sun moon lake tour bus

Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area

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How to Book the Sun Moon Lake to Alishan Bus (seat guaranteed!)

The bus from Sun Moon Lake to Alishan (or Alishan to Sun Moon Lake) is a high-demand route among visitors to Taiwan.

With only one departure per day in each direction, and no other direct public transportation route between the two famous attractions, you don’t want to miss this bus!

While most people just line up and swipe EasyCard to ride this bus, the line can be very long in peak tourist seasons, and some people might not even get on. During cherry blossoms season (February at SML and March-April at Alishan), the bus is sometimes sold out days in advance.

To eliminate stress about not getting on, you can actually reserve a seat on this bus . In this article, I’ll tell you exactly how.

See my similar guides to booking seats on the bus from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake and Chiayi to Alishan . Also see my guides to visiting Sun Moon Lake and Alishan .

Table of Contents

Alishan to Sun Moon Lake Bus Key Info

• Bus #6739 is operated by Yuanlin Bus Company (員林客運), which is based in Changhua , but also runs buses to places in Nantou (like Sun Moon Lake) and Chiayi (like Alishan)
• Sun Moon Lake to Alishan Departure time: 8 AM
• Alishan to Sun Moon Lake Departure time: 1 PM
• Traveling time: 3 hours 50 min , with one short break on the way
• Sun Moon Lake bus stop location : here across from the Visitor’s Information Center in Shuishe Village (the main village on Sun Moon Lake)
• Alishan bus stop location : Alishan Bus Station here
• Before COVID, there were actually two buses per day in each direction. However, they cut it back to one during the pandemic and there’s still only one. Maybe in the future it will go back to two.
• At slow times, it was a minibus, but as the tourist numbers continue to rise, you may find it’s now a regular bus. If it’s a minibus, you need to carry your luggage on board. If it’s a regular bus, you can put it in the compartment under the bus.
• Even if you book your seat online, you’ll still pay for the bus on the spot .
• From now until August 31, 2025, if you swipe EasyCard ( order here ) or iPass to ride the bus, you’ll get a 50% discount .
• The full fare from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake (or Sun Moon Lake to Alishan) is TWD 295 . The half-price fare (if swiping with EasyCard or iPass) is TWD 148 . Make sure your card has a positive balance before swiping (it can go into the negatives, but it just needs to have above 0 balance before swiping).
• For kids , if they want a seat, they need to pay the same price as adults. If your child is under 6 and you don’t mind to hold them or share your seat with them the whole way, they don’t need to pay.
• The ride is quite winding , so you should purchase carsickness medicine (暈車藥) from a local pharmacy in Taiwan if needed, and bring a plastic bag just in case.
• If you need it, there are luggage storage lockers (max 72 hours) at Sun Moon Lake and Alishan. See their exact locations here and my guide to storing luggage in these lockers .

How to Reserve a Seat on the Bus

Booking a spot on the bus from Sun Moon Lake to Alishan (or Alishan to Sun Moon Lake) is super easy (unlike some other popular tourist bus routes in Taiwan!)

You can make the reservation 2 months to 2 days before your riding date . I wouldn’t wait until the last minute, though – more than 2 days in advance is safer, since they took 2 full days to reply to my reservation email.

Step 1: Download and Complete Form

The first thing you need to do is go to this page on the Yuanlin Bus Company website. At the bottom of the page, there’s a Microsoft Word icon (yes, this bus company is stuck in the early 2000s…) and the words “(6739) Sun Moon Lake-Alishan Line Reservation Form”.

There’s also a Riding Guide pdf that you can download, but you won’t find any super important info in it (they even include some Chinese phrases you can try to say to the driver, but good luck with that!)

Click to download the Word form. Depending on what browser you use and its security settings, your browser may block the download and say it’s not secure. Check for some words like “download anyway” or “keep” and click to override the security block.

Open the form and complete the following information:

• Upload Date and Email at the top (I almost missed these due to the color)
• Contact Person : Just put one name, even if you are booking for multiple people
• Phone : I just put my Canada phone number, including country code and area code. It doesn’t need to be a Taiwan number. They won’t call you. If you got a Taiwan SIM and number, then sure, put it.
• Number of seats taken : Only write the number of seats you need. If you are two adults with two children and you want them to each have their own seats, then put 4. If you are two babies or toddlers which you are OK to hold in your lap the whole way, then put 2. Maximum 1 lap child per adult.
• Departure Point : Enter Sun Moon Lake or Alishan
• Departure Date : The date you want to go. I suggest you write the month name. Don’t put something like 4/8/2024. Because some countries (like Taiwan) write year/month/day and some countries (like Singapore) write day/month/year. Put something like “April 8, 2024” to avoid confusion.
• Departure time : Write 8:00 if you want the Sun Moon Lake departure or 13:00 if you are boarding at Alishan.

You can feel free to GoogleTranslate the additional notes in Mandarin at the bottom of the form, but there isn’t anything important that I’m not mentioning in this article, and some of the notes even contradict information on the website.

For example, the notes say you must do this at least a week in advance, but the website says 2 days in advance. The price mentioned on the form is also different than the current bus price. I would trust the information on the bus company’s website (and my article), which were both published more recently than when this form was first made.

Step 2: Email Form to Bus Company

Once you’ve completed the form, simply copy-past the email address in the form ( [email protected] ) and send an email to the bus company with the completed form attached.

When I sent mine, I included a brief message and email subject in English. I don’t think it matters – all that matters is the form.

Step 3: Receive Confirmation

I sent the form in on Saturday morning (Taiwan time) to reserve two seats, and sure enough, on Monday morning, they replied with my reservation confirmation (see above screenshot). Another traveler told me that when they sent it on a weekday, they got a reply on the same day.

Although I can read Mandarin (albeit at the level of a grade 3 student…), if I plug their message into GoogleTranslate, here’s what it says:

Hello, the reservation has been completed for you. Your seat code on April 17th is 18.19. Sun Moon Lake departs at 8 o’clock. If you take the bus on the same day, please show your reservation email to prove that the bus location at Sun Moon Lake is Shuishe Visitor Center. The bus location at Alishan is Alishan Transfer Station. In front of 7-11

Pay cash to the driver (no change will be given) or swipe your EasyCard or All-in-One Card (one card per person. Please go to Taiwan convenience store 7-11 to purchase and store value) to get on the bus. Hold the electronic ticket to enjoy a one-way half-price discount of NT$148.

GoogleTranslate is not perfect, so I can clarify a few points in their email here:

• 18.19 would be my two seat numbers .
• There’s no booking number . You just show this email when boarding.
• When boarding , if you want to pay in cash, you have to prepare exact change (TWD 295 per seat), or swipe EasyCard or iPass (not “All-in-One Card”, which is an incorrect translation).
• Make sure your smartcard has a positive value on it before trying to swipe. Load at any 7-Eleven beforehand if needed.
• If you swipe with EasyCard or iPass (from now until August 31, 2025), you get a 50% discount , so only TWD 148 will be deducted from your card when you swipe.

Step 4: Show Booking and Pay to Board Bus

On the day of boarding, since you have a booked seat, you don’t need to arrive so early and line up at the bus stop.

At the bus stop, there will indeed be a line. Feel free to join the line or not. Many travelers don’t realize you can book seats on this bus, so they may be confused or think you trying to skip the line if you just stand at the front.

When the bus arrives, the driver will first ask anyone who has a pre-booked seat (that’s you!) to come forward. In some cases, there may even be staff on hand to check who has booked seats before the bus even arrives.

Swipe your EasyCard/iPass or pay exact cash when boarding the bus and take the seat indicated on your booking email.

You’ll need to swipe your EasyCard or iPass again when getting off the bus.

How to Cancel Your Reservation

If you want to cancel your reservation, this is very simple – just reply to the email confirmation you received and tell them that you want to cancel the booking. There’s no fee to do it, since you haven’t even paid yet.

When I canceled my reservation in this way, they never replied.

And that’s it! Enjoy your trip to Sun Moon Lake and Alishan!

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Tourist Shuttle SUN MOON LAKE

Explore the main attractions around sun moon lake.

S un Moon Lake , located close to the geographical center of Taiwan, is one of the island’s top tourist attractions. Since there is no railway service to the lake, getting there by public transport means taking a bus. There are two main options: taking a Taiwan Tourist Shuttle bus  on the Sun Moon Lake Route, or taking a local public bus from the nearby town of Checheng, the terminal station of the Jiji Line , a railway branch line popular with tourists.

You can board a bus on the Sun Moon Lake Route at Taichung Gancheng Station (a main bus station in central Taichung ), Taichung Railway Station (conventional railway), and THSR Taichung Station (high-speed rail). It takes about 90 minutes to get from central Taichung to the lake. If you have time and want to explore more of Nantou County than just Sun Moon Lake, you might consider getting off at Puli , to the north of the lake. This is a town in a mountain basin known for its pure waters and quality produce. Among the attractions here are the Puli Winery , Guangxing Paper Mill , and impressive Chung Tai Chan Monastery . Between Puli and Sun Moon Lake the bus also stops at the settlement of Taomikeng , where you can visit the Paper Dome , a place of worship made of paper.

Puli Winery is in the heart of old Puli. It is the famed producer of Taiwan’s version of Shaohsing Wine, made from rice. There is an interesting “wine culture” museum on the second floor. At the winery you can try Shaohsing popsicles and sausages.

Also read: Wineries and Distilleries in the TAICHUNG/NANTOU Area

Guangxing Paper Mill is a great place to learn about the traditional process of paper making. You can even get your hands dirty learning out to make paper, including steps such as paper formation, paper pressing, paper drying and rubbing.

KLOOK: Puli Culture Day Trip Cingjing Farm and Puli Day Tour

BOOKING.COM Hotels in Puli

Chung Tai Chan Monastery , built in the shape of a Buddhist devotee sitting in the lotus position, seems to soar into the sky. The large halls and pretty parkland are home to statuary of striking size and and wonderful aesthetic accomplishment.

The  Paper Dome is the main attraction at Taomi Eco Village . Constructed using 58 five-foot-high cardboard columns, the church is a memorial to both Taiwan’s 921 Earthquake and the Great Hanshin Earthquake that ravaged the city of Kobe, Japan in 1995. In fact, the Paper Dome was originally constructed in Kobe as a temporary replacement for the Takatori Catholic Church, destroyed in the earthquake. In 2005, however, the structure was relocated to Taiwan – a country also blighted by earthquakes – as a symbol of solidarity and friendship.

Puli Accommodation

Tai-Yi Maple Resort (楓樺台一渡假村)

Add: No.   176, Sec. 1, Zhongshan Rd., Puli Township, Nantou County

(南投縣埔里鎮中山路一段176號)

Tel: (049) 299-7848

Website: www.taiifarm.com

Book a room

Finally, you’ll arrive at the village of Shuishe , on the northwest corner of Sun Moon Lake. From there you have the option to explore most of the way around the lake on a Nantou Bus route , which follows the lakeshore east from Shuishe, passing Wenwu Temple , the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway station (where you can take the cable car to the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village ), Ita Thao Village , Ci’en Pagoda , and Xuanguang Temple . Alternatively, from Shuishe Pier you can also take a boat to Ita Thao or Xuanguang Temple.

KLOOK: Sun Moon Lake Ropeway Combo Ticket Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Day Trip

Monumental Wenwu Temple , on the north side of the lake, was built in China’s Northern Dynasties style (386~581 AD). It was severely damaged in the 921 Earthquake but, if anything, today surpasses its former glory. Its distinctive, prominent imperial-yellow glazed-tile roofing draws the eye from all round the lake. “Wen” and “Wu” mean “civil” and “martial”; the temple is dedicated to scholar Confucius and to warriors Guan Gong and Yue Fei, major figures in Chinese history. By way of example, teachers and civil servants will make offerings to the former, policemen and businessmen to the latter. The two giant entrance-guardian stone lions are claimed as Taiwan’s largest.

From close to Ita Thao you can take the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway across the mountains to the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village theme park, and enjoy breathtaking views of the lake along the way.

Ita Thao is the main settlement of the Thao people, one of the smallest of Taiwan’s indigenous groups . Among its scores of eateries and tourist-oriented retail outlets are a good number selling indigenous fare and handicrafts.

Ci’en Pagoda , high above the lake, can be reached via a trail from Xuanguang Temple. Your reward at the top are sweeping views of the lake.

Xuanguang Temple , a short walk from Xuanguang Pier, enshrines a statue of the famous monk Xuanzang, sent to India by Tang Dynasty Emperor Taizong to learn about Buddhism and bring back scriptures. His sojourn forms the core of the adventures related in the classic Journey to the West .

Hotels around Sun Moon Lake

The second main option to get to Sun Moon Lake by public transport is taking the Jiji Line to its terminus, Checheng , and taking a bus from there. Trains on the Jiji Line start from Ershui Railway Station in Changhua County. Tickets one way are NT$90, and the trip takes about 50 minutes. Consider getting off at Jiji to explore this interesting town. Checheng is also worth a closer look, for its rich history (notably the Checheng Wood Museum and Mingtan Power Station).

The Jiji Branch Line , popular with tourists, runs 29.7 km from the western plains into the mountains along the Zhuoshui River, from the town of Ershui to the town of Checheng. It was built by the Japanese colonial government in the 1920s to transport materials for Taiwan’s first great hydroelectric-dam construction project at nearby Sun Moon Lake, and soon opened for passenger traffic. The colorful air-conditioned trains slide along past farms and through small towns and thick green forests.

KLOOK: Jiji Township and Sky Bridge Visit

Jiji Hotels

Checheng  is the terminus of Jiji Branch Line. It bristles with attractive wood-built structures. In the Qing Dynasty this was a camphor-production settlement. The Japanese first built a push-trolley railway for sugarcane and people transport, then replaced it with the Jiji Line. Logging was key thereafter, local operations eventually shut down in the 1980s. Today the town is a popular tourist destination.

There are eight buses a day between Checheng and Sun Moon Lake. The trip to Shuishe takes about 40 minutes, and costs NT$100. Consider getting off just past the town of Shuili on the way, at the excellent Snake Kiln Ceramics Cultural Park , and at Sun Moon Lake’s Xiangshan Visitor Center , to marvel at the center’s unique architecture and get a first glimpse of the lake.

Shuili Snake Kiln , located southeast of Shuili town is a big, rambling wooden complex that lies hidden away in forest cover beside Highway 16.  Built on a slope to get the heat inside to move upward – the firewood is placed in the lower section – the brick kiln looks very much like a fat snake. A priceless historical relic, it’s today only rarely fired, to keep it in condition. It takes 3~4 days and an incredible amount of wood to bring it up to, and keep it at, the desired 1,100 degrees Celsius. The ash created within comes to rest on the ceramic pieces, creating the inimitable wood-fired look. When the kiln is not in operation you can walk through it.

Shuili Hotels

The striking Xiangshan Visitor Center  is a great place for a nice coffee, served with a large dose of idyllic scenery. Located at the end of a small, tranquil bay, the broad-shouldered complex is fronted by a reflecting pool that blends seamlessly with the lake waters. The bright glass-walled café here has outdoor seating; patrons go noticeably quiet after sitting, soaking in the soothing mountain-backed vista. Be sure to explore the exhibit hall, which has first-rate information displays, short films, and a 3D film on the national scenic area, all with English.

Stops of the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route

Taichung Gancheng Station (臺中干城站) —  Taichung Railway Station (臺鐵臺中站) —  Daqing Railway Station (臺鐵大慶站) —  THSR Taichung Station (高鐵臺中站) —  Puli Visitor Center (埔里遊客中心) —  New Era Sculpture Park (牛耳石雕公園)

New Era Art Resort and Spa is a sculpture park dedicated to Taiwanese artist Lin Yuan. The resort has been developed around his work. A farmer by trade, Lin began sculpting at the ripe age of 65, and by the time he passed away at the age of 79 he had created over 10,000 works of art – over 3,000 stone sculptures, along with myriad paintings and embroideries. His sculptures, mostly of animals, have a primitive, totemic quality that makes them truly at home outdoors. 

National Chi Nan University (暨南大學) —  Taomikeng (Paper Dome) (桃米坑[紙教堂])

Tucked away on the southern border of Puli Township, Taomi was once an ordinary rural village, where the residents’ primary source of income was the cultivation of bamboo. Reluctant to industrialize their operations, however, by the end of the 20 th century the villagers were struggling economically. Then, on September 21, 1999, a major earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck the island – its epicenter mere kilometers away in Jiji Township – and well over half of the houses in Taomi were destroyed. The people of the village, saw the destruction as an opportunity to start anew. Lifelong farmers began to retrain as eco-tour guides, open guesthouses, and transform old paddy fields into a wetland park and other types of area where wildlife could thrive.

Dayan (Seshui Community) (大雁[澀水社區]) —  Yuchi (魚池) —  Antique Assam Tea Farm (日月老茶廠)

The black tea grown in Yuchi was originally Assam tea ( C. sinensis var . assamica ) imported from India by the Japanese during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945). The warm, rainy climate of Nantou County was deemed perfect for black tea cultivation, and over the years the Yuchi Tea Research and Extension Station has tweaked the original Assam tea to create new cultivars. The most popular of these is the No. 18 – in fact a cross-breed of C. sinensis var . assamica and wild Taiwanese mountain tea ( C. sinensis f. formosensis ) – which has a distinctive cinnamon scent underlain with a subtle hint of mint. At Antique Assam Tea Farm the tea leaves are laid out to dry for up to 18 hours, then poured through a hatch in the floor into rolling machines, where the juices are gently squeezed out and the leaves begin to ferment. Following that is a stint in the perpetually moist fermenting room. The leaves are then dried and a team of workers painstakingly strips them from the twigs by hand.

Sun Moon Lake (日月潭)

Fare: NT$190 one way; NT$350 round trip (cash, EasyCard, and iPASS card accepted)

Departures: Every 35 minutes to one hour on weekdays (every 15 minutes to one hour on weekends and holidays); first bus from Taichung Gancheng Station at 7:45am, last bus at 7:45pm; first bus from Sun Moon Lake at 7:25am, last bus at 7:25pm.

Note: A few of the buses stop at the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village and the Xiangshan Visitor Center. For more details, please check the timetable on the Sun Moon Lake Route website.

Great post by Nick Kembel (Spiritual Travels):

Sun Moon Lake Taiwan: A Comprehensive Guide

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• Getting To & Around Sun Moon Lake

Neither conventional nor high-speed trains don’t stop anywhere near the lake, but many visitors like to do the first part of their journey by rail to save time — or for the sheer fun of it.

The nearest bullet train station is Taichung ; from it, frequent buses head straight to Sun Moon Lake (travel time one and a half hours). Those who adore eccentric train journeys may prefer to take a conventional express to the little town of Ershui and there change onto the Jiji Branch Railway. This line (29.7 km or 18.5 miles in length) was built in 1920 to transport materials and machinery for hydroelectric plants into the interior, and to carry sugar and timber out to the lowlands. It’s an excellent way of enjoying bucolic views of Taiwan’s countryside, and a mode of getting around that’s in keeping with ‘slow travel’ ideals. From Shuili, the last stop but one on the branch railroad, buses cover the final leg of the journey to Shuishe at Sun Moon Lake.

If you have your own vehicle, or if you’ve arranged a private guided tour with Life of Taiwan, you of course have total flexibility. If both Sun Moon Lake and Taroko Gorge are on your itinerary, it makes sense to spend the better part of a day driving from one to the other via Taiwan’s highest road. Near Hehuanshan, where there’s occasional snowfall in winter, the highway crests at 3,275 m (10,745 ft) above sea level. If you make a stop on that stretch, be prepared for icy winds and excellent scenery.

Two wheels… or let somebody else do the navigating?

Cycling around Sun Moon Lake is an appealing option for outdoors-types. Not only is the landscape lovely at every turn, but with a total distance of around 33 km (21 miles), there’s more than enough time to explore sights along the way. Bikes of various kinds can be rented in Shuishe. Some homestays and hotels lend out bikes to their guests, or can help organise rentals.

There’s an excellent alternative to driving or riding a bike: The tourist-friendly bus no. 6669, which goes most of the way around the bus several times per day, stopping at all the major attractions. Jump on/jump off tickets valid for a whole day are a bargain (about GBP2 / US$3 per person) and before each stop a multilingual recorded announcement is made.

More information about Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan

• Sun Moon Lake
• Accommodation and Food in Sun Moon Lake

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Sun Moon Lake One Day Leisure Tour

• • Enjoy a leisurely boat cruise on the lake itself
• • Enjoy a meal prepared by Taiwan’s indigenous community
• • Visit some of Sun Moon Lake's most historic temples

Offering crystal blue water surrounded by lush forests, bamboo and mountains on all sides, Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan's most visited attraction. Blessed with more than natural scenery, the lake offers a plethora of culturally rich temples, shrines, pagodas and other monuments which serve only to accentuate the area's natural beauty. Artists and poets have attempted to capture this enchantment for centuries, and our single-day Sun Moon Lake excursion aims to do the same, offering travelers on a tight schedule a gentle whirlwind journey to see the history, culture and scenery of Sun Moon Lake in a day.

▴ Go on a shuttle boat trip across the lake and enjoy great scenery

▴ Sun Moon Lake View over Temple Rooftops

▴ Be enchanted, inspired and awed by the beauty of Sun Moon Lake

▴ Enjoy a brief cruise on the lake's crystal blue waters

Can’t find what you want?

Create your own tour .

• • Pick up and drop off from your accommodation
• • A professional English tour guide
• • Admissions for a shuttle boat trip
• • 5-seater sedan / 9-seater van
• • Breakfast and dinner

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Great tour journey

A must see lake, hidden mountains in taiwan, sun moon lake tour, nice photographs and sunrise, come in the autumn, other recommendations.

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City Guides , Taiwan , Tips & Inspo · January 8, 2022

Getting to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung + Insider’s Tips

Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) is one of Nantou’s top attractions and Taiwan’s largest natural lake. Like other famous landmarks in Taiwan, getting to Sun Moon Lake is actually quite easy. Whether you’re spending a few days in Sun Moon Lake or planning a quick day trip there to enjoy all of the very best things to do in Sun Moon Lake , there’s a transport option for you. And in this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to get to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung!

Since Taichung is the main gateway to this charming scenic area, I’ve used that as the starting point. But, I’ve also included a couple of alternative routes below if you’re coming from elsewhere in Taiwan so that you can find the easiest way to travel for you!

Ready to find out how to get to Sun Moon Lake? Let’s go!

Disclaimer: This post probably contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through one of these links, I might receive a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

First Things First

If you’re not in Taichung yet, the first thing you need to do is get yourself there. The fastest and most straightforward way to do so is via high-speed train. The high-speed rail (THSR) only runs along the western coast of Taiwan, with Taichung’s HSR Station in Wuri District, just on the city’s outskirts. 

If you plan to get to Taichung via high-speed train, remember to book a  discounted HSR ticket * well in advance as trains fill up quickly. It’s also possible to check schedules and book a seat (up to 28 days in advance) directly on the  THSR website . 

For more tips, be sure also to read my detailed guide on  getting to Taichung . 

* Note: Discounted HSR tickets sold on Klook are not eligible for domestic use . Remember to bring your passport (incl. a valid tourist visa) with you to the station to redeem your tickets.

How to Get to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung

Sun Moon Lake is a beautiful alpine area tucked away in the mountains of Nantou County. The lake sits roughly 750 meters above sea level, and mountains filled with thick forests surround it.

Due to Sun Moon Lake’s unique geographical location, no trains run all the way to Sun Moon Lake. As a result, the only way to get there is by car or bus.

To help you find the right transport option for you, I’ve mapped out the best ways to go to Sun Moon Lake from every departure point in Taichung below.

Taking the Bus to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung

The Sun Moon Lake bus frequently runs from several departure points in Taichung, namely  Taichung HSR Station ,  Taichung Station ,  Gancheng Station and Taichung Airport .

Here’s what you need to know about each of them. 

From Taichung HSR Station

• Departure Point: Exit 5, Taichung HSR Station
• Arrival Point: Shuishe Visitors Center, Sun Moon Lake
• Travel time: 1.5 to 2 hrs
• Cost: TWD 197 (one-way), TWD 360 (return)
• Buses run from 7:45 am to 8:10 pm , calling every 30 minutes.

The Nantou bus ticket booth and bus stop are located at Exit 5 of the Taichung HSR station . The station is huge, so it can be a bit confusing to find the right exit if you’re a first-time visitor. However, just follow the signboards; you need to take the escalator (or elevator) one level down. Once you get to the first floor, it’s easy to spot the Nantou Bus counter.

The Nantou Bus travels to Sun Moon Lake roughly every 30 minutes, between 7:45 am and 8:10 pm, so you’ll never have to wait too long to catch a bus. See the  full bus schedules here.

However, you’ll want to take direct Sun Moon Lake bus 6670 B for the fastest route. The direct bus has the least stops along the way and should get you to SML in about 1.5 hrs. The first bus leaves at 7:45 , and the last one is at 16:45 .

A Sun Moon Lake bus ticket costs TWD 197 for a single trip, and a round-trip tickets costs TWD 360.  Tickets cannot be reserved in advance , so it’s always best to arrive at the station a little earlier to line up.

Insider’s tip: The final stop is marked as  Sun Moon Lake (日月潭)  on the schedule, and the bus stops right in front of the  Shuishe Visitors Centre  (see  Google Maps ). Know that if your accommodation is not in the main tourist village, you’ll need to take a boat, local bus or taxi to get there. It’s all pretty easy, so don’t worry. 

From Downtown Taichung

• Departure point: Gancheng Station  ( Google Maps ) or Taichung Station  ( Google Maps )
• Buses run from 7:20 am to 7:48 pm , calling every 30 minutes

If you’re spending a few days in Taichung,  Nantou Bus 6670  calls at  Taichung Station  and  Gancheng Station  approximately every 30 minutes between 7:20 am to 7:48 pm.

• Gancheng Station  ( map ): first bus 7:20 am / last bus 7:45 pm 
• Taichung Station  ( map ): first bus 7:23 am / last bus 7:48 pm

It’s good to know that Nantou Bus 6670 has several codes (B, F, A, D, E, and C), but basically, the only difference between them is the route – bus 6670 B and 6670 F are slightly faster, while bus 6670 A and 6670 E stop in Puli and bus 6670 C travels via the Chung Tai Chan Monastery. 

Don’t get confused with the codes; all of them go to Sun Moon Lake , and the traveling time is basically the same. See the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle website for more info on the various routes. 

The bus ticket costs TWD 197 for a single trip and TWD 360 for a return trip. You can pay in cash or use an Easy Card or even the Sun Moon Lake Pass if you have one. The ride usually takes around 1h45, but if you’ve taken one of the buses that also stop in Puli, it might take a little longer. Please note, that you cannot reserve a seat on the bus, and you must line up.

Insider’s tip:  It’s worth getting one of the  Sun Moon Lake Passes  if you’re planning to do lots of touristy things in Sun Moon Lake or want to save money on bus tickets. In general, you can save quite a bit of money with the pass, but it’s only really worthwhile if you’re going to make good use of it . Here’s a complete breakdown of all the  Sun Moon Lake Passes . 

From Taichung International Airport

• Departure point: Bus terminal, Taichung International Airport
• Travel time: 2 hrs
• Cost: TWD 231 (one-way)
• One direct bus a day at 3:10 pm

If you’ve arrived at Taichung International Airport and want to go to Sun Moon Lake directly, there are several options to do so. 

The easiest option is to  book a private transfer , but you can also use public transport to access the area. 

If you want to take the bus, you can take Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus 6670 E  via Taichung HSR Station to Sun Moon Lake. The journey takes just under 2 hours and costs TWD 231 if you pay in cash and TWD 201 with an Easy Card. However, you should know that this  bus only runs once a day at 3:10 pm . 

If that doesn’t work for you, you’ll need to catch a bus into Taichung and then get the Nantou Bus to Sun Moon Lake .  Bus 156  runs to Taichung High-Speed Rail Station, while  bus 30 calls at Taichung Station and Gancheng Station . Both buses run frequently, and the ride takes about 40-50 minutes on each. From there, follow the steps highlighted above. 

Joining a day tour from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake is one of the best day trips from Taichung . If you don’t want to plan a thing, joining a day tour is a great stress-free alternative.

And, this  10-hour Sun Moon Lake tour  from Taichung is the perfect option. It includes round-trip transfers to and from your hotel and stops by the most famous attractions in Sun Moon Lake, including the Shuiwatou Trail , Xiangshan Visitor Center , Ita Thao , Ci’en Pagoda , and Wenwu Temple . What’s more, it also includes a delicious lunch and a fun 1-hour boat cruise on the lake! 

Taking a Transfer to Sun Moon Lake

Another stress-free way to get from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake is to book a transfer. This option is ideal if you’re traveling in a group or don’t feel like taking public transport.

There are both private and shared transfers to Sun Moon Lake. The fastest option is to  arrange a private transfer  to pick you up directly at your hotel and drop you off at your preferred location in Sun Moon Lake. Just a heads up, before booking this transfer, it’s wise to check the details carefully as there are several pick-up points. These include downtown Taichung, the train stations, and the airport. 

While a private transfer is by far the fastest way to travel between Taichung and Sun Moon Lake, it’s not the cheapest option.

Therefore, if you are traveling on a tight budget and would still prefer to go to Sun Moon Lake by car, this  shared transfer  is a great alternative. It’s a lot cheaper than a private transfer, and the ride is just as smooth and comfortable. The only downside is that it might take a little longer to get dropped off as you’ll be traveling with other passengers with different drop-off locations.  

Not sure where to stay in Sun Moon Lake? Read my guide on the very best hotels in Sun Moon Lake !

Driving to Sun Moon Lake

If you’re looking for a stunning road trip route in Taiwan, then driving to Sun Moon Lake is for you! The distance between Taichung and Sun Moon Lake is only about 80km, meaning you can easily reach the lake in less than 2 hours, depending on the traffic. 

If you don’t have a car, you can  rent a car  here via Klook. Making a booking is super easy, and you can choose exactly where to pick up and drop off the vehicle. 

Several roads can get you from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake. And the easiest way to find the right route for you is to use Google Maps . Alternatively, follow one of these  recommended routes  to get there. 

Getting to SML from elsewhere in Taiwan

While Taichung is undeniably the easiest access point, there are a few other options to get to Sun Moon Lake for those coming from elsewhere in Taiwan. 

• Taipei to Sun Moon Lake:  You can go directly from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake with a  private transfer  or by joining this  Sun Moon Lake Tour from Taipei  if you are short on time. More independent travelers can also take  Kuo-Kuang bus 1833  from Taipei Bus Station directly to Sun Moon Lake. The journey takes about 4 hours and costs TWD 470. It’s not the fastest way to travel to Sun Moon Lake, and I really wouldn’t recommend this option for day trippers. So, if you must take this bus, know that it would really only be worthwhile if you’re planning to stay overnight. 
• Alishan to Sun Moon Lake:  If you’re spending a few days in Alishan and want to squeeze Sun Moon Lake into your Taiwan itinerary , you can take the direct  Yuanlin Bus 6739 . Only two buses run this route per day, so make sure to plan well in advance. The first bus leaves Alishan at 1 pm and the second one is at 2 pm . The ride takes about 3 hours and costs TWD 336. You can buy a bus ticket at the 7-Eleven next to the Alishan bus station . 

• Cingjing to Sun Moon Lake:   Cingjing Farm , a dreamy mountaintop resort, is only about 1.5 hrs from Sun Moon Lake. A  shared shuttle  runs between these two tourist spots, but it’s also possible to book a  private transfer  here via Klook.
• Xitou to Sun Moon Lake:  Xitou is another popular tourist area in Taiwan, famous for its Instagrammable Xitou Monster Village and dreamy Sun Link Sea Forest . Nantou bus 6801  runs from Xitou to Sun Moon Lake several times a day, departing at 7 am, 9 am, 11 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, and 5:30 pm. (See the  full schedule  here). 

Taichung to Sun Moon Lake in Conclusion

As you can see, getting to Sun Moon Lake is pretty straightforward if you know where to start. I hope this guide has helped you figure out the best way to go to Sun Moon Lake for you! Have a great trip!

Well, that wraps up this Sun Moon Lake transport guide. What’s your favorite way to travel from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake? Let me know in the comments below.

Need more help getting around Taiwan?

• How to go from Chiayi to Alishan
• How to get to Taichung from Taipei
• Getting from Taichung to Cingjing Farm
• How to get to Hualien from Taipei
• Getting to Tainan from Taipei
• Getting to Kaohsiung from Taipei
• How to Get to Kenting from Kaohsiung
• How to get to Penghu Island

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March 3, 2023 at

Hi can I check with u, how to go Sun moon lake from cingjing by bus.

March 6, 2023 at

Hey Janet, you’ll need to catch a bus from SML to Puli (bus #6289 or 6670D) and then transfer to another bus bound for Cingjing (#6658 or 6659). You’ll need to time your trip, so make sure to carefully check the schedules on Google Maps & the Nantou bus website.

Another option is to take a shared shuttle from SML directly to Cingjing. You can book it online via Klook. It will work out a bit more, but it will be much more convenient IMO.

May 14, 2023 at

Hey, I would like to know a few things: 1. At Taichung HSR Station, do buses get fully booked quickly, or will you always be able to get a ticket for the next bus? Also how long does it take to get a ticket? 2. Is it possible to book bus tickets in advance? 3. Are there toilet stops along the way? 4. Where can you get return tickets? Is there a ticket booth at Sun Moon Lake Visitor Center?

May 16, 2023 at

Hi JJ, it’s very easy to buy single or return tickets at the Nantou Bus counter at the Taichung HSR station (Exit B5). The bus works on a first-come, first-served basis, so get in line once you have your ticket. I’ve never not gotten a seat, but if it’s full, you can just wait for the next bus (you don’t need a new ticket). There are no rest stops along the way, so make sure you go before you board the bus. Hope that helps!

July 5, 2023 at

Update: Just finished a trip to Sun Moon Lake, and I can confirm that all the information is accurate!

I took the bus between Taichung HSR Station to Sun Moon Lake (Shuishe Visitors Center) on weekdays (Mon & Wed) and the bus was about 2/3 full. I used EasyCard to pay for the bus fare, but you can also buy tickets (including Sun Moon Lake boat tickets) at Taichung HSR.

One important thing to note is that the timetable shown on the Nantou Bus website does not reflect all of the bus stops – I took 6670D and it made a number of stops around Puli instead of just 1 stop.

About punctuality, the bus departs on time, but may arrive late. I made the mistake of booking my HSR ticket 10 minutes after the arrival time of the bus, and the bus arrived ~5 minutes late, so I had to rush up to the platform. To be safe, arrive at least 5 minutes before departure and leave at least 20 minutes for transfer.

Thanks again for the information, and hope my comment helps other travellers in the future!

July 7, 2023 at

That’s great, JJ – thanks for these extra tips. 🙂

August 7, 2023 at

Thank you for your information on getting to Sun Moon Lake. We wish to stay on Ita Thao side of the lake, how can I get from Shuishe to Ita Thao, also will have our luggage 2 x 20kg bags with us, can we take them on the buses? Thanks again.

August 8, 2023 at

Hey Linda – yes, u can take the luggage on the bus. You can also take the boat to cross the lake (luggage allowed too).

September 5, 2023 at

Hi can I know if we are able to carry our luggages with us on the bus from Taichung HSR station to sun moon lake?

Yes, that won’t be a problem. All the bases have a luggage compartment for bigger bags, and you can take smaller ones with you on the bus.

September 8, 2023 at

Hi, may i ask how to get from Sun Moon Lake back to Taichung Train Station? And what time do the services end for the return bus back from Sun Moon Lake to Taichung?

October 5, 2023 at

Hey Baey – you can catch the Nantou shuttle bus back from SML to Taichung at the Visitor’s Center in Shuishe (just marked SML on the schedule ). The last bus from SML to Taichung is at 19:25, but since the schedules change from time to time, remember to check it before your trip.

January 11, 2024 at

Hi, I chanced upon your website when searching for info on how to get to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung city center. thank you so much for sharing all the useful information. I have 2 questions (1) Do I need to buy the bus 6670B tickets in advance? If tickets need to be bought in advance, where do I get the tickets from? Can I simply tap my EasyCard when I get on and alight from the bus? (2) If I want to leave from Taichung Station, the exact bus stop is at the Taichung Bus Terminal (near Taichung Train Station). Is this correct?

Thank you for your time and advice.

I look forward to your reply.

January 19, 2024 at

Hey Will, you can’t buy bus tickets for the SML bus in advance. Simply go do the bus station and buy your ticket at the ticket office (you can pay with your Easy Card). If you’re traveling on a weekend/ holiday, it’s a good idea to get to the station a little earlier so that you can get in line, as the buses work on a “first come first serve basis”. There are now two stops where you can get on (Shuangshi Road Section 1 and Jianguo Road) – you’ll want to go to Nantou Bus Taichung Gancheng Bus Station (here on Google Maps ) where the ticket office is.

February 17, 2024 at

Thank you for all the info. We plan to make a day trip from Taipei via HSR Taichung. Do you know what time the last bus from SML to Taichung HSR is? We want to try and stay for the sunset and then head back to Taipei.

February 18, 2024 at

Hey Seng, that sounds lovely. Yes, the last bus from SML to Taichung HSR is at 19:25 . The schedule changes from time to time, so it’s a good idea to double check the Nantou Bus Schedule before you go.

February 23, 2024 at

Hello, thank you for this information! Really a great help for 1st time travellers to Taiwan😊

We plan on going to Xitou Monster Village 1st thing in the morning from Taipei HSR.

6:00am – Taipei to Taichung 7:30ish – Taichung Arrival 7:30 – Hop on Natou Bus going to Xitou Monster Village 9:30 – Arrival at Xitou

After Xitou, we plan on going to Sun Moon Lake ropeway only. Is there a direct bus from Xitou to SML ropeway? Can you share the bus# and timetable. As per ypur post, the Nantou bus coming from Xitou to SML is until Puli and I am confused if SML is at Puli.

Also after SML ropeway ride, what is the bus# going to Taichung National Theather? We plan to spend the resf of the day/night at Taichung town😊

What do you think? Is our day trip feasible?

March 1, 2024 at

Hey Frances, you can take Taiwan Tourist Shuttle #6801 from Xitou to Sun Moon Lake (Shuishe Visitors Center). From there you can take the round-the-lake bus to the ropeway.

There’s no direct bus from SML to Taichung National Theater, so you’ll first need to get back to Taichung and then from there hop in a Uber, a bus, or the MRT to get to the theater.

TBH, it might be a bit of a squeeze to fit all of this in on one day, though, as the traveling time on public transport can really cut into your day. I suggest mapping out your trip on Google Maps first so that you can get an idea of how long everything will take and then decide whether it’s feasible for you.

Hope that helps!

March 13, 2024 at

We are a group of 6 cyclists. Are bikes allowed on the bus from Taichung? If not, what’s the best budget transportation for both cyclista and their bikes?

March 15, 2024 at

Hey Teoh, I’ve never seen any bikes on the buses via Taichung, but according to the SML website some buses coming from Taipei may allow it ( see here ). I suggest phoning the Nantou Bus Agency directly to confirm whether or not this is possible from Taichung.

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How To Do a Sun Moon Lake Day Trip from Taichung!

Categories Asia , Taiwan

Taichung Sun Moon Lake is located pretty much in the centre of Taiwan and it’s a popular place to visit on a day trip , but also to stay overnight. After visiting a few cities in Taiwan, a day in nature was what I needed, so I spent one of my days in Taichung walking and sailing around this very special lake on a Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung and this is how I did it so you can too!

Sun Moon Lake Day Trip from Taichung

Related Post: 1-3 Day Itinerary for Taichung & Things to Do in Taichung.

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Taichung to Sun Moon Lake Bus

The best way to do this Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung is to take the Taichung to Sun Moon Lake bus!

Taichung Bus Terminal is in the centre of the city next to Taichung Rail Station but this is NOT where you get the bus to Sun Moon Lake from. You get it from the bus stop – Nantou Bus Stand which is close to the bus station and on the edge of Taichung Park.

Upon arrival, especially if you leave in the morning which I suggest you do, I left Taichung at about 8:30 am, you’ll see a number of buses lined up opposite the park and a small ticket office. On maps.me which is a map app I use all over the world the ticket shop is detailed as Ybus and the bus stand is noted as Nan Tou Bus (bus to Sun Moon Lake, Xitou, Lakang).

You can just purchase a return bus ticket from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake for 360NTD however the more cost-effective way it seems and an easier way is to get one of the Sun Moon Lake passes .

Sun Moon Lake Passes

There is a range of passes available for your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung for different prices as they include different things which you can see in the below photo:

I went for the 790NTD ticket which included the return bus ticket to Taichung from Sun Moon Lake, the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway / Cable Car ticket both ways, around the lake Bus ticket, a round trip Boat ticket and a bike rental coupon.

Another popular Sun Moon Lake Pass is the pass for 680NTD which includes the same as the above but full bike rental rather than the Sun Moon Lake Cable Car (although I did enjoy the ropeway, more on that below).

With that being said, on arrival to Sun Moon Lake Taiwan , there are plenty of people and shops selling tickets for boats and bike hire rental so you could get the return ticket only and work out what you want to do when you get there and it won’t cost you too much more. In fact, I didn’t even use the round the lake bus ticket that was included in my pass.

You can also buy combo passes like this online in advance too!

The Taichung to Sun Moon Lake bus takes just under 2 hours , heading directly into the centre of Taiwan into Nantou Country. You’ll be dropped off in a town called Shuishe at the Sun Moon Lake Bus Station.

FIRST TIMERS GUIDE TO TAIWAN

I’ve been to Taiwan twice. I love the country so much! I have written lots of posts to help you visit Taiwan, start with my 8 Helpful Tips For Planning a Trip to Taiwan from Start to Finish and the Best Places to Visit in Taiwan !

TAIWAN SIM CARD The best way to stay connected in Taiwan is to buy this EasyCard & Sim Card package deal in advance . You’ll need an EasyCard to get around on transport in Taiwan anyway and at the same time you can get a Taiwan Sim Card with 4G and pick them up at Taipei Taoyuan Airport when you land!

GETTING AROUND TAIWAN

The Metro within cities in Taiwan is really great, easy to use and so safe. You’ll need an EasyCard which you top up with credit to use the metro and buses. To get around Taiwan, I loved travelling by train . As a tourist, we can’t use the direct Taiwan train booking system. Instead you can go to a train station a few days before and purchase your ticket, or book online in advance using 12GO Asia !

Shuishe is a popular tourist town and when it comes to where to stay in Sun Moon Lake if you decide to stay overnight this could be a good place as it has lots of Sun Moon Lake Accommodation and restaurants nearby. However, as as Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung , I would suggest you start your Sun Moon itinerary by heading straight to Shuishe Pier to get out on the lake!

To help you plan your trip around Taiwan, have a look at all of my Taiwan Blog Posts here!

Sun Moon Lake Tours

If you would like the planning of your visit to Sun Moon Lake taken out of your hands then consider a Sun Moon Lake Tour , there are many tours you can purchase online in advance that leave from Taichung and Taipei. There are also tours that combine the Sun Moon Lake Alishan Pass as this is a popular place in Taiwan to visit that is close to Sun Moon Lake.

Sun Moon Lake Tours from Taichung

A Day at Sun Moon Lake including Taiching transfers, including a boat cruise, walking and seeing the Temples via Klook.

Shared Transfers between Taichung and Sun Moon Lake.

Private Transfers from Taichung Rail Station to Sun Moon Lake.

Sun Moon Lake Tours from Taipei

If you really want to visit Sun Moon Lake from Taipei, I would recommend a Sun Moon Lake Day Tour from Taipei as this way you do not need to worry about the transport yourself and will get there quicker than getting the train and bus yourself.

Here’s a Sun Moon Lake 1 Day Leisure Trip from Taipei including hotel pick up and drop off, a guide and lunch via Viator.

If you just want the transport organised for you, here’s a Private City Transfer from Taipei City or from Taipei Taoyuan Airport via Klook.

Things to do in Sun Moon Lake

Here are the best things to do at Sun Moon Lake and an idea of how you can plan your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung . I’ve also included a Sun Moon Lake Map to help you understand what the lake looks like and where the best places to visit in Sun Moon Lake are.

Sun Moon Lake Bike Rental

If you purchased one of the Sun Moon Lake passes with bike rental or you want to hire a bike when you’re there, picking up a bike in Shuishe is a good idea and biking around Sun Moon Lake is the best way to see Sun Moon Lake because the lake is lined with cycling paths said to be the best cycling tracks in Taiwan . Biking around Sun Moon Lake gives you a close up look at the lake and the surrounding areas.

Sun Moon Lake Boat Tour

What I decided to do was to get a boat from Shuishe across the lake to the second most visited town in Sun Moon Lake- Ita Thao. On the boat, Ita Thao Pier is the second stop. The boats do offer commentary but it’s all in mandarin!

This hop on hop off bus and boat combo ticket makes it easy for you to take your bike on the eco-friendly boat in an easy way so you can see all of the lake!

Explore Ita Thao

Itathao is an extremely tourist town but you have to visit on your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung!

Ita Thao is full of souvenir shops but it is nice to see some traditional clothing and items that I hadn’t seen elsewhere in Taiwan before because they are very unique to this area and Nantou County. Part of visiting Sun Moon Lake is to learn and experience a bit about the traditional aboriginal culture of the people who used to live here.

Some Sun Moon Lake history is that it’s said that the ancestors of the Thao people found Sun Moon Lake as they were chasing a white deer, it ran to the lake and after they’d seen it they moved all the tribes to live beside the lake!

Ita Thao Shopping District is very popular and famous with Taiwanese so be sure to have a wander of Ita Thao Shopping Street even if you don’t plan to buy anything.

Street Food in Ita Thao

The best thing about Ita thao I think is its street food! When I arrived there at about 11:00 am the stalls were just opening up but by 1:00 pm everything was fully open. From Mochi to Meat there’s street food to suit everyone, there are even local aboriginal foods that you can try.

Sun Moon Lake Tea is very popular so many of the snacks are made with black tea like black tea ice cream, black tea egg rolls.

Sun Moon Lake is most popular with Taiwanese people , after all, it is the largest lake in Taiwan and an extremely special place however I noticed that many of the food signs were in English to help out foreign visitors to Sun Moon Lake.

Make sure you’re hungry enough to eat street food in Ita Thao on your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung!

Related Post:   Taichung also has a few night markets, have a read of this post to see which night markets in Taichung to visit ! 

Sun Moon Lake Ropeway

A short walk from Ita Thao is the base of the Sun Moon Lake cable car station and you really can’t miss it. The Cable Cars take you up and over the mountains in either a crystal clear bottom car or a normal car. I opted for the normal car as that what was included in my Sun Moon Lake pass. I actually really enjoyed the cable car.

It was amazing to see a full view of the lake from the top and swing over the mountains below. I was just a little surprised and disappointed when I reached the end and ending up turning straight back because at the end is the Aboriginal Culture village.

Purchase a combo ropeway ticket here to include boat and bike rental to save you money!

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

Initially, I liked the sound of this and it was on my Sun Moon Lake itinerary however upon arrival I realised that a ticket was 550NTD which is pretty expensive after already paying for the ticket pass for Sun Moon Lake.

In addition to this, from what I saw from the signs and from the ropeway, it’s more of a theme park, and a huge group of school children had just gone inside. From what I can tell, if you’re visiting Sun Moon Lake with children, it could be a fun place to visit , but as adults and as a solo adult, it didn’t seem appealing or worth my money, therefore I got back on the ropeway straight away and went back to Ita Thao Sun Moon Lake.

If you are interested in the Aboriginal Culture and want to visit the Sun Moon Lake Theme Park, this Aboriginal Culture Day Tour ticket combines both so you’ll be able to learn about the culture as well as have some fun!

TAIWAN ITINERARY HELP

Here are my top Taiwan itinerary posts to help your plan your trip:

• 2 Week Taiwan Itinerary!
• 1 week Taiwan Itinerary!
• 18 Best Places to Visit in Taiwan!
• How to Plan a Trip to Taiwan!

TAIWAN ON A BUDGET

Taiwan isn’t the cheapest country but it’s not the most expensive either and can be travelled on a reasonable budget. Here’s my post on the cost of travel in Taiwan and how to travel Taiwan on a budget !

Sun Moon Lake Activities

Aside from going on the tourist boats on the lake to get you from A to B, you can pedalo boats to take yourself and you can even go stand up paddleboarding on Sun Moon Lake too! The way to do this is by joining a SUP trip with a professional guide . 

Sun Moon Lake Temples

There are a number of temples in Sun Moon Lake that surround the lake.

The closest temple to Shuishe is Wenwu Temple which is a huge temple built-in 1938. From Shuishe you can walk to Wenwu Temple, it’s about 3-4km but the walk is along the Sun Moon Lake trail which keeps you slightly away from the road and right on the lake. This trail is also part of the bike trail so it would be easier and faster to bike to Wenwu Temple from Shuishe.

Close to Ita Thao but not in walking distance are Xuanzang Temple and Cien Pagoda . Xuanzang Temple has the remains of monk Xuanzang inside it who was the holy monk in the Tang dynasty.

Ci En Pagoda is the pagoda you’ll see peeking out from the top of the mountain from the lake because its 46 metres high and is a landmark of Sun Moon Lake.

Both of these temples are accessible by foot from Xuanzang Temple Pier which is the first stop after the boat leaves Shuishe and before it gets to Ita Thao. Alternatively, you can get the round-the-lake bus from Ita Thao Pier to both of these temples which will reduce the amount of walking you need to do as the bus stops by the temples whereas from the pier you need to walk up to them.

Sun Moon Lake Accommodation

If you decide that you do want to stay overnight, instead of just doing a Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung! Sun Moon Lake Hotels that are are popular and well-rated are:

The lalu Sun Moon Lake Resort is the most popular hotel in Sun Moon Lake with a spa and infinity pool!

See Moon Lake Homestay  is a cute looking homestay for a good price, perfect for couples.

Hu An The Lakeside House is perfect if you want to be right on the lake and to relax!

For more accommodation on Sun Moon Lake, have a look on Booking.com here !

• More of my Taiwan Posts:
• Taichung Itinerary & Things To Do!
• 2-3 Day Itinerary for Kaohsiung!
• Visiting Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung.
• How to Do a Day Trip to Taroko National Park via Bus from Hualien!
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Transfer Map

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Transportation Info

Time & Fare Table

Supportive Facilities Along the Route

Sun Moon Lake Route / Checheng Route / Sun Moon Lake Alishan Route

Route Map Instruction

6670 A Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route (Via Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village)

Taichung Gancheng Station→TRA Taichung Station(Minzu Rd. Intersection) →Minxing Park(Go)/Wuquan Station(Return)→MRT Daqing Station(Jianguo N. Rd.)→HSR Taichung Station(1F EXIT5)→Puli VisitorCenter→New Era Sculpture Park→Qixia→Dacheng Elementary School→Rongmin Clinic/Veterans General Hospital→Puli Distillery→Ren-ai Park→Chunghwa Telecom→Chunghwa Telecom→Puli Bus Station(transfer to Qingjing Farm,Lushan Hot Springs, Chung Tai World)→National Chi Nan University→Taomikeng→Dayan→Sincheng Elementary School→Adventist College→Classic Easy Inn→Crystal Resort→Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village→Yuchi Station→Antique Assam tea Farm→Sun Moon Lake

6670 B Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route

Taichung Gancheng Station→TRA Taichung Station(Minzu Rd. Intersection) →Minxing Park(Go)/Wuquan Station(Return)→MRT Daqing Station(Jianguo N. Rd.)→HSR Taichung Station(1F EXIT5)→Puli VisitorCenter→New Era Sculpture Park→National Chi Nan University→Taomikeng→Dayan→Sincheng Elementary School→Adventist College→Yuchi Station→Antique Assam tea Farm→Sun Moon Lake

6670 C Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake RouteViaChung Tai Chan Monastery (Available on weekends and holidays)

Taichung Gancheng Swatantra Taichung Station(Minzu Rd. Intersection) →Minxing Park(Go)/Wuquan Station(Return)→MRT Daqing Station(Jianguo N. Rd.)→HSR Taichung Station (1F EXIT5)→Chung Tai Chan Monastery→Chung Tai World Museum→Puli Multi-Function Flower Center→Puli Bus Station(transfer to Qingjing Farm,Lushan Hot Springs, Chung Tai World) →National Chi Nan University→Taomikeng→Dayan→Sincheng Elementary School→Adventist College→Yuchi Station→Antique Assam tea Farm→Sun Moon Lake

6670 D Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route (Via Puli Township)

Taichung Gancheng Station→TRA Taichung Station(Minzu Rd. Intersection) →Minxing Park(Go)/Wuquan Station(Return)→MRT Daqing Station(Jianguo N. Rd.)→HSR Taichung Station(1F EXIT5)→Puli VisitorCenter→New Era Sculpture Park→Qixia→Dacheng Elementary School→Rongmin Clinic/Veterans General Hospital→Puli Distillery→Ren-ai Park→Chunghwa Telecom→Chunghwa Telecom→Puli Bus Station(transfer to Qingjing Farm,Lushan Hot Springs, Chung Tai World)→National Chi Nan University→Taomikeng→Dayan→Sincheng Elementary School→Adventist College→Yuchi Station→Antique Assam tea Farm→Sun Moon Lake

6670 E Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route (Taichung Airport Departure/Suspended)

Taichung Airport→HSR Taichung Station(1F EXIT5)→Puli VisitorCenter→New Era Sculpture Park→National Chi Nan University→Taomikeng→Dayan→Sincheng Elementary School→Adventist College→Yuchi Station→Antique Assam tea Farm→Sun Moon Lake

6670 F Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route (Via Xiangshan)

Taichung Gancheng Station→TRA Taichung Station(Minzu Rd. Intersection) →Minxing Park(Go)/Wuquan Station(Return)→MRT Daqing Station(Jianguo N. Rd.)→HSR Taichung Station(1F EXIT5)→Puli VisitorCenter→New Era Sculpture Park→National Chi Nan University→Taomikeng→Dayan→Sincheng Elementary School→Adventist College→Yuchi Station→Antique Assam tea Farm→Sun Moon Lake→Shuishe→Xiangshan Visitor Center

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Checheng Route

Sun Moon Lake→Sun Moon Lake Hotel→Shuishe→Shuishe Dam→Xiangshan Visitor Center→Crescent Bay→Toushe Elementary School→Toushe→Sun Moon Lake Characteristic Study Center→Chonggui→Dapinglin→Ganzilin→Dingkan→Huiyao→Shuili Snake Kiln→Shezi→Municipal Shuili Junior High School→Nantou County Shueili Township Office→TaiPower→Shueili→Dawan→Zhenchang Wood Factory→Checheng

6739 Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Alishan Route

Sun Moon Lake→ Xiangshan Visitor Center →Toushe →Dingkan→ Xinyi→ Huoshe→ Shenmu Village→ Caopingtou→ Fuqi Tree→ Tataka→ Shangdongpu→ Shishan→ Zizhong→ Alishan

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route Stops

Route Number

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route

Taichung Airport Departure

Via Xiangshan

Via Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village

Via Puli Township

Via Chung Tai Chan Monastery

Route Towards

HSR Taichung Station

Sun Moon Lake

Taichung Airport

Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village

Chung Tai Chan Monastery

Bus stops at 

stops only available with specific route

✽ Route 6670 E departs from Taichung Airport will not enter downtown area.

✽ Route 6670B, 6670E and 6670F will stop at National Chi Nan University (Campus)

✽ Route 6670A, 6670C and 6607D will stop at National Chi Nan University (Main Entrance)

✽ Route 6670C will stop at Chung Tai Chan Monastery, Chung Tai World Museum, and Puli Bus Station. This route will NOT stop at Puli Visitor Center and New Era Sculpture Park.

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• Address：55547 No.599, Jhongshan Rd., Yuchi Township, Nantou County 555, Taiwan (R.O.C.) [Map]

Last updated: 2024-01-25

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Sun Moon Lake

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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SUN MOON LAKE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan: A 2024 Visitors’ Guide

Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you.

Sun Moon Lake‭ in Nantou ‬is Taiwan’s largest lake‭ ‬and‭,‬. With 6‭ ‬million visitors a year‭, ‬also‭ ‬one of Taiwan’s‭ ‬most popular scenic attractions ‭, ‬along with Alishan and Taroko Gorge ‭.

What is Sun Moon Lake famous for? Sun Moon Lake‭ ‬attractions‭ such as‭ the views from ‬Wenwu Temple‭ and Sun Moon Lake Ropeway‭, cherry blossom viewing in February‬‭ ‬at Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village , local aboriginal culture, and locally grown black tea are the big draws. Sun Moon Lake can feel crowded and touristy, but it’s also easy enough to avoid that with a bit of planning.

Below‭ ‬I’ll tell you my favorite places to stay and things to do at Sun Moon‭ ‬Lake‭, ‬and help you plan your Sun Moon Lake itinerary‭.‬‭ ‬I’ve been to Sun Moon Lake six‭ ‬times in my 10‭ ‬years in Taiwan‭, ‬so apparently I have a soft spot for it‭. Several of these visits were with my kids !   ‬‭ ‬

There is so much information that I want to share here that I’ve written separate articles for Sun Moon Lake’s famous teas‭ , the best ‬ Sun Moon Lake tours ‭, ‬and how to decide whether you should get the Sun Moon Lake pass ‭.‬

Taichung City is the main access point to Sun Moon Lake, and people often associate Taichung with Sun Moon Lake, although SML is actually located in neighboring Nantou County.

Many people visit Sun Moon Lake as a day trip from Taichung, but to really appreciate Sun Moon Lake, I strongly recommend spending at least one, of not two nights there. The lake is especially beautiful in the early morning and early evening.

If you plan to stay in Taichung, make sure to check out my articles on the top Taichung attractions , the best Taichung itinerary , and other day trip ideas from Taichung .

Although it is possible to do Sun Moon Lake as a long day trip from Taipei , I wouldn’t personally recommend doing this.

Sun Moon Lake is also included on this 2-day tour from Taipei‭ , this ‬ best of Taiwan 5-day tour ‭, ‬or you can visit Sun Moon Lake on a day tour from Taichung ‭. ‬

Table of Contents

Is Sun Moon Lake Worth Visiting?

I know people in Taipei who detest Sun Moon Lake or write it off as an overtouristed attraction.

However, my answer to the above question is that yes, Sun Moon Lake is incredibly beautiful and worth visiting‭, whether you visit during winter or summer in Taiwan . ‬Surrounded by the western foothills of the Central Mountain Range‭,‬‭ ‬the 748‭ ‬m lake is like a gem on the side of‭ ‬Taiwan’s‭ ‬mountainous‭ ‬crown‭.‬‭  ‬

The first time I stood‭ ‬on the shore of the lake‭, ‬I didn’t quite see what the hype was all about‭. ‬It wasn’t until I admired the lake from higher vantage points‭, ‬like Wenwu Temple‭, ‬Ci En Pagoda‭, ‬and the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway‭, ‬that I finally got it‭. ‬

True, a few of the main sites at Sun Moon Lake can be crowded with tour buses, and if you are not a big fan of touristy places, you may want to steer clear of Sun Moon Lake, but I think that even for people like that, it is still easy to avoid the crowds at SML and have an enjoyable trip there.

The Aboriginal People of Sun Moon Lake

The Sun Moon Lake shore has been inhabited by the Thao aboriginal‭ ‬tribe‭ (‬邵族‭) ‬since the Qing Dynasty‭. ‬Today‭, ‬the Thao‭, ‬who mostly live in the lakeside village of Ita Thao‭, ‬number less than 1000 ‭ (‬only 828‭ ‬according to Wikipedia in 2020‭), ‬making them one of the smallest of Taiwan’s officially recognized aboriginal tribes‭. ‬

According to Thao mythology, Thao hunters spotted a white deer in the mountains and chased it to the shore of Sun Moon Lake. They were so impressed by the lake that they decided to settle there.

As a visitor‭, ‬you can observe authentic Thao dance performances and make donations at Kalapaw鹿臺教室, an aboriginal performance center in Ita Thao, one of the two main villages on Sun Moon Lake. However, you shouldn’t expect authenticity at the more famous Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Theme Park. I’ll cover both locations in detail below.

Like saving money? Try using Klook while planning your trip to Taiwan. The website offers all kinds of activities, train passes, entrance tickets and more at discount prices. If you register with my referral link, you’ll get NT$100 off your first activity booking .

The Sun Moon Lake Mass Swim

There are no beaches‭, ‬and swimming is not allowed in Sun Moon Lake‭, ‬except at the annual Sun Moon Lake Mass Swim (泳渡日月潭) in September in Taiwan ‭, ‬one of the largest in the world‭.

To participate in the mass swim‭, ‬you need a group of at least five people‭ before you register here ‭. ‬Then you pay NT1000‭/‬person at 7-11‭. ‬Registration usually opens in July .

The 3km swim takes a few hours‭, ‬and a flotation device is required‭. ‬There are safety rest stations along the way‭. ‬You will also definitely need waterproof sunscreen‭. ‬In recent years‭, ‬3km and 5km competitive races have also been added the day before‭. ‬

On a personal note‭, ‬I actually joined a busload of expats to do the swim many years ago‭,‬‭ ‬but couldn’t swim in the end, embarrassingly, because I got diarrhea that day‭. ‬Also‭, ‬I‭ ‬once‭ ‬snuck a swim at Sun Moon Lake on another trip by jumping off a boat dock when nobody was looking‭  : )

Orientation

Sun Moon Lake is‭ (‬sort of…‭) ‬shaped like a sun on the eastern side and moon on the western side‭, ‬hence the name‭. ‬Shuishe‭, ‬on the northwest ‬shore of the lake‭, ‬is the main tourist village where most people arrive‭, ‬and location of the Sun Moon Lake visitor center‭.‬

The eastern and southern sides of the‭ ‬“sun”‭ ‬part of the lake are where most of the popular‭ ‬Sun Moon Lake‭ ‬attractions and best views are found‭. ‬Much of this shoreline is also lined with‭ ‬wooden walkways‭, ‬and cycling Sun Moon Lake along the main road around the lake is a popular activity‭.

The lake’s second tourist village, Ita Thao, is located on the southeast shore. I’ll explain below why I think it is the best place to stay at Sun Moon Lake.  ‬

The western‭, ‬or‭ ‬“moon”‭ ‬side of the lake sees less tourists‭, ‬and much of the road is not right along the lake until meets up with the spread of resorts on the north shore‭.‬‭ ‬You can cycle around the lake in a full day‭, ‬or ride a scooter around it in about one hour‭ (‬with no stops‭). ‬‭

The easiest and cheapest way to get around Sun Moon Lake is the round-the-lake bus , which actually doesn’t travel all the way around the lake, but from Shuishe to Xuanguang Temple. For other ways to get around the lake, including boats and cycling, see below.

See how to fit Sun Moon Lake into your Taiwan trip itinerary , and here’s my article covering general Taiwan travel information .

Shuishe: The Main Tourist Village

Shuishe‭ ‬‭(‬水社‭)‬‭ ‬is collection of‭ ‬tourist oriented restaurants‭, ‬resorts and other facilities‭. ‬Personally‭, ‬I consider it a transportation hub and place to rent your bike ‭,‬‭ ‬scooter‭ ‬or hop on a bus‭ ‬to get out of‭.‬‭ ‬

On‭ ‬the plus side‭, ‬you may choose to stay in Shuishe‭ ‬due to its‭ ‬convenience and some of the great mid-range and‭ ‬high-end hotels in town‭.‬‭ ‬To be fair, it’s not a terrible place to stay‭, ‬with nice paths and lake views on the shore‭. ‬‭ ‬

Most buses arrive at and depart from just in front of the Shuishe Visitor’s Center‭.‬‭ ‬Last time I visited‭,‬‭ ‬there was no ticket window there‭; ‬you just show up and get in line at the right time‭. ‬The bus around Sun Moon Lake also begins here‭. ‬

The Starbucks in Shuishe‭ ‬offers decent lake views from its patio‭, ‬and you‭ ‬can also appreciate the lake from Meihe Park or the Shuishe Pier‭.‬‭ ‬There are many restaurants in town‭, ‬especially on the main road and near the Shuishe Pier‭, ‬with an emphasis on Taiwanese and seafood‭. ‬‭ ‬‭ ‬For vegetarians, there’s a great, quiet vegetarian restaurant a few minutes drive from Shuishe in the direction of Puli called White Deer Cafe and Pizzeria (日月潭白鹿窯木燒麵包).

If you feel like going for a private hot spring soak, check out this Spa package with buffet lunch or dinner set meal at Fuli Resor t in Shuishe.

Shuishe is also the starting point of the annual Sun‭ ‬Moon Lake Mass Swim‭.‬

Where to Stay in Shuishe

For hostel dorms in Shuishe, try Deer Traveler Hostel (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ).

Some of the cheapest private rooms can be found at Tanxiang Resort Hotel ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) near the Shuishe Pier‭, but the reviews for it are pretty bad. ‬I’m‭ ‬not aware of any hostels in Shuishe‭.‬‭ ‬There are better budget choices in Ita Thao‭.‬‭ ‬‭ ‬ Yue Lake Backpackers ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) west of town offers‭ ‬reasonably priced‭ ‬rooms considering they have good‭ ‬lake views‭. ‬

In the mid-range‭, ‬Shaoguang 188‭ ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ), Blue Sky Bay B&B (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ), and‭ ‬ Doris Home ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) are all excellent choices.

The Lalu (see on Agoda / TripAdvisor ) in Shuishe is the most opulent resort at Sun Moon lake, while Fleur de Chine ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) east of town is a close second.

Ita Thao: My Personal Favorite

Ita Thao‭ (‬ Yida Shao ‭ or ‬伊達邵‭) ‬is the other main tourist village on Sun Moon Lake and located on the southeast shore of the‭ ‬“sun”‭. ‬The actual aboriginal village‭, ‬which you probably won’t even see or notice‭, ‬is located just above the tourist village‭ , on the other side of the highway.

Personally‭, ‬I prefer the vibe at Ita Thao to Shuishe‭, ‬even though it is still entirely tourist oriented‭. ‬There are more guesthouses than resorts‭, ‬the feeling is more local and aboriginal‭, ‬and there is greater access to the waterfront‭, ‬with‭ ‬a nice collections of‭ ‬boat‭ ‬docks that you can walk on‭.‬‭ ‬‭ ‬

Oh, and the best part: the chance to taste all kinds of aboriginal and local Taiwanese street foods in the Ita Thao streey food market!

Other great places to experience aboriginal culture in Taiwan are in Wulai, New Taipei City , in Hualien County on the east coast, and on remote Orchid Island in Taitung County.

The best place to experience Thao culture is at the Kalapaw鹿臺教室 Thao Tribe Performance Center‭ (‬see‭ #‬6‭ ‬on my list of things to do at Sun Moon Lake below‭). ‬The performances here are the real deal‭, ‬as opposed to some of the shows put in‭ ‬big hotels‭, ‬on the Shuishe pier‭, ‬or other tourist centers in Taiwan‭, ‬which often have a‭ ‬fake feel to them‭. ‬‭  ‬

Ita Thao is the end point of the Sun Moon Lake Mass Swim‭, ‬and it is within walking distance of‭ ‬the Sun Moon Lake ropeway‭ (#4 below).

What to Eat in Ita Thao

The best part about Itathao is the many food stalls in its afternoon and early evening market‭. ‬From the bus stop‭, ‬follow‭ ‬the main street‭ ‬all the way down to the pier‭. ‬The street is packed with shops and restaurants and becomes an atmospheric night market in the early evening (most stalls close around 7 PM)‭. ‬

This is one of the‭ ‬most‭ ‬accessible places in Taiwan to try aboriginal specialties like boar meat‭ (‬山豬肉‭),‬‭ ‬bamboo tubes of sticky rice‭ (‬竹筒飯‭), ‬and millet wine‭ (‬小米酒‭).

Related: See my guide to the best night markets in Taipei .

Something I’ve never seen elsewhere in Taiwan is millet wine slushy drinks‭, ‬though the alcohol concentration was disappointingly low‭ (‬0.4%‭ ‬according to the vendor‭). ‬

Food lovers: There are also some great cooking classes in Taiwan !

Besides aboriginal fare‭, ‬there are lots of‭ ‬other great Taiwanese snacks to find on the Ita Thao food market‭. ‬Some personal favorites were grilled mochi‭, ‬deep fried oyster‭ & ‬egg balls (a Chiayi specialty)‭, Sun Moon Lake black tea flavored ice cream and beer‭, ‬and marinated dou gan ‭ (‬tofu cubes‭). ‬

If you love traditional Taiwanese snacks, then also check out my introduction to Jiufen Old Street in New Taipei City .

Where to Stay in Ita Thao

As we usually stay in Ita Thao‭, ‬I can speak from personal experience here‭. ‬My absolute favorite place to stay in Ita Thao is these cabins on Sun Moon Lake (see on Agoda / Booking ) located five minutes’ walk up a small road from the Ita Thao bus stop‭. ‬

I brought my kids here on a father-daughter-son trip and we loved it‭. ‬It’s in a quiet‭, ‬totally natural setting‭, ‬so‭ ‬you completely forget you are right by‭ ‬one of the most popular tourist centers in Taiwan‭, ‬but it’s only a five-minute walk to Ita Thao‭, ‬where you can enjoy the food market‭, ‬restaurants‭, ‬or walk to the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway‭. ‬

On our most recent visit‭, ‬we were looking for the cheapest possible‭ (‬but family friendly‭) ‬room to crash‭ ‬in Ita Thao‭ ‬for the night‭, ‬and chose at Itathao Vacation Hotel ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvsior ) on the main road around the lake‭. ‬Our expectations were low‭, ‬but we were pleasantly surprised‭! ‬The room seemed very new‭ (‬not normal in Taiwan for this price‭ ‬range‭), ‬beds were comfy‭, ‬and our 5th‭ ‬floor balcony had a view of the lake‭. ‬Not the best view‭, ‬but better than nothing‭!‬

Unlike Shuishe‭, ‬Ita Thao also has an actual hostel‭, ‬ perBed hostel ‭ ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ).‬‭ ‬

There are several properties right on or directly facing the pier in Ita Thao that have incredible views of the lake through full-wall windows‭. ‬We almost considered staying in one of these as they are quite reasonably priced for what you get‭. ‬

I also almost booked ShuiYang Boatel Hotel‭ ( see on Booking / Agoda / rTripAdvisor ), ‬with full wall lake views from a very quiet end of town‭, ‬while Shuian Lakeside Hotel ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor )‭, ‬ Hu Yue Lakeside Hotel ‭ ( read reviews / see prices ), ‬ Ming Yue Hu ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor )‭, ‬and Crystal Resort ( see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) are all enticing options‭.

Planning Your Sun Moon Lake Itinerary

When planning your Sun Moon Lake itinerary, I feel that one night is sufficient, two tops, to experience the best of the lake. If you hire a scooter, ride a bike, or use the bus, you could see most of the sites below in one full day. Taking boats only , you won’t be able to see everything of course. Make sure to buy a Sun Moon Lake Pass to save some money.  

The best way would probably be to arrive as early as possible on your first day, do some exploring that afternoon, visit the night market in Ita Thao that evening (get there before the stalls close around 7!), and then see anything else you missed the next day.

The sights below are roughly in clockwise order around the lake, starting in Shuishe.

Things to Do at Sun Moon Lake

Below are some of the essential things to consider doing during your Sun Moon Lake visit, including the most popular attractions and a few lesser known ones.

Take a Boat Across Sun Moon Lake

Riding a boat across the lake is one of the most popular things to do at Sun Moon Lake. The boats conveniently start at Shuishe village , where most people arrive at Sun Moon Lake. They cross the lake to Xuanguang Temple and Ita Thao , the two places you probably want to go.

I recommend taking the boat from Shuishe to Xuanguang Temple, then from Xuanguang Temple to Ita Thao village (from where you can also walk to Sun Moon Lake Cable Car and/or take the bus to Wenwu Temple), and finally, from Ita Thao back to Shuishe.

‬Boat rides are included in most Sun Moon Lake passes and only this one-day Sun Moon Lake tour from Taichung .

Alternatively, can buy an all-day boat pass on Klook for NT300‭ ‬that gives you unlimited rides between the three main piers‭ (‬Shuishe‭, ‬Ita Thao‭, ‬Xuanguan‭) ‬on an eco-friendly electric boat‭. ‬There is also an option to include a bike rental in the deal‭.  ‬

Wenwu Temple (日月潭文武廟)

The view from‭ ‬just above Wenwu temple‭, ‬with the temple’s orange roofs in the foreground and lake in the background‭, ‬is the most iconic‭ ‬view of Sun Moon Lake‭. I would say that this is easily one of the prettiest temples in Taiwan. ‬

This large‭, ‬imposing structure is built in the palace style of northern China and‭ ‬is guarded by two enormous‭ ‬vermilion‭ ‬lions‭. ‬In Chinese culture‭, ‬Wenwu temples house gods related to both civil and marital affairs‭. ‬

Originally two temples stood at the side of Sun Moon Lake but were torn down when dam projects caused the lake level to rise in 1919‭. ‬The new temple was built in its present location in 1938‭, ‬and then rebuilt and expanded in 1969‭. ‬

Come early for a better chance of clear‭ ‬lake views and to beat tour bus crowds‭. ‬Also‭, ‬make sure to go up the rows of stairs outside the back of the temple for the classic view‭. ‬

Across the road from the front of the temple‭, ‬you can also walk down 366‭ ‬steps‭ (‬one for each day of the year plus one for leap year‭) ‬to the shore of the lake‭, ‬once the only way to access the temple‭. ‬‭

See more incredible temples at Lion’s Head Mountain in Miaoli , central Taiwan, or read my introduction to the top Taiwanese temples in Northern Taiwan .

Nine Frogs Stack (九蛙疊像)

Halfway between Wenwu Temple and Ita Thao‭, ‬there’s a pullover on the lake side of the road for Water Frog Head Trail‭ (‬水蛙頭步道‭)‭, ‬an easy boarded trail through bamboo forests to a dock on the lake where you can spot Nine Frogs Stack‭ (‬九蛙疊像‭), ‬a statue in the water that is used to measure the lake’s level‭. ‬

Tour buses don’t usually stop here‭, ‬so it’s a good place on Sun Moon Lake for a quiet‭, ‬scenic stroll with no crowds‭. ‬Note that in recent years, the water level at Sun Moon Lake has been very low, so the statue was totally exposed, with dry mud all around it.

Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (日月潭纜車)

The Sun Moon Lake Ropeway is probably the most popular Sun Moon Lake attraction‭, ‬but that doesn’t mean you should skip it‭. ‬Even with a large number of visitors‭, ‬the Sun Moon Lake cable car lines move‭ ‬quickly‭. ‬When we visited on a weekday‭, ‬arriving the moment they opened‭, ‬and there was hardly a line‭. ‬

The views over Sun Moon Lake during‭ ‬the ride are nothing short of‭ ‬breathtaking‭. ‬There’s no view once you arrive at the top‭, ‬so you can either head right back‭ ‬down‭, ‬or continue on another ropeway down into the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (see below)‭.‬

A round trip on the Sun Moon Lake gondola costs NT300‭, ‬and rides are included if you buy an entrance ticket to the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village‭. ‬Operating times are 10:30-4‭ (‬weekdays‭) ‬and 10‭:‬00-4:30‭ (‬weekends and holidays‭). ‬The Sun Moon Lake Ropeway is included on some Sun Moon Lake passes .

Here’s a great deal on Klook that includes a bike, boat rides, and Sun Moon Lake ropeway ticket .   This deal covers the cable car and Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (see next entry).

You can walk from the pier in Ita Thao to the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway along a pretty lakeside path in about 15‭ ‬minutes‭. The round-the-lake-bus has a dedicated stop for the Cable Car Station.

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (九族文化村)

I’m not going to lie here…the combination of aboriginal culture center and theme/amusement park‭ (‬complete‭ with ‬”European garden‭ & ‬Mansion”‭, ‬a popular theme at many of Taiwan’s theme parks built in the 80s‭)‬‭ ‬at Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village‭ unsettling‭. ‬This is‭ ‬cultural appropriation at its finest‭.

The Chinese name‭ ‬“9‭ ‬Tribes Culture Village”‭ (‬九族文化村‭) ‬harks back to a time when only nine aboriginal tribes were officially recognized in Taiwan‭ (‬today‭ ‬there are 16‭). ‬

I honestly wouldn’t really recommend coming here‭.‬‭ ‬We went because I though it might be fun for my kids‭. ‬The amusement park section is nothing special‭. ‬We saw one crazy looking waterslide‭ (‬picture below‭), ‬but overall the park is really spread out‭ ‬and requires tons of walking‭, ‬but doesn’t have many facilities‭.‬ If you do decide to go, though, this deal on entrance tickets includes a ride on the cable car, which I do recommend.

If you’re looking for a better theme park experience in Taiwan, here are the best and worst amusement parks in taiwan .

The aboriginal section covers a large hill and also takes quite some time to walk through‭. ‬It does however offer a chance to photograph aboriginals dressed in traditional costumes and watch‭ ‬song and dance performances‭.   ‬

If you really want to experience aboriginal culture‭, ‬I’d suggest the more humble‭ (‬and legitimate‭) ‬Thao‭ ‬Tribe Performance Center‭ (‬see‭ #‬6‭), ‬and if you want rides‭, ‬there are many better amusement parks in Taiwan‭.  ‬

The one reason I would recommend coming to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, though, is to see the beautiful cherry blossom festival there in February ; they are said to be a variety that is pinker than elsewhere. Read about other festivals in Taiwan here .

If you still want to visit‭, ‬this Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village day trip deal includes transportation to and from Taichung‭, ‬ropeway tickets‭, ‬park admission‭, ‬and a guide‭. ‬Regular admission to the park also includes ropeway tickets‭.  ‬

‬The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village is included on one of the Sun Moon Lake pass .  ‬

Kalapaw鹿臺教室 Thao Tribe Performance Center

A small center in Ita Thao village is trying hard to preserve and promote the customs of the‭ ‬Thao people‭ (‬邵族‭)‬‭, ‬one of Taiwan’s smallest tribes‭. ‬Only a few elders still speak the Thao language‭, ‬and their customs are in danger of dying out‭. What’s more, this small center is in danger of dying out due to the total lack of foreign tourists for 2.5 years during COVID. ‬

One of the special features of Thao culture is a kind of music called chu yin‭ (‬杵音‭) ‬or‭ ‬’pestle sounds’‭, ‬made‭ ‬by pounding large pestles into mortars‭. ‬The Thao discovered it in past times when they found that pounding different materials produced different sounds‭. ‬

You can watch performances of the music at the center today‭. ‬The center also features‭ ‬songs and dance from the Bunun‭ ‬tribe‭ (‬布農族‭)‬‭, ‬another tribe which lives in the greater Sun Moon Lake area‭. ‬

The pestle music performances take place on the wooden docks outside (good weather) or inside the center from 11 AM to 11:20 AM and 4 PM to 4:20 PM on Thursday to Sunday. They also explain their traditional costumes from 4:30 to 5:20 PM on Thursday to Sunday and explain more about their culture from 1:30 to 3:30 PM on Sundays. There’s little to no English. Donations are appreciated‭. Here’s their new Facebook page .

The center is sometimes poorly translated as the “Sun Moon Lake Chasing Deer Market” on Sun Moon Lake and Taiwan tourism websites, without any explanation provided of where or what it is.

Ci En Pagoda (慈恩塔)

Continuing past Ita Thao village‭, ‬the next point of interest‭, ‬and another of Sun Moon Lake’s most iconic sights‭, ‬is‭ ‬towering Ci En Pagoda‭, ‬visible from many points on the lake‭. ‬

The 43-meter pagoda was commissioned by former president Chiang Kai-shek for his late mother in 1971‭. ‬It’s a 570-meter walk up stairs to reach the pagoda‭. ‬It’s definitely worth coming for the incredible‭, ‬panoramic view of Sun Moon Lake from the top of the pagoda‭. ‬The top of the pagoda is a great spot to watch sunrise or sunset over the lake.

Just before reaching the temple, there’s another one called Xuan Zang Temple (日月潭玄奘寺) on the main road around the lake, which you may want to stop and take a look at.

Xuanguang Temple (玄光寺) & Wharf (玄光碼頭)

The furthest you’ll likely get from Shuishe‭ (‬unless you cycle or ride all the way around the lake‭) ‬is Xuanguang Temple‭ & ‬Wharf‭. ‬It’s one of three piers you can take a boat to‭.

The highlight for me was being able to see Lalu Island‭, ‬which is just off shore‭. ‬There is also a famous tea egg vendor‭ ‬called‭ ‬金盆阿嬤的香菇茶葉蛋‭ ‬by the pier‭. ‬Sun Moon Lake is known for having really good tea eggs‭, ‬which are‭ ‬stewed with‭ ‬giant mushrooms, local Sun Moon Lake tea leaves, and spices‭, ‬and this stall apparently has the best ones‭.  

Besides Xuanguang Temple, you can also walk up a staircase to another temple, with a similar name, Xuanzang Temple (日月潭玄奘寺). This one is more serene (because fewer tourists walk up the stairs to it) and has a better view of the lake due to its higher position.

The temple’s name comes from a monk in the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West . Although the text is fictional, there was an actual monk in China with this name, and a relic from his scull is actually enshrined in this temple.

Try SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding)

To make up for not being able to swim‭ ‬at Sun Moon Lake‭ (‬unless you come for the annual mass swim‭), ‬perhaps you can try stand up paddleboarding on Sun Moon Lake ‭! ‬

No experience is required‭, ‬kids can even do it‭, ‬and there are morning or afternoon options‭. ‬But for the most serene experience‭, ‬go for the dawn paddleboarding option‭, ‬when the lake is at its calmest and no tourists are out yet‭.  ‬

The package even comes with the option to have photos taken on you from above by drone. The activity starts here next to the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway station.

Scootering or Cycling around Sun Moon Lake

The road around Sun Moon Lake has been called one of the top 10‭ ‬most beautiful cycling routes in the world ‭. ‬

There are multiple places in Shuishe town where you can rent bicycles‭ (‬expect to pay about NT200‭ ‬for two hours‭, ‬or double that for a high quality Giant bike), ‬e-bikes‭, ‬or scooters‭ (‬around NT400‭ ‬per day‭, IDP or Taiwanese scooter license needed). For bicycles, they even have children’s sized ones or adult bikes with toddler seats.

You can also arrange a bike rental and all day boat combination pass in advance‭, or get the Sun Moon Lake Bike pass .

The easiest cycling path is going west from Shuishe, on the dedicated lakeside cycling boardwalk towards Xiangshan. The more difficult way is going east (clockwise) around the lake from Shuishe, towards Wenwu Temple, Sun Moon Lake Ropeway, and Ita Thao.

This way has more hills and sometimes you need to cycle on the same road as the cars. The furthest most people would go is Xuanguang Temple. After that, the road around the lake toward Xiangshan is less scenic and often not right beside the lake.

Sunrise and Sunset Spots

Pretty much anywhere around the lake can be lovely at sunrise or sunset time, as long as the weather cooperates. However, more serious sunrise/sunset chasers can seek out some better spots, but it won’t be easy.

Some people report being able to watch the sunset from the top of Ci’en Pagoda, and I’ve seen beautiful pictures they’ve taken of it. However, others have reported that it was closed before sunset time.

If you’re willing to hike for your view, hike from Shuishe Village up to Mount Maolan (貓囒山) for sunrise or sunset looking over the lake. It takes about an hour to reach the top and you’ll also see some tea farms on the way.

Another option, but further from the lake and ideally you need to drive, is Jinlongshan Trail and Lookout (金龍山三亭). You can’t see Sun Moon Lake from here, but it’s possible to see the “Sea of Clouds” phenomenon here at sunrise.

Other Things to Do Near Sun Moon Lake

The greater Sun Moon Lake region, known for its tea farms, is great for exploring, especially by bicycle, scooter, or car. Puli is the main transportation hub but also has a few sights.

South of Sun Moon Lake, there are a few more unique attractions. Some people combine their Sun Moon Lake visit with an overnight or day-trip to Cingjing Farm in the high mountains.

Things to Do in Puli

Puli ‭ , ‬a town 30‭ ‬minutes north of Sun Moon Lake‭, is a transportation hub for Sun Moon Lake and Cingjing Farm, as all buses to these two famous destinations pass through town. Puli itself has a few places worth seeing, so some travelers even base themselves here for visiting Cingjing and Sun Moon Lake. For more info than I’ll provide here, see my Puli travel guide .

The enormous Chung Tai Chan Monastery ‭ is ‬the world’s tallest Buddhist Monastery and Puli’s most famous attraction‭. The monastery is fascinating to visit, and you can see that a lot of money has been spent on the many statues and other decorations in and around the temple.

‬Chung Tai Chan is one of Taiwan’s four major Buddhist orders (see here to read about another one of them, Fo Guang Shan Monastery , one of the most famous places to visit in Kaohsiung ).

Just outside of Puli‭, ‬ Paper Dome ‭, ‬a church made out of paper‭, ‬is another popular attraction‭. You can stop here with the Sun Moon Lake pass . ‬Puli has a bit of a paper making industry, which is best experienced at Guang Xing Paper Mill here on the west side of town.

Nearby, Nina’s Chocolate Factory ( buy tickets ) is a fun place to dress up for photo shooting in a castle-like building, watch chocolate being made, and eat crazy ice cream (note – this is meant to be an entertainment facility – the chocolate itself looks cool, but quality/taste is not so great).

Another fun thing to do in Puli is this paragliding experience .

Tea Tourism

Sun Moon Lake is famous for its black teas‭, ‬which are mostly produced north of the lake in Yuchi township‭. The best place to visit is Antique Assam Tea Farm (日月老茶廠). There you can explore an old tea processing facility, see a working tea farm, and taste the region’s rare and very delicious black teas.

Another option nearby is Hohocha (喝喝茶), a beautiful tea center with small entry fee which can be used for tea tasting, extremely delicious tea eggs, tea ice cream, and so on.

‬See my full article on Sun Moon Lake Tea for other tea-related places to visit around Sun Moon Lake. ‬

Shuanglong Rainbow Bridge

Going south from Sun Moon Lake, the Shuanglong Rainbow Suspension Bridge (雙龍七彩吊橋), also called Shuiyuan Suspension Bridge, has been a hot new attraction since it opened in 2020 and was subsequently painted in rainbow colors. This is Taiwan’s longest (342 m) and tallest (110 m) suspension bridge. By crossing it, you can get to a viewpoint of Shuangong Waterfall (雙龍瀑布).

You need to budget a full hour for walking down to and crossing the bridge, seeing the waterfall, and coming back. Getting there from Sun Moon Lake is also not easy. It’s a 30-40 minute drive from Sun Moon Lake and there are no direct buses. You can try asking your hotel in Sun Moon Lake to arrange a driver for you.

Jiji Wuchang Temple

A 40-minute drive west of Sun Moon Lake‭, ‬ Wuchang Temple in Jiji is an interesting‭, ‬if unusual‭, ‬local attraction‭. ‬The temple here completely caved in during the disastrous 921‭ ‬Earthquake in 1999‭, ‬in which 2415‭ ‬people died‭, ‬and has been left that way since‭. ‬A lavish new temple commemorating the incident has been built right in front of it‭.‬

See more information about Wuchang Temple here .

Other attractions in the Jiji area, including the Hotanjing Sky Bridge, can be visited on this day tour from Taichung .

Xitou Monster Village

Another 45 minutes’ drive past Jiji, you can reach the Xitou Monster Village , a popular Japanese-themed village. Click the above link for information on getting there by bus from Sun Moon Lake.  

Getting to Sun Moon Lake

Generally‭, ‬you can budget about three hours to get‭ ‬from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake‭,‬‭ ‬1.5‭ ‬hours ‬from Taichung to Sun Moon lake‭, ‬and three hours from‭ ‬Alishan to Sun‭ ‬Moon Lake‭. ‬If you want to travel from Hualien to Sun Moon Lake, you’ll have to go via Taipei.

Taipei to Sun Moon Lake

The simplest way is to take the bus from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake‭. ‬Buses in Taipei depart from Taipei Bus Station ‭‭.‬‭ ‬A one-way adult ticket costs NT465‭. ‬You can find the complete timetable here for bus 1833‭ ‬from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake . ‬The bus usually takes 3-3.5‭ ‬hours and includes a stop in‭ ‬Puli‭.  ‬

Buying your return ticket is a good idea‭, ‬to avoid uncertainty about getting a seat on the way back‭. ‬It’s also smart to buy your ticket a day or two in advance‭, ‬especially for weekend or holiday departures‭, ‬but it’s often possible to just show up‭ ‬a little early and get a ticket‭.  ‬

If you don’t want to take a three-hour bus ride‭, ‬you can take the HSR from Taipei to Taichung and then the shuttle bus from Taichung to Sun‭ ‬Moon Lake‭ (‬see below‭). ‬This‭ ‬costs more and you might only save 30‭ ‬minutes‭, ‬but I’ve done this before because a three hour bus ride is difficult for my kids‭.   ‬

If you buy a discounted HSR ticket‭ ‬from Taipei‭ ‬to Taichung in advance on Klook‭, ‬the cost of going by HSR and shuttle bus is almost the same as taking the bus all the way from Taipei‭. ‬Find all the details covering how to buy HSR tickets here .

It is also possible to arrange a private car from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake .

If you’re coming from Taipei, check out my Taipei 4-day itinerary and guide to where to stay in Taipei !

Taichung to Sun Moon Lake

Tourist Shuttle Bus A runs from Central Taichung to Sun Moon Lake in about 90‭ ‬minutes‭. ‬You can board at Gancheng Station (a bus stop a few blocks north of Taichung Station)‭, ‬Taichung Station (the main regular TRA station)‭, ‬Daqing Station‭, ‬Taichung Airport‭, ‬or‭ ‬Taichung HSR Station‭. ‬The bus also stops in Puli and at Paper Dome‭. ‬

Here are the bus times . There’s often a long line for the bus, so it’s recommended to book your Taichung to Sun Moon Lake bus tickets online . If you just swipe EasyCard or buy a Klook voucher for the bus , the seats will be first-come-first-serve. Bus tickets are included in most Sun Moon Lake passes , but again you will need to line up.

The bus costs NT190‭ ‬or less‭ (‬depending where you get on‭), ‬and runs roughly every 30‭ ‬minutes‭. ‬The first bus is at 7:45am from Taichung Gancheng station and 7:25‭ ‬am from Sun Moon Lake‭. ‬

It is also possible to arrange a private car from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake .

Here is a complete map of all the bus routes to and from the greater Sun Moon Lake area‭ . ‬

If you are in Taichung, make sure to check out the Rainbow Village !

Alishan to Sun Moon Lake

There is only bus per day from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake and from Sun Moon Lake to Alishan‭. ‬The bus from Alishan‭ ‬departs at 1‭ ‬‬pm‭, ‬and the‭ ‬one from Sun Moon Lake departs at 8‭ ‬am‭, costing NT$295 each way. The bus is #6739, run by Yuanlin bus company.

While you can simply line up and swipe EasyCard to ride the bus between Alishan and Sun Moon Lake, demand for it can be very high. Therefore, I recommend that you reserve your bus ticket from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake online. During cherry blossoms season (February at SML and March-April at Alishan) the bus is sometimes sold out days in advance.

The trip from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake should take less than three hours‭, ‬but going uphill‭ ‬from Sun Moon Lake to Alishan might take a little more than three hours‭. ‬To save money on bus tickets for Taichung-Sun Moon Lake-Alishan, you can get the Sun Moon Lake Alishan pass .

Here’s my complete guide to getting to Alishan ‭. ‬

Cingjing Farm to Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake is 1.5 hours from Cingjing Farm, a famous high mountain resort and European style farm.

There is a shared shuttle from Sun Moon Lake to Cingjing Farm or you can charter a private vehicle . You can also visit Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, and Cingjing Farm on this 3-day tour !

By public transportation, you can take a bus from Sun Moon Lake to Puli, where you can transfer onto a Cingjing-bound bus. Learn more in my guide to getting from Taichung & Sun Moon Lake to Cingjing Farm .

Well, thanks for making it this far! I hope that you’ve found some useful information here. Please let me know below if you have any comments or questions, and how your trip to Sun Moon Lake goes!

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72 thoughts on “Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan: A 2024 Visitors’ Guide”

I’m a sucker for a cable car with a good view. Sun Moon Lake looks so tranquil and scenic. it also seems like something straight out of a Kung Foo movie!

While Sun Moon Lake looks gorgeous and quiet, I would think that 6 million visitors per year would make it quite a busy place. It would be difficult for me to resist going in the lake if it were warm outside. Water and swimming always draw me. Ita Thao with its greater Aboriginal influence sounds more appealing to me. I love how lush everything is.

Wow what a guide Nick. This lake looks freaking stunning. The view from the temple is iconic, with those blue waters inviting me in. Rocking post buddy.

I love how peaceful and clear the waters are at Sun Moon Lake. It’s easy to see why it is so popular. I’m quite intrigued by the Aboriginal culture. I’m curious to learn more about it, but I get your caution about the touristic nature of Ita Thao. Any good museums you’d recommend instead? The area is very green and pretty. Can’t wait to visit Taiwan!!

Actually the aboriginal culture center right in Ita Thao is the best place to learn about their culture, but it’s not really a museum. Hope you make it to Taiwan!

Really great article. It’s quiet hard to find some accurate and up-to-date information about Taiwan in general. Hopefully i found your blog ! Just to let you know, all your booking.com links doesn’t works on this post.

Glad you found it useful, Julien! And thank you so much for letting me know about the links! They should be all fixed now!

I’ve been reading information about Sun Moon Lake and Alishan here that I wasn’t able to find in other blogs. Thank you!

Would you know what options I have to reach Sun Moon Lake directly from Taoyuan Airport (using public transportation)? I arrive around 2:00 am so I find it impractical to check in a hotel. Thanks!

As far as I know, there is no 24-hour public transportation options from the airport. You will need to wait until about 6am, then you can do either of the following:

1. Take the shuttle bus to the Taoyuan HSR station, HSR to Taichung, then bus to Sun Moon Lake (more expensive, faster) 2. Take a bus from the airport to Taichung then take the bus to Sun Moon Lake (slower but cheaper).

The only other option would be to take a taxi from the airport to a Taipei bus station, but you should check first if they have any buses in the middle of the night from Taipei to Taichung.

Thank you! Just double checked my flight schedule and I arrive around 1:10am. I saw that there is a Kuo Kuang 1860 bus going to Taichung at 1:40 am. Supposing I take that bus, where should I get off if I want to check in somewhere near the Taichung Railway Station? The railway station is not included in the route ( https://www.taiwanbus.tw/information.aspx?Lang=En&Line=4639 ). I read that most visitors alight at Chaoma Station then take a cab when they want to stay near Fengjia Night Market.

Considering that I am going to Sun Moon Lake and other attractions in Taichung such as Xinshe Castle, Fengjia Market, Rainbow Village and Houli Flower Farm for two days, would it be advisable to stay near the train station or near the night market? OR, should I stay one night in Sun Moon Lake then another night near train station/night market?

You will have to be lucky to catch that bus. In my experience, it takes 30 minutes to 1 hour (usually closer to 1 hour) from the landing time to the moment you exit the arrivals door, then you still need to get to the bus area. If I were you, I would have a back up plan in case you don’t catch that bus.

I’m sorry that I’m not so familiar with Taichung City, so I don’t know where the best place to stay there is. It sounds like you are planning to see a lot in two days. Going to Sun Moon Lake is a full day trip. So it will be up to you if you want to spend the night there, and which sights you want to see in Taichung on your second day (I’m not sure if you can squeeze in all the ones that you mentioned). Keep in mind that Taichung “city” is not really a city, it’s a whole county, and Sun Moon Lake is actually in a different county (Nantou).

For you hotel, it makes sense to stay somewhere that is your transportation hub for getting to Sun Moon Lake.

Thanks a lot for your feedback! I’ll just catch some sleep and wait for the 6am bus to Taichung, then go straight to Sun Moon Lake via the Nantou Bus. I’m not going inside the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village so hopefully, I’ll be able to cover the highlights of Sun Moon Lake and take the last bus bound for Taichung. Best to stay near the railway station so that I can start my 2nd day early.

Thanks again! 🙂

sounds like a good plan. enjoy your trip!

Hi Sir Nick. This is a very helpful blog. Please allow me to ask some questions 🙂 We’ll be going to Taichung on April 18 to 19. First, what is the best hotel to stay that you will get the best view of the lake and very near to the best locations/amenities to visit as well?

We are from the Philippines, and our first time to go to taiwan. We are 8 adults and we are planning to take the HST going to Taichung. Is it a good idea if we will hire a tourist taxi from HST station Taichung and go somewhere first before staying overnight to Sun Moon Lake? We just wanted to maximize our time in taichung and travel the next day on kaohshiung…Thank you in advance….Hope i hear from you the soonest 🙂

Hi Kathy, Please be away that Taichung city is not near Sun Moon Lake. It takes 1.5 hours from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake! If you only have 1 night for Taichung + Sun Moon Lake, that is very rushed. Please send me an email at [email protected] and we can discuss further. What is your expected arrival time at Taichung HSR?

Thank you very much for these very detailed information about SML. I can not find any better source for me to plan my trip Just want to ask you for some advices about experience the cable car at SML. How long does it take to experience the cable car? I will travel to SML from Alishan, by the time I get to SML (maybe around 4pm as I take the soonest bus at 1pm and the trip will take 3hrs) the cable is closed already. So if I plan to try it, I have to wait until the next day at 10:30, but I have to catch the bus from SML to TaiChung Airport at 12:40 so I don’t know if I can make it. Looking forward to your advices. Thank you!

Hi Bryant, That seems tight for time, but I think you can do it! I’m not sure the exact time of the cable car ride, but my guess is that it only takes about 15 or 20 minutes to the top, maximum, and the same to come back down. (Don’t bother to take the second cable car, which goes down to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village). So even if you take 30 minutes to go up and 30 minutes to go down, you will be at the bottom at 11:30, which is lots of time to get to Shuishe for the 12:40 bus. Just make sure to have your luggage ready (I’m sure you can leave it at the cable car station), and check the bus times if you are taking the bus from the cable car to Shuishe!

Thank you for the very detailed and informative article.

How do we get to Wenwu Temple from the entrance?

For a 1 day visit to SML, would you suggest going to Puli? When best to fit it? At the start or at the end of the trip?

Thank you very much.

Hi Jim, If you are coming to SML by public transportation, you will arrive in Shuishe Village on the lake. From the same bus stop, you can hop on the round-the-lake bus and get off at the Wenwu Temple stop. Another way would be to rent a bicycle and ride there. If you are only going to SML for one day, I don’t think going to Puli is worth your time, unless you really want to see one of the specific sights there. If I were you, I would just spend the whole day at the lake.

Hi Nick, 2 Qs 1) do the NanTou Buses follow the route as posted on their website? if they do, does that mean that it’ll be better to get on the bus at Gancheng (for seats) as oppose like say getting on the bus from the Taichung HSR Station. 2) does the Nantou stop at Ita Thao? (Am booked for accommodation at Ita Thao). If not, I assume the bus will stop at Shuishe. How do I make my way to Ita Thao from Shuishe?

Hi Simon, thanks for reading. 1. I don’t see why they wouldn’t follow the route, and your logic makes sense for having the best chance to get a seat. In my experience, all the times I took the bus between Taichung and Sun Moon Lake it wasn’t full so there was no issue about people not getting seats, but of course I can’t guarantee it’s always like that. Maybe try your plan if you’re going on a weekend or busy day. 2. No, the Nantou bus doesn’t stop at Ita Thao. Once it reaches the lake shore, it turns right and drives a few minutes to Shuishe (You’d have to go left and frive about 20 minutes to get to Ita Thao. From Shuishe, you can catch a boat across the lake, or catch the bus to Ita Thao, which I have always done. The bus stop to catch it is pretty much the spot where you’ll be dropped off. You could also consider cycling or renting a scooter in Shuishe to get to Ita Thao! Having a scooter at Sun Moon Lake is very convenient.

Thanks for your advice. Awesome page you have going. Lovely read and informative. Keep up the fantastic work. 🙂

Thanks a lot, Simon. Much appreciated!

Hi Nick, your blog is VERY informative in helping me to plan my upcoming trip to taiwan! its my second time there but will be my first time travelling to Alishan and Sun Moon Lake. I saw that you have written that there is a mini bus from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake for NT$328, may I know how can I go about booking the bus or where can I get tickets from? I am trying to book accommodations in Sun Moon Lake and currently find it a challenge as I am unsure if we can make it from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake in 1 day without having the need to stop over in Taichung for the night. Thanks!

Hi Hillary, I have just called the Alishan tourist center, and I can confirm there are two daily buses from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake, departing at 1pm and 2pm. They suggested buying the ticket at the Alishan bus station one day before, but you may be able to get it the same morning as well. If you want to go in the other direction (SML to Alishan, the bus departs at 8am and 9am. The bus is #6739, run by Yunlin bus company. I think it’s a minibus. Best of luck!

Hi Nick! I would like to ask, what is the best way to travel to Sun Moon Lake from Shanlinxi? (:

Hi Aibee, bus 6871 goes from Shanlinxi (衫林溪) to Xitou (溪頭) (see my article about Xitou Monster Village). From Xitou, bus 6801 goes to Sun Moon Lake 5 times per day, and should take about 1.5 hours.

Hi Nick! Thank you for your great resource! Could you help me with the itinerary, please? On November 5th we are arriving in Chaiyi from Hualian and staying overnight there. Then we would like to do Alishan and Sun moon lake and come back to Taipei by the evening of November 9th. So, we have only three nights and four days. Is it possible? What could be your suggestions? Thank you! Igor

Hi Igor, That seems like enough time. On November 7 you can travel from Chiayi to Alishan, stay there for one night, and see the sunrise the next morning. On November 8, catch the bus from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake (you can find the bus times on my “how to get to Alishan” article) Stay at Sun Moon Lake that night, and tour around the lake the next day before heading to Taipei. Let me know if you have any further questions!

Thank you Nick! Seems the following plan is also feasible: Day 1. Chiayi – Fenqihu. A night at Fenqihu. Day 2. Fenqihu – Alishan. A night at Alishan. Day 3. Alishan – Sun Moon Lake. A night at Sun Moon lake. Day 4. Trekking in Sun Moon Lake and heading for Taipei. So the question would be: Is it a problem 1.To get from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake, say, after checking out at 12? 2. To get to Taipei from Sun Moon Lake in the evening? Thank you very much! Igor

Hi Igor, That sounds very doable! 1. There are only 2 buses per day from Alishan to SML, leaving at 1 and 2 pm, so you are good! Just get to the bus stop at the 7-11 a little early to buy a ticket. 2. Yes, also no problem. You can see the full schedule of buses from SML to Taichung here, last one departing SML at 7:25 p.m., then you can easily transfer to Taipei.

We just got to Sun Moon Lake this evening! We are staying at the Thao tribe village at the moment. Our plan is to explore the lake early in the morning. Then after that we don’t know what to do is best! We have a car and will need to return it in Kaohsiung on Sunday night.

I reckon the drive from here to Alishan is too hard! Do you know any hot spring place on the way from Sun Moon to Alishan?

We don’t mind to drive within the mountains!

Thanks so much!

Hi Carrie, I guess one day has passed, so you have probably made a plan by now. The road from Sun Moon Lake is fine but it is very winding. I’m not familiar with any major hot springs in that area, but there are definitely some remote ones, like Dong Bu Wenquan Scenic Area, which is a little ways off the SML-Alishan highway down another road. You could also considering going to Lugu area, Xitou Monster Village and Shanlinxi. The roads to those are not too bad. The temple destroyed by an earthquake described in this article is also pretty cool! One really cool hot spring that could be on your way to Kaohsiung is Guanziling mud hot spring. King’s Garden Resort has a great facility, where you can bathe in various pools or even rub some mud on your face! Another cool place to check out is Jingzijiao Wapan Salt Fields. Enjoy your trip!

Hi Nick – my partner and I are planning 2 days on Sun Moon Lake in December as part of our Taiwan travels. We’re travelling with our daughter who will be 14 months old. We’d like to hire bikes and cycle around the whole lake, do you know if it is easy enough to hire bikes with a child seat or trailer? Thanks a lot for all the great Taiwan resources!

Hi Bree, I don’t know from personal experience, but after checking some Mandarin language blogs like this one, I can see that the writer rented a bike with a young kids’ seat from 美利達愛騎自行車租賃店 (Merida bike rental shop) in Shuishe, the main village of Sun Moon Lake. Probably you can find something similar at other shops too, I would guess. I have used this kind of bike before in Taiwan; they aren’t super comfortable for the parent; you kind of have to ride with your legs open wide…But they are good enough for the kid. Good luck, and let me know if you find anything better!

Thanks for the informative guide! I’ve relied on your site heavily to plan my trip!

Just want to check if you know the closing hours of Ita Thao shopping street? Cant seem to find any information online

Thanks for your comments! Ita Thao shopping street is like a day and night market. Some things are open all day, but dinner time and early evening is the busiest. There’s no set closing time, but I would guess that around 10 some things start closing, and probably it’s totally closed by around 11 or midnight. Hope that helps!

We are traveling to Taiwan in October, a group of 6. is there Do you know is there a way to get from Sun Moon Lake to taroko park directly? To take a train you have to go back to Taipei and down again. We are wondering if we could hire a driver? Or is there another way to get there more directly that you know of?

Hi Becky, Yes, highway 12 travels from Sun Moon Lake to Taroko Gorge, taking about 4 hours to reach the top of the gorge, and five hours to reach Taiwan. Travelers don’t often take the route because it is an extremely winding, high mountain route, including the highest pass in all of Taiwan. If you have any passengers prone to car sickness, I wouldn’t recommend it. I don’t know of any transfer service that covers the whole drive, but you could consider this one from SML to Qingjing Farm, and stay at Qingjing for a night to break up your journey. Just copy past this link: https://bit.ly/2vBw331 Then from Qingjing to Taroko Gorge, there’s this transfer service: https://bit.ly/39mZ8Or Another option is that you could simply rent a vehicle in Taichung and do it all yourself: https://bit.ly/2PJRUfF One problem is that these cars all seem to be not large enough for your group, so in the end, going back via Taipei may be your only reasonable option. To do it in the fastest way possible: – bus from SML to Taichung HSR station (90 min) – HSR Taichung to Taipei (1 hour) – Taroko Express train to Hualien (2 hours), need to reserve 2 weeks in advance because it always sells out.

Hope this helps!

Hi Nick – really enjoying all your Taiwan trips. Using it to plan our trip in April/May (hopefully, depending on COVID restrictions!) with our baby and toddler 🙂 I was wondering if you knew of any company in Taiwan where we could rent baby equipment? I have read that travel cots aren’t super common in hotels/airbnbs and we would need 2…I wouldn’t really want to bring this from the UK so thinking of trying to rent 2 in Taipei where we will pick up a car or whether it’s not really possible. Thanks!

Hi Natasha, there aren’t really any covid restrictions left, so that shouldn’t stop you. Currently the only rule is your family needs to stay in private room with private bathroom (i.e. no hostel dorms or rooms with shared bathroom in hallway) for first 8 nights. Also, masks need to be worn in public indoors places, with exceptions made for babies. The mask rule is supposed to change soon, too. That’s it! As for the cot, I’m afraid I’ve never heard of a place that rents them out in Taiwan. I’ve done something interesting DIY setups in hotels before though when my kids were babies, like blankets or small mattress on the floor that move furniture around to create barriers. Not ideal, but I did do it LOL We also used to sometimes just bring our cot from home, but it was so heavy. Some higher end hotels should provide them, but unfortunately mid range and low budget hotels mostly not. Sorry I can’t help more on that!

Was Sun Moon Lake permanently affected by the drought in 2021? Have water levels recovered, and is it still worth going in 2023?

It varies by year/season and amount of rain. Currently, it is a little low, but not as bad as the drought in 2021. For example, the Nine Frogs Stack is usually surrounded by water. But if you look at the most recent reviews and pictures on GoogleMaps, you will see that it is mud around it right now. It’s still worth visiting the lake though because there are many things to see and do around the lake. It’s very popular and busy though, especially weekends and holidays.

Bus to SML from Taichung (“Shuttle Bus A”) is bus no. 6670. I’d advise to board at Gancheng (10-15 min walk from Taichung station) as the stop at Taichung station is difficult to find at not really where you would expect it. (Taichung Station (Minzu Rd. Intersection) https://maps.app.goo.gl/yfNTKj9zYdgVLgKP6 ). Also you would need to wave your hand in order to be picked up, while at Gancheng (Gancheng Station (Shuangshi Rd.) https://maps.app.goo.gl/KVHAKNE3qBKZjkdPA ) you have plenty of time to board and store your luggage. Watch out for the brownish- red signs, a bit further diwn the bus stop for local busses.

Thanks so much for this info! I’ll update my article accordingly.

Would it be super hot and humid and too crowded to visit in middle of august (around 19th to 22nd for example)? There will be two elderly and one five years old in our group as well. Thanks in advanced!

All of Taiwan is very hot and humid from June to September. Sun Moon Lake might be a few degree cooler because it sits at 748 meters above sea level. But summer is the low season, and there are no holidays at this time, so it won’t be too crowded. Aug 19 is a weekend though, so it’s still a good idea to book your accommodation in advance.

Thank you nick! We initially planned to go to qingjing for 2 nights, sun moon lake for 1 night and alishan for 1 night. Wondering if we should skip alishan and stay at sun moon lake for another night because we’re aware that the journey to alishan from sun moon lake then back to Taipei is long and winding. Not sure if it’s too much doing the journey for only one night..?

I guess it depends how much winding driving you’re OK with. Are you driving or taking the bus? The bus from SML to Alishan only departs at 8 AM and takes and 3 hours to reach Alishan. The drive is indeed quite winding, especially the second half as you get higher in the mountains. When you leave, it will be a two hour bus ride from Alishan to Chiayi, with the first hour being the really winding part. If you can handle these drives, I feel the time is actually enough. Because you would get to Alishan by 11 AM, it’s enough time to have lunch, check in, explore/hike for a few hours, see sunset, see sunrise the next morning, and even hike for a few more hours before check out time. For most visitors, that’s actually enough. Your time at SMl would indeed be a little short though, since you’d be coming from Cingjing and then leaving early the next morning. You’d basically only have one afternoon to explore SML. So I guess you need to decide which you’d like more, to have more time at SML, or to include Alishan but also have shorter time at SML and two winding bus rides.

Thank you so much Nick! We’re still considering between hiring a van ourselves or hiring a driver with van. Hiring a van and drive ourselves would cost half of hiring a van with driver. Our flight will be landing in Taipei so we’ll drive from taipei and then we have to drive back to taipei as well. If we don’t go to alishan (I heard that route can be tricky for anyone who’s not local to tackle?), do you think it should be easy and safe enough for us to drive the whole journey ourselves? So taoyuan airport to qingjing to sun moon lake then back to taipei. Thank you so much again! Your website has been so helpful!

Sure, I think this route is easy enough to drive on your own! As for the road to Alishan, it’s not really tricky. It’s just that it’s a high mountain road so it’s very winding, especially for the final hour to Alishan. Just think like back and forth switchbacks with sharp turns. So it kind of depends what kind of driving experience you have.

What do you think about visiting sun moon lake in august (second half)? Is the temperature bearable and how about chances of rain (I know that’s unpredictable..)? If it’s still worth visiting, do you have any recommendation for indoor activities if it happens to be very rainy? We can only visit Taiwan at that time for a ten days trip this time and have already got flight tickets.

Thank you very much!

Sure, I think it’s a great time! It could be quite hot in the daytime though. But most of the time in summer it’s sunny. One in a while it rains, but this is usually a short (but heavy) afternoon downpour. Or if you’re very unlucky, a typhoon is possible at this time of year. Because the rain is usually fairly short when it does come, I don’t think you have to worry too much about planning indoor activities there. Just bring an umbrella or poncho just in case you get stuck in a downpour, and go about your travel plan!

Thank you! 🙂

Hi Nick, it was a blessing to stumble upon your blog. It is very detailed and easy to navigate. I am planning for a 11 days 10 nights trip to Taiwan and would like your opinion and advice.

Staying in Alishan is too expensive and hence on Day 5 and 6, i decided to stay in ChiaYi. On Day 7, i am planning to leave ChiaYi to visit Sun Moon Lake but i am unsure if is convenient to do so, or i should visit TaiChung first then Sun Moon Lake?

Day 1 – Taipei (have been to Taipei several time, so would just be a stay over night in Taipei) Day 2 – Hualien (Rent a bike and visit Taroko Gorge and explore a bit of Hualien) Day 3 and 4 – TaiTung, Luye (Main attraction would be to visit the International Hot Air balloon festival and follow the guide you provided) Day 5 – ChiaYi (Travel all the way to ChiaYi and reached in the late afternoon. Explore around ChiaYi station) Day 6 – ChiaYi (Visit Alishan, without the Sunrise, and hike around and coming back to ChiaYi for the night) Day 7 – Sunmoon Lake (Getting from ChiaYi to Sunmoon Lake) Day 8 – Sunmoon Lake or Taichung (Have not plan. Depending on Day 7) Day 9 – Taichung (Have not plan) Day 10 – Taichung (Have not plan) Day 11 – back to Taipei and take a flight home

It doesn’t matter too much if you want to visit Taichung or SML first. Because you will have to pass through Taichung to get to SML. From Chiayi, take the TRA train or HSR to Taichung. From Taichung TRA or HSR station, you can catch a bus to SML. After your stay at SML, back to Taichung the same way, then on to Taipei. As you can see, you could put your Taichung stay either before SML or after and it won’t make too much difference.

Just letting you know that the bus from Taipei to Sun Moon now leaves from the main area of the Taipei Bus Station and costs NT465. Tickets are bought at level 1 at the ticket counters and the bus is caught directly above at the bus terminal on level 2.

It’s probably worth updating, because it’s a bloody long walk from Z5!

Thanks, updated! And sorry about that – that info was for the old bus station.

Hello. Thank you so much for your guide. I’m right now at the lake and it has been difficult to find a place to rent a motorbike. They are only renting electric bikes. Do you know a place where we can rent a motorbike? We are planning to go to the ruin temple so a electric motorbike won’t do the job. (We have international driver licence approved for motorbikes)

This one should have them: https://goo.gl/maps/QsAaAVFAHTzs4obv5

Hi Nick, Would you recommend not to visit Sun Moon lake when a typhoon is forecast? We’re worried mainly about our flight back from Taipei, which is actually several days after the typhoon is expected to hit Taiwan. Is it possible/likely to get stuck at sun moon lake for several days, due to landslides or something? Or can we relatively savely assume that travelling to Taipei should be possible within a few days after the typhoon? Thanks!

The vast majority of the time, SML is still accessible after typhoons. I’ve only heard of the road to SML being blocked once, and that actually happened this summer. But this is very rare.

Hi Nick, Great guide! I am planning to follow your 14-day nature itinerary. You mention that there is only one bus departing at 1 pm from Alishan to Sun Moon Lake. Is this a reliable bus (always running/have seats/etc.)? If we missed this bus, what other options do we have? Can we get a taxi to SML and how much would that cost? Thanks!

Yes, that bus is the only direct option. At peak times (cherry blossom season, holidays, long weekends) demand for it can be very high, so it’s best to line up early. It’s possible to book online but they don’t make it easy. You have to fill out a form and email it to them. The form is here: http://www.ylbus.com.tw/news/index.php?m=2572&p=1000 Because of the hassle, most people just line up and swipe EasyCard unless it’s high season, and mainly only locals know about this form booking method.

Hi Nick, I just found out your blog and it’s awesome, thank you very much for your efforts! I will visit SML two days in March and I’m a bit worried about not finding a place on the bus from Taichung HSR to SML , and especially from SML to Taichung HSR, because I need to be in Taichung as early as possible in order to catch the train from Taichung to Hualien at 1:45 pm. For my peace of mind, I would like to book the bus ticket in advance, but on the Klook website I can’t seem to find the return option Taichung-SML and SML-Taichung. I can select the departure date, but not the return. Does this mean that return tickets on Klook are only meant for travels on the same day? Also, on my way to SML I was considering taking the bus directly from Taipei to SML in order to avoid all the hassle of the crowded Nantou buses, but unfortunately the website http://www.taiwanbus.tw doesn’t come in English, so it’s impossible for me to make a reservation. There is a button on the upper right corner for English, but apparently it doesn’t work. Any suggestion on how to book? Thank you again, Chiara

If you want to book seats on the bus from taichung to SML (or SML back to Taichung), I have a whole article explaining how to book the tickets online here on my other website: https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/taichung-to-sun-moon-lake-bus/ If you swipe EasyCard or buy tickets on Klook, then the seats are first-come-first-served.

Awesome, thank you very much!

Hey Nick, thank you so much for all the guides on your 2 sites – it’s made our trip planning a breeze! We’ll be doing a day trip to SML from Taichung in April on either a Tuesday or Wednesday, and want to make sure we don’t miss the performance at Kalapaw. Are the days they don’t perform fixed or do they change from time to time? Another guide mentioned there are no performances Wednesdays so want to make sure we don’t get our timing wrong! Do they have an official website or social media account I could check closer to the date? Thanks again! Mike

Hi, the guide is right. I had to do some digging to find the new schedule here on their new Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122139290390132432&set=pcb.122139290594132432 I’ve updated the article with the new times.

Awesome, thanks Nick!

Hi nick!, I’m Josie. Your write has been very authentic, detail & helpful! I was hoping to get some advise from you, I will be in Taipei & planning to enjoy Alishan national park (1 night) & SML (2 nights). But I’m not sure if this is best for the experience. Was planning to hire private vehicle for the in between travels of Alishan & SML. Grateful for ur feedback

This sounds great to me! One night is enough to experience Alishan – try to arrive in the early afternoon so you have time for exploring before sunset. Wake up early for sunrise then you’ll have more time before check out. The drive to SML is very beautiful and having a driver will allow you to make stops on the way. Consider small detours like Jiji Wuchang Temple (destroyed by earthquake so it looks cool now) and Shuiyuan Suspension Bridge (need at least one hour to visit it). SML 2 nights is great so you have a full day to explore it.

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