Travel Taiwan – The Sun Moon Lake

Situated in the island country of Taiwan is one of the most picturesque lakes in the world. Called the Sun Moon Lake, the lake derives its name from the small island situated at the center of the lake that according to legend, seemingly separates the sun and the moon.

The more biological reason for the name arises from the fact that the lake is shaped like the sun in the eastern end and turns into a crescent shaped body of water as one moves westward. Considered as the home of the Shao people for several years, the lake is today open to the public.

Surrounded by imposing the imposing peaks, the lake is renowned for its serene beauty. Caressed by dense vegetation at several places, the areas surrounding the lake are an embodiment of silent splendor.

More than ten thousand tourists visit the Sun Moon Lake every year with the majority of them turning up during the Mid Autumn Festival to swim 3 kilometers across the lake. Though the weekends tend to be pretty crowded, the weekdays are relatively quieter.

Getting there and around: The lake is located along the Central Cross Island Highway and the best way to reach the lake is on road. Several cabs, taxis and buses provide transportation to the lake from the nearby cities of Taipei, Taichung and Puli.

The lake is surrounded by a narrow road that goes around in loops and circles at places. The road can be used for trekking and biking. The best way yet to get around the lake is via boats that ferry passengers between strategically located ports around the lake.

History of the lake: No one knows when the Sun Moon Lake formed. However, story goes that the lake and the island at the center of the lake (called Lal) was the abode of people from the ancient Shao Tribe.

Though quite shallow at first, the lake started receiving water from the nearby hydroelectric plant which started functioning in 1934. The water levels rose to alarming heights which made it necessary to shift the Shao people from their homes and relocate them further up the mountain to the Sun Moon Village. Even today, the Lalu Island in the middle of the lake is frequented by the people of the village to pay respect to their ancestors and is off bounds for tourists.

Though swimming in the lake is prohibited (except for the competition), there are a fair number of hiking trails and attractions surrounding the park. The more popular hiking trails include the Hanbi Trail, The Tzuen Pagoda Trail and the Dachuhu Lake Trail.

The Hnabi trail leads to the Hanbi Palace located atop a hill. Made of red bricks, the trial goes on for about 1.5 kilometers uphill while offering great views of the lake. The Tzuen Pagoda Trail is about half a mile long and is lined with various ferns and plants. Ending at the Tzuen Ta Pagoda which has a height of 954 meters, the trail is very scenic and a pleasure to walk through.

The Dachuhu Trail leads into bird sanctuary and is only 80 meters long. Housing a variety of birds including little egrets, black crowned night herons and several other waterfowls, the park also feeds the Sun Moon Lake via a small stream of water from the Chuoshui River. The other notable trails near the lake include the Totingai, Songpolun, Mt. Maolan and Shueiwatou Trails.

Landmarks and Attractions near the lake: The lake and its surrounding regions house a number of interesting tourist attractions that you may want to consider visiting. The Peacock Garden is home to more than 200 peacocks and several gallinaceans. You can also visit the Butterfly Museum and the Butterfly Field House to watch live and artificial specimens of the winged creatures.

Home to the Shao People, the Sun Moon Village is situated up a hill and is an ancient aboriginal; habitat. The current population of the village is only 400 and the people are extremely friendly. While you are here, try the Shao specialty fresh sea food dishes. The village also has several ancient artifacts, sculptures and handcrafted items you may find interesting.

The Wenwu Temple is visited by people from around the world who come here to worship the God of Letters, Confucius and the marital gods, Yuehfei and Guangong. The temple was originally built in 1938 and relocated to higher grounds in 1969. The entrance to the temple is flanked by two large lions, which are considered to be the biggest in Taiwan.

You can also visit the Hsuankuang and Hsuan Tsang Temples. Housing the ancient relics of Master Hsuan Tsang, the author of “Buddhist Records of the Western World” and a celebrated Chinese Buddhist scholar and translator; the temple is a must visit for history buffs.

Attractions located en route to the Sun Moon Lake: There are several other road side attractions on the way to the lake. These include the 9-21 Earthquake Museum in Nantou city, 4 W’s at Puli, Taroko National Park, sheep at Chingjing Farm and Flame Peaks at Tasotun.