Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan has been my favorite place ever since I visited the gorgeous water reservoir in my first year living in the country. The serene alpine lake is as unearthly and mystic as its legend. And the best thing to do in Sun Moon Lake is to just appreciate the beautiful waterscape as its scenery changes as time goes by.
Nevertheless, this popular tourist destination offers many ways to enjoy the lake. In this post, I will share:
- what to do, see, and eat in Sun Moon Lake
- how to get to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung, Taipei, and Kaohsiung
- and how to get around once you get there.
Also, see my Sun Moon Lake Itinerary for your travel planning because nearby towns are well worth your visit while you are in the area, too!
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>> Planning for a Taipei trip as well? Whether you are heading there now or adding to your travel bucket list for the future, be sure to check out my Taiwan Travel Tips and Taipei Travel Guides:
- Taipei in 3 Days
- A Guide to Taipei Old Town
- 6 Historical Places to Visit in Taipei
- Taipei Hotel Review: An Award-winning Design Hotel
- Where to Find the Best Pineapple Cake in Taipei
- Yong Kang Street: A Food Paradise of Taipei
Happy Planning!
A serene alpine lake from Xiangshan Lookout
Sun Moon Lake Taiwan
Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan’s largest alpine lake in Yuchi Township of Nantou County. As one of the Eight Beauty of Taiwan Scenic Areas, it is Taiwan’s time-tested and most popular tourist destination.
In the middle of the lake is Lalu Island, a tiny island once inhabited by the Taiwanese aboriginal Thao tribe. According to a legend, the Thao hunters discovered this mystic place while chasing a rare white deer for days across river and mountain ridges. They saw it as a sacred place and moved the entire tribe to settle here.
By the way, have you wondered why it is called Sun Moon Lake?
In the middle of the lake, the tiny Lalu Island separates the water in two sections: the east side resembling a crescent Moon and the west side looking like the Sun. Such a heavenly landscape only deserves the divine legend and the poetic name, don’t you think?
How to Get to Sun Moon Lake
Taichung to Sun Moon Lake
By Car: Driving a car from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake takes about 1.5 hours. Rent a car. You can also hire a private transfer or a shared van from Taichung.
By Motorcycle: Riding a scooter to Sun Moon Lake is also possible. Rent a scooter here. A motorcycle license is required.
By Bus: Taking a bus from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake takes about 1.5 hours.
- Travel to Sun Moon Lake by Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route from HSR Taichung Station. Bus runs from 7:20 am at every hour until the last departure at 2:20 pm.
- Another option is the Nantou bus. Online booking can be challenging but try here with Google Translation on. Or, just take a chance without booking and use your EasyCard on board. Bus runs from 7:45 am until the last departure at 5:10 pm.
Taipei to Sun Moon Lake
By Flight: No direct flight from Taipei to Taichung.
By Train: Take an HSR (High Speed Rail) from Taipei Main Station to Taichung Station. (Save with the unlimited HSR tourist pass.) It takes less than an hour. Take a bus, hire a driver, or drive a rental from the station to Sun Moon Lake.
By Car: Driving a car from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake takes about 3 hours. Rent a car here. Or hire a private transfer from Taipei.
By Bus: Take Kuo-Kuang bus #1833 departs from Taipei Bus Station (NT470 one-way or NT900 round trip). The 4-hour journey can be booked online here, but head to a convenience store for help if any complications.
Kaohsiung to Sun Moon Lake
By Flight: No direct flight from Kaohsiung to Taichung.
By Train: Take an HSR (High Speed Rail) from Zuoying Station to Taichung Station. (Save with the unlimited HSR tourist pass.) It takes less than an hour. Take a bus, hire a driver, or drive a rental from the station to Sun Moon Lake.
By Car: Driving a car from Kaohsiung to Sun Moon Lake takes about 3 hours. Rent a car here.
By Bus: Take a bus to Taichung and transfer to a Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route from HSR Taichung Station.
How to Get Around Sun Moon Lake
If you don’t have a car or scooter, the round-the-lake bus is the easiest way to get around Sun Moon Lake. It does not actually travel in a complete circle; instead, it stops at every popular tourist site from Shuishe to Xuanguang Temple.
Be sure to pick up the timetable and know when the next bus comes as it is not frequent.
You may also use a mix of boats (#2 below), cable car (#6), and bike (#12) to get around more efficiently.
>> If you are making a day trip from Taichung, consider booking a Sun Moon Lake Day Tour: this or this.
>> To cover a broader area in one day, this Nantou tour from Taichung takes you to Sun Moon Lake, Cingjing Farm, and Cingjing Skyline.
Sun Moon Lake Map
As you can see from this Sun Moon Lake Map, you can make one big circle around the lake. I will list things to do in Sun Moon Lake in the clockwise direction, starting from Shuishe.
Things to Do in Sun Moon Lake
#1. Shuishe Visitors Center
Consider Shuishe as a city center. Although it is tiny, the area has everything tourists need – hotel & lodging, restaurants, coffee shops, souvenir shops, bike rentals, etc.
It is also a transportation hub. If you are taking a bus from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake, this is where the bus will drop you off. And you can also take a bus around the lake, or out to another area like Qingjing Farm or Checheng.
Shuishe Wharf is one of three major marinas in the area. See #1. Sun Moon Lake Boat below for details.
Location: [Open Google Map]
#2. Sun Moon Lake Boat
One of the most fun ways to explore Sun Moon Lake is from the water itself. And it is an inexpensive and efficient way to cross over the lake. Because of these reasons, I would say taking a boat tour is a must.
There are many little dockyards for private and public boats. But for most of the boat tours, you will be using Shuishe, Xuangguang, and Ita Thao Piers.
- Shuishe Pier: See above #1. Shuishe Visitors Center
- Xuangguang Pier: Xuangguang is close to Xuangguang Temple. You can even walk to nearby Xuanzang Temple or Ci’en Pagoda. But the highlight is to see the Lalu Island (See #3. Lalu Island)
- Ita Thao Piers: See #8. Ita Thao Sun Moon Lake below.
>> Many discounted boat tour packages are offered together with