Captivated by the Colors: Exploring Sun Moon Lake - by Lily

When I initially planned our trip to Taiwan, I came across online reviews praising the beauty of Sun Moon Lake, nestled in the mountain range of central Taiwan. The name, "Sun Moon Lake" in Chinese, or 日月潭, triggered a wave of nostalgia from my childhood, instantly igniting my desire to visit this enchanting place.

Situated in central Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake is the largest lake in Taiwan, cradled by lush, green mountains. At an elevation of 748 meters above sea level, a depth of 27 meters, and covering 7.93 square kilometers, the lake derives its name from its unique shape. One side resembles the Sun, while the other side mirrors a crescent Moon.

our back-and-forth bike trail at the Moon side of the lake (west side of the lake)

Our driving and hiking trail at the Sun side of the lake

We departed from Hsinchu early in the morning, arriving at Sun Moon Lake by mid-morning. Our first order of business was securing a bike rental. Originally, we had planned to circumnavigate the entire lake, a journey spanning approximately 35 kilometers. However, the rental shop attendant cautioned us that a significant portion of the trail would lead us onto roadways shared with cars, and some segments were quite hilly. She suggested that the most picturesque part of the trail was the initial 5-kilometer stretch along the Moon Lake. Observing the narrow, winding road, we heeded her advice.

Our biking adventure commenced on the trail along the "Moon" portion of the lake. The narrow but flat, well-shaded path led us along the lake's edge, and we were immediately captivated by the lake's colors. The interplay of greens, blues, white clouds, and verdant mountains mirrored in the lake's surface made us feel as though we were melting into this kaleidoscope of nature. Notably, there is a petite island within the lake called Lalu Island.

Throughout our bike ride, we encountered various man-made structures along the trail, such as bridges like 永结桥 and 同心桥, as well as gardens and gazebos with heart or sun/moon-shaped screens, providing delightful rest stops. Eventually, we reached the more challenging section of the trail, where we dismounted and walked our bikes up and down the slopes. The dedicated bike trail concluded at the entrance to Ita Thao. We started our returning ride.

Shuishe Great Mountain and Ci'en Pagoda on top the right hand side hill

The tiny island in Sun Moon Lake - Lalu Island

The Sun-Moon sign on the rails is common in Sun Moon Lake area

Cycling along the lake shore is the best way to enjoy the scenery of Sun Moon Lake

The end of the Moon Lake side dedicated bike trail

Sun Moon Lake Sign in Chinese

Following the return of our bikes, we savored a late lunch and indulged in Taiwan's renowned mango ice. Our original plan was to explore the lake by car after checking into our hotel, but heavy rain dashed our hopes. Instead, we decided to take it easy.

The next morning, the sun graced us with perfect weather as we embarked on a scenic drive around the lake. We directed our car towards the Sun side of the lake, heading for Wenwu Temple. Parking at the base of a hill, we began our ascent along the shaded Neihu Trail. Upon reaching the zenith of Wenwu Temple, the backdrop of a cerulean sky and fluffy white clouds provided a stunning contrast to the grand orange, red, and white temple structures. Looking down, the captivating hues of Sun Moon Lake took our breath away.

Our itinerary also included a visit to the "Years of Steps" trail, a steep path marked with the date on each step (day/month). Although we could only explore the upper portion of the trail due to maintenance, it was a satisfying experience.

The platform above Wenwu Temple

The front torii (gateway) to WenWu Temple

We then proceeded to the 9-frog stack, a bronze statue in the lake marking the water level. A 1-kilometer boardwalk trail linked the parking area on road 21甲 to the statue. Strolling along the trail, we enjoyed the gentle breeze, bird songs, and scenic lake views.

Only 3 frogs above the water level. No more drought!

Sun Lake shore trail

On our adventure, we noticed a pagoda perched atop a nearby hill, which we had glimpsed from various angles around the lake. This is Ci'en Pagoda, and we decided to pay it a visit despite our limited time. It turned out to be a rewarding decision. Up close, the pagoda's vivid red and white colors left us awestruck. With its nine stories, we climbed all the way to the top! From the uppermost floor, the panoramic vista of Sun Moon Lake left us spellbound.

Ci'en Pagoda

The panoramic view of Sun Moon Lake from Ci'en Pagoda.
The photo distorted the shape of the lake a little bit 

As noon approached, it was time to bid adieu to Sun Moon Lake as we planned to meet a friend for lunch in Taichung. There's so much more to explore here, and on our next visit, we aim to time it for the cherry blossom season in February, extend our stay to hike Shuishe Great Mountain* for a bird's-eye view of the lake from 1300 meters above, and explore the nearby AliShan area.

Note*

Shuishe great mountain is a mountain  with 2059 meters altitude. The trail has an elevation gain of 1376 meters. It is an out and back trail with total distance of 10.6 km. It will take ~ 7 hours to complete the hike. see detail at this site https://www.alltrails.com/trail/taiwan/nantou/shuishe-mountain-trail

According to Google map reviews: There is no view from the summit due to dense trees. The best views were at the platform at 2.7km. Another review said the view around 5 km is really beautiful. Start hiking early and take pictures at look-out platforms on the way up.