouds on the lake and the mountain peaks interweave to form a picturesque scene that makes people linger. 🫶🏻 📸 Great spots for taking photos and checking in Every corner of Sun Moon Lake is full of inspiration for taking photos. Whether it is the lakeside or the mountains in the distance, they are all great places to check in. 🔥 #check-in #Taiwan #Taichung #SunMoonLake #100TravelWays #usj

Autumn.. Visiting Sun Moon Lake with friends.. Starting the tour around the lake from Xiangshan Visitor Center Wandering around the garden to enjoy the lake Then walking on the trail at Shuishe Pier The autumn breeze blows...especially refreshing Stayed at the B&B at Yidashao Pier Watching the night sky of Sun Moon Lake at night...falling asleep The morning light of Sun Moon Lake woke us up Walking the Jiuwa Trail with friends Xuanguang Pier Trail Circumferential road around the lake Enjoy a pleasant tour...

The most 'Instagrammable' spot on the Sun Moon Lake loop is right here! The modern architecture of the visitor center, with its sleek concrete design, initially made me think it was an art gallery! The gray exterior and unique spatial design make for great photo opportunities. Here, you'll find a café, shops, exhibitions, and seating areas. It's also the first restaurant since the start of the loop, so if you're hungry, you can grab lunch here. However, the prices are on the higher side. The Sun Moon Lake loop road was selected by CNNGO as one of the world's top 10 most beautiful bike paths, so you definitely have to experience its bike path! Starting from the Xiangshan Visitor Center, you can stay on the bike path all the way to Shuishe without having to get back on the road. While the Yongjie and Tongxin Bridges are the most famous sections, my favorite is the Shuishe Dam. This stretch is a straight road with open views, making the lake feel just within reach. The wooden boardwalk design adds to the leisurely feel of the path. However, note that this section requires you to walk your bike. 📍 Xiangshan Visitor Center / Xiangshan Bike Path You can take the Nantou Bus to the Xiangshan Visitor Center stop, or ride your bike there yourself.

The occasional good weather during the rainy season is suitable for arranging a small trip. Having said that, I have already arranged it. I can only say that I am really lucky that it did not affect the itinerary much😎 First stop~ Nantou Earth Mother Temple is said by many people to be the Taiwan version of the Blue House? The full green tiles are quite special compared to other temples. I think the evening might be a more suitable time to visit as the sun is so bright. Parking is easy here and there are some local souvenirs, so it is a good choice for a short stop and rest when driving in the south. No. 94, Pipa Road, Puli Township, Nantou County Second stop, lunch time~ Tujiaocuo Restaurant, a joint cuisine restaurant surrounded by a fish pond. It is a real fish pond, not the fish pond in the place name😝. The taste is average and the dishes are not amazing, but the scenery is good and can be used as a reference when visiting Puli. If there are many people, you can book their revolving seats. It is also very special to eat while slowly rotating to see different landscapes. No. 2, Shuishang Lane, Puli Township, Nantou County The third stop~ The weather is too hot, so we have to find an indoor attraction "hohocha" to drink Sun Moon Lake black tea and tea eggs cooked with black tea, as well as black tea biscuits. The parking fee is included in the ticket price of $80. Isn't it a high CP value? Each ticket can also be used to purchase merchandise at a discount of 20 yuan. It is really great and I have to give it a thumbs up 👍 Remember to go to the 3rd floor to experience the tea! No. 443-36, Yuchi Street, Yuchi Township, Nantou County Fourth stop~ It was a good time to go to Xiangshan Visitor Center to take photos near dusk in the afternoon. It was not too hot. Unfortunately, the weather was unstable in the afternoon when we entered the mountain area. It rained heavily as soon as we arrived. It was a different kind of scenery, right? ? No. 599, Zhongshan Road, Yuchi Township, Nantou County I left early and stayed at the Huyue Hotel in front of Yidashao Pier at night. good night 🥱No. 113, Yiyong Street, Yuchi Township, Nantou County #Earth Mother Temple Baohu Palace #Tujiaocuo Floating Restaurant #Drink Tea Taiwan Xiang Sun Moon Lake Black Tea Factory #Xiangshan Visitor Center #Huyue Landscape Hotel The night after the rain in Sun Moon Lake is particularly beautiful. We went into the hotel to hide from the rain and take a rest for our tired bodies. The rain finally stopped and our hungry stomachs could not wait to drive us out to find food🥱🤤 The good weather and scenery at night are very suitable for drinking and eating snacks on the shore. It is so comfortable to blow the cool breeze, 🍺🍢 The evening breeze is gentle and it is especially good to sleep. I slept until dawn, maybe I was really tired. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The scenery of Lakeview Hotel is great. It is located in the first row of lake views. Each room has a bathtub🛀. I like the soft bed, but the elders are more used to sleeping on a less soft bed. The price is naturally not too cheap. I would suggest that you can introduce the use of the equipment in the room more to make it more friendly to the elders. For example, I thought the air conditioner was turned on, but I didn’t know it until the next morning😓 But the staff are very polite, and the breakfast is simple but full. I think it can be given 4 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟 #Lakeview B&B #SunMoonLake #IdaShao Pier #IdaShao Old Street #Formosan Culture Village

Getting There - Join a group tour or hire a driver to drive to Sun Moon Lake area from Taichung Attractions - Wen Wu temple which is a huge temple with panoramic views, Cable Car to see Sun Moon Lake from above, Cycling route around Sun Moon Lake to explore on land, Cruise to explore on water with multiple stopping points. If you have time you should also go to Aboriginal village/ theme park. Hotels - Many hotels in the vicinity. Food & Restaurants - Many local restaurants serving local cuisine and aboriginal food in the area. Shopping - There are souvenir shops and streets, such as at cable car station.

#Rainy season attractions 🚲 Today we have #Rainy season attractions to recommend. This is another popular place in Taiwan. This place is "Sun Moon Lake". For those who want to travel outside the city and love nature, we recommend you to come here. 🚲 This place is ranked as one of the most beautiful bicycle routes. We went during the rainy season. It was drizzling, so it wasn't too hot. The bicycle route here is really beautiful. You can cycle around the lake, but it's far. And if you cycle around, you'll get a certificate because the route is quite brutal. 🚲 The bicycle route here will wind along the lake. And since the lake is surrounded by mountains, the road will have some ups and downs. But if you don't want to cycle, they have electric bicycles for rent. 🚲 Another recommendation is to take the cable car to see the view. You will see a very large lake view. It's very beautiful. The cable car has glass that allows you to see the view below. 📍Location: Sun Moon Lake, Nantou, Taiwan

How to get there: Car Tourist attractions: 𝐒𝐮𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 , Taiwan 📍Impressions of this trip: I would like to recommend to friends who come to visit Taiwan but want to find a unique tourist attraction, want to escape from Taipei, escape the chaos, Marina recommends this place. "𝐒𝐔𝐍 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐄" is a natural tourist attraction, surrounded by both the sea and mountains! Suitable for relaxing or unwinding, healing your heart, etc. I can only say that the real place is more beautiful than in the picture. I highly recommend it. 🥰🥹🍃🏞️ #sunmoonlake #Taiwantourist #Taiwan

The scenic Sun Moon Lake In the morning, you can enjoy the scenery on the lake You can watch the sunset in the evening It's a great place for couples to date or for a family outing❤️ #SunMoonLake #LocalTour

It was a gray morning and most people left early because they thought there was nothing much to see. However, once the sun passed, the scenery of Shuishe Mountain became like a fairyland. The wait was worth it. Just taking some photos with your camera was so beautiful. Taiwan is really great🥰 #Sun Moon Lake #Nantou Sun Moon Lake #Sunrise #Lake View

Sun Moon Lake in Yuchi Township, Sun Moon Lake, Nantou County, offers boat tours and bicycle rentals. This time I stayed at the Wharf Hotel at Shuishe Wharf. I arrived on the second day of the National Day holiday around the afternoon and waited in line for parking for about 20 minutes to half an hour. The traffic was jammed all the way. Fortunately, there were many vehicles in and out in the afternoon, so I was able to enter smoothly. I sincerely recommend planning to come to Sun Moon Lake on the second day of the holiday. Go early in the morning to avoid parking pressure. After arriving, I went to see the Church of Jesus first, and then walked around the Hanbi Trail. After checking in at the hotel, I found a local restaurant for dinner. I ordered half-day bamboo shoots and sugarcane bamboo shoots. After dinner, I walked to 7-Eleven to buy some alcoholic drinks. My wife and I stopped to chat on the balcony of the room. The next morning, I got up at 5:30 to run. After running a circle along the Hanbi Trail, I ran towards Chaowu Wharf. At Chaowu Wharf, I saw many people camping directly in their cars. I continued running and saw two monkeys. They glared at me when I took pictures. I didn’t expect the trail to be so long that I couldn’t explore it all. I can only leave it for next time. To be continued.

At night, Sun Moon Lake is quite quiet, but there are many shops open. We decided to eat at 7-Eleven. The food at 7-Eleven in Taiwan is not bad, it's delicious. After we finished eating, we went to look at souvenir shops. There were many shops selling owl-related items. We asked the seller and he told us a lot about the history of this place. In the end, we each got one or two souvenirs. If anyone forgets personal items, there is also a Watsons store here. You can buy them here. #TaiwanTravel

Wangyou Forest has always been a popular check-in spot. It is not easy to get here. You have to drive a difficult mountain road to get there. You can also ask a local guide to take you up. It happened to rain the day before, and the water surface was full, which made it even more beautiful. #springtravel #starfamily4monthflash #localtravel #familytravel #romanticgetaway

I saw the photos of my friends watching the sunrise🌅 in Cingjing are really beautiful🤩, so I really wanted to think of Cingjing in Nantou; coincidentally, my runners wanted to run 🏃‍♀️ in Tanaka, so we signed up for our first marathon🏃‍♀️. The purpose is to go to Cingjing to watch the sunrise🌅. Then signed up for our local tour at 3 am 🕒 loosely boarded the car out 🚪, first to the local favorable location stargazing 🌌 about an hour and a half ⌚️ then to the top of the mountain ⛰️ to see the sea of ​​clouds ☁️ and sunrise 🌞. At noon, we arrived at a colorful rainbow 🌈 village that will make people happy 😍 index rising ↖️. Cingjing is definitely a great holiday place for the mind to rest well. #OverseasTravel #VacationGoodPlace #TaichungCingjingFarm #RainbowVillage #Sunrise #StargazingGoodPlace

There is sunshine in Sun Moon Lake in the morning ☀️ The lake and mountains are very beautiful🏞 At the Ita Thao Pier, there are canoes, canvas, and water bikes. We chose to take a yacht. At Xuanguang Pier, we can enjoy the singing of the aboriginals and eat grandma's tea eggs. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of mountains and green hills on all sides💝 You can also arrange to take a cable car. Remember to choose the crystal cable car. The ground below is transparent, so you can see the beauty of Sun Moon Lake from a high altitude.

Sun Moon Lake is a place that many people choose when traveling. You can spend a whole day relaxing here. Cycling Pedaling boat Boat trip on the lake You can even just take the cable car to enjoy the scenery of the entire Sun Moon Lake.

Join the club's 3 tour buses, 2 days and 1 night tour, hot spring bathing, mountain climbing, suspension bridge walking, mountain vegetable shopping, delicious, fun and healthy, a good itinerary, you can come and experience it😆😆

Compared with the background of blue sky and white clouds, the sometimes cold weather adds more poetic feeling to Sun Moon Lake, just like a classical ink-splashed landscape painting. It's December now, and Nantou looks a bit bleak due to the influence of the northeast monsoon. There are not many tourists, and the trail around the lake is full of people in cars. As you walk, you can look around the entire Sun Moon Lake. Different angles, different scenery, and different moods! #SunMoonLake

#Family Outing

A must-visit spot for walking children or dating lovers

When you come to Sun Moon Lake, you must ride one of the "most beautiful bicycle routes in Taiwan reported by CNN", which is the section from Shuishe Pier to Xiangshan Visitor Center🚴‍♀️ The weather in autumn is great, with sunshine but not too hot, it is very comfortable to ride 😌. Along the way, you can see the turquoise surface of Sun Moon Lake with the sunlight shining on it, the whole thing is sparkling and very beautiful✨ There is also a bald cypress secret place below the Xiangshan Visitor Center🌳, which is very suitable for outdoor photography😆. The architecture of the visitor center itself is also very distinctive and looks like a work of art. However, there are so many people that it is difficult not to take pictures of people🤣, so I just took a few photos🥲 #NantouTourism #NantouAttractions #NantouTravel #NantouFishpond #Photography Guide for Attractions#Cool Travel Experiences#Travel Inspiration#Learn Photography Skills#Beautiful Travel Photos of Beautiful Girls#Travel Tips#Where to Go in Summer

The must-see attraction when you come to Sun Moon Lake is Wenwu Temple. It is very easy to park around Wenwu Temple and you don’t have to walk for a long time. Looking out from Wenwu Temple, you can see the super beautiful scenery of the red temple building and the lake surface. It is even more beautiful at sunrise and sunset. It is also a temple with a long history that existed during the Japanese colonial period. The temple enshrines Guandi and Confucius, the great sage and teacher, so it is called "Wenwu Temple"🙃 It's not easy to get here, so of course I have to take a photo with this stone📷to prove that I am a tourist🤣 #Nantou Fish Pond #Nantou Attractions #Nantou Travel #High-altitude Scenic Spots #Photography Guide #Cool Travel Experience #Travel Inspiration #Learn Photography Skills #Travel Guide #Where to Go in Summer

Transportation: Car Must-see attractions: Qilintan, Shicuiyuan, and Alan Wan Kueh Recommended restaurants: Must-try delicacies: Shanlinxi high mountain tea & overnight dried mackerel & Alan rice cake Shopping Guide: Must-buy Mackerel at Shicuiyuan #TravelCoolExperience

Hehuan Mountain has always been a popular tourist attraction for Taiwanese. During holidays or when it snows, the entire mountain is packed with people. This is because it is within driving distance of Wuling, which is 3,275 meters high. Standing on the top of the mountain, you can enjoy the view of the sea of ​​clouds, sunrise, sunset, and starry sky. It is easier for beginners to conquer the 100 Peaks. I completed my first to fifth 100 Peaks in these two days. I personally think that it is better to visit once than to come here. However, this trip is really tiring. I really don’t recommend this arrangement. I would rather walk two or three trails a day, enjoy the sunrise and starry sky, and take a photo at the Wuling landmark. #travelinspiration#travelbeautifulgirlphotography#attractionphotoshootguide#thenightviewissuperbeautifulhere#hiking#wheretogoinsummer

Taiwan's temples are famous far and wide. When you come to Sun Moon Lake, you can stop by the Wenwu Temple to pray for peace. There are several steps at the back that you can climb to the top to enjoy the beauty of Sun Moon Lake from a bird's eye view. Because you are close to nature, you will occasionally see small animals greeting you (as shown in the last picture). If you are sincere, your wish will come true🙏 Address: No. 63, Zhongzheng Road, Yuchi Township, Nantou County 555 Atmosphere/Facilities: A well-known temple in Taiwan, located next to Sun Moon Lake Features: The temple is neat and clean Price per person: No tickets/any amount of incense money #Where to go in summer