ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a trip
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a trip
    Sun-Moon-Lake

    Taiwan

    Sun-Moon-Lake

    Point of InterestNatureCulture

    Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County, Central Taiwan, is the island's largest body of water, situated at 748 meters amidst forested mountains.

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Taiwan
    7. Central Taiwan
    9. Sun-Moon-Lake
    Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County, Central Taiwan, is the island's largest body of water, situated at 748 meters amidst forested mountains. Boats ferrying between piers, a cycling path around the lake, and temples with lake views make it a tranquil counterpoint to the cities.The lake owes its name to the shape of its two parts, resembling a sun and a crescent moon. Along its shores lives the Thao people, one of the smallest of the 16 recognized indigenous peoples, whose center is Ita Thao village. The Wenwu Temple on the north shore honors Confucius, as well as the gods of war Guan Yu and Yue Fei. A cable car connects the lake with the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village.
    Sun Moon Lake lies in Nantou County; Taichung is usually the starting point. Piers are spread around the lake: Shuishe in the north, where buses arrive, Xuanguang and Ita Thao in the south. Boats shuttle between them; a bike path circles the lake fully or in sections, and a cable car takes you to the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village. It's most beautiful in the early morning, with mist over the water and before day visitors arrive.

    More districts in Sun-Moon-Lake

    Ita Thao

    Ita Thao

    Ita Thao, on Sun Moon Lake's southern shore, is the village of the Thao, one of Taiwan's smallest indigenous peoples. Many shops on the main street are owned by Thao families, and local eateries offer dishes like mountain pork, sticky rice, and millet wine. Boats run from Shuishe twice an hour, crossing in about ten minutes.

    Sights in Sun-Moon-Lake

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Sun Moon Lake Cable Car
    Attraction

    Sun Moon Lake Cable Car

    The gondola lift connects the lakeshore with the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village in the hills. Even the ride is worthwhile for the views over the lake and the surrounding mountains.
    Open in Google Maps
    Xuanguang Temple
    Place of Worship

    Xuanguang Temple

    The small Buddhist temple is located directly on the water and has its own boat dock. Well-known is the stand at the entrance, which has long sold tea eggs, and the view of Lalu Island, which is sacred to the Thao.
    Open in Google Maps
    Ita Thao
    Attraction

    Ita Thao

    The village on the south shore is the Thao's center, the lake's original inhabitants. Dockside are shops, snack stalls, and accommodation, plus a section of the lake circuit begins here.
    Open in Google Maps

    Sights in Sun-Moon-Lake

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Sun Moon Lake Cable Car
    Attraction

    1Sun Moon Lake Cable Car

    The gondola lift connects the lakeshore with the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village in the hills. Even the ride is worthwhile for the views over the lake and the surrounding mountains.
    Open in Google Maps
    Xuanguang Temple
    Place of Worship

    2Xuanguang Temple

    The small Buddhist temple is located directly on the water and has its own boat dock. Well-known is the stand at the entrance, which has long sold tea eggs, and the view of Lalu Island, which is sacred to the Thao.
    Open in Google Maps
    Ita Thao
    Attraction

    3Ita Thao

    The village on the south shore is the Thao's center, the lake's original inhabitants. Dockside are shops, snack stalls, and accommodation, plus a section of the lake circuit begins here.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Sun-Moon-Lake

    1

    寒拾苑 (Jiangzhe Cuisine)

    The Chinese restaurant on the lake's northern shore serves Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine and, with over 1,600 Google reviews, is one of the most popular spots by the lake.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Uncle's Tea Egg Stand

    The small stall in Shuishe sells tea eggs, a typical lakeside snack. It’s highly rated on Google with over 700 reviews, ideal for a boost before your boat trip.
    Show on Google Maps

    Dining and Drinks

    At the lake, black tea and Thao cuisine define the menus.

    Assam black tea

    In the Japanese era, Assam tea was grown here; today, Sun Moon Lake Black Tea is the region's most famous product.

    Tea eggs at Xuanguang Temple

    The stand at the temple is known for its eggs cooked in tea and mushrooms.

    Cuisine of Thao

    In Ita Thao you'll find Thao dishes, such as mountain pig meat, sticky rice, and millet wine.

    Thao and the Lake

    The lake is home to the Thao, who are among Taiwan's smallest recognized indigenous peoples. According to legend, Thao hunters discovered the lake while following a white deer. The small island of Lalu, in the middle of the lake, is sacred to them, and in Ita Thao village, many shops are owned by Thao families.The Wenwu Temple on the north shore was built after a dam raised the lake level and smaller temples disappeared. Every year around the Mid-Autumn Festival, thousands of people swim three kilometers across the lake during the Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival; otherwise, swimming is prohibited.

    Getting there and around

    There is no train station at the lake. The easiest way is by High-Speed Rail to Taichung, then take bus 6670 (Exit 5 at the HSR station) to Shuishe in about 90 minutes. Direct buses also run from Taipei.Boat: A day ticket for the boats connects the Shuishe, Xuanguang, and Ita Thao piers.Bicycle: Rental bikes are available in Shuishe and Ita Thao, among other locations; the cycling path around the lake is about 30 kilometers long.Bus: A loop bus runs around the lake during the day, stopping at the main points.It gets crowded on weekends and holidays, so expect waiting times for buses and the cable car.

    Accommodations in Sun-Moon-Lake

    Find perfect stay in Sun-Moon-Lake

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Nearby

    Ita Thao

    Ita Thao

    Ita Thao, on Sun Moon Lake's southern shore, is the village of the Thao, one of Taiwan's smallest indigenous peoples. Many shops on the main street are owned by Thao families, and local eateries offer dishes like mountain pork, sticky rice, and millet wine. Boats run from Shuishe twice an hour, crossing in about ten minutes.
    Central Taiwan

    Central Taiwan

    Central Taiwan stretches from the metropolis of Taichung into the Central Mountain Range, home to Sun Moon Lake and the Alishan mountain area. Those seeking lakes, forests, and tea plantations will find them here.Taichung, with its high-speed rail station and metro, serves as the region's transport hub, with buses departing from here to Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County. Further south, the historic Alishan Forest Railway runs from Chiayi to over 2,000 meters. To its east rises Yushan, Taiwan's highest mountain at 3,952 meters.
    Taichung

    Taichung

    Taichung in central Taiwan is a major city with distinctive modern architecture, one of the country's largest night markets, and good bus connections to Sun Moon Lake. For many travelers, it's a convenient stopover on the way to the mountains.The National Taichung Theater, opened in 2016 and designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, stands out with its curved concrete walls. In Rainbow Village, a former soldier covered a military dependents' village with colorful paintings, saving it from demolition. The Fengjia Night Market is one of Taiwan's largest, and on the coast, at sunset, the sky reflects in the Gaomei Wetlands at the mouth of the Dajia River.
    Alishan

    Alishan

    Alishan is a forested mountain region in Taiwan's western Central Mountain Range, reached by a historic narrow-gauge railway from Chiayi. Ancient cypress forests, mountain villages, and stunning peak sunrises make it one of Taiwan's classic mountain destinations.The Alishan Forest Railway was built during the Japanese colonial era for logging, ascending from Chiayi at 30 meters to Alishan Station at 2,216 meters. En route, it traverses tropical, subtropical, and temperate forest zones. After severe typhoon damage in 2009 and 2015, it is fully operational again since July 2024. From Alishan, an early morning train takes you to Zhushan, where many observe the sunrise over the mountains.
    Fenqihu

    Fenqihu

    Fenqihu is a mountain village on the Alishan Forest Railway on the way up from Chiayi. Trains make a longer stop here, and the place is known for its Bento lunchboxes. Buses 7329A and 7322A from Chiayi also pass through Fenqihu.